Although it’s a long time off, some car media sources are already starting to reveal details about Ford’s plans for the Mustang Shelby GT500 model in 2013, namely, an additional power increase that’s slated to bring total horsepower for this car up to the 600 mark. Today’s GT500 already offers 550 hp or thereabouts, and the power-up would leave the future model with what Car and Driver, in an odd choice of words, calls a “pants-bursting” level of road roar. Others call it an overwhelming design, questioning the motives of drivers who want their engine block to be designed like a rocket. Whether you’re using your Shelby to drag race, or just passing folks in the left lane, there is a certain element of danger involved, and owners of these powerhouse cars need to know how to use them responsibly.
In postings to the C&D forum, some current GT500 owners and others debate the pros and cons of altering the GT500’s 5.4L V8 to get even more power, which, according to the magazine, is in Ford’s playbook for 2013. Some car fans feel like the company should put more thought into traction, arguing that cars like the Nissan GT-R utilize more of the power in the engine by getting more of it into the interaction between the tires and the road. Others suggest fitting the GT500 with Ford’s Ecoboost engine, a winning design in other parts of the Ford lineup, for a more fuel-efficient ride that still retains the good looks of the Mustang.
Look for this car to get a lot of attention nearer to its release date. After all, if you’re already going for the 2013 Mustang, why not go over the top and get one of these top trims? Or, if you really don’t want to have to pay through the nose at the pump, skip the bells and whistles and get any one of Ford’s fuel-efficient line of sedans, which still look great and come with the Ecoboost block, where you can hedge against scary gas price increases and participate in the move toward greener driving. For now, it’s the consumer’s choice, but with all of the money that goes into owning a high performance ride, and all of the other attractive options out there for 2012 and beyond, many of the new GT500s, as well as older muscle cars, are destined to spend a good amount of time in the garage.