2012 Shelby GTS
Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford, New Car Reviews
Bringing The Shelby Name To The Masses
The Shelby name doesn't come cheap. Vintage Shelby Mustangs and Cobras can command six or sometimes even seven figure sums. The current Shelby offerings are much cheaper - the GT350 is priced around $70,000 while the Ford-built GT500 is a little less expensive with a base price just short of $50,000 - although we still wouldn't consider them attainable to the average guy with a mortgage and 2.5 kids.
Shelby sees that as a problem. The majority of its customers are the people who craved a GT500 or Cobra back when they were kids in the 1960s. Those customers are getting older, and like many other automakers, Shelby has decided to reach out to younger buyers. At the New York Auto Show earlier this year, Shelby announced the GTS, a new model designed to be attainable to the masses. The GTS would be available in both V6 and V8 form and, with a package price of $9,995, could be had for less than $33,000 in base form. "It's a car that reaches a younger buyer while acknowledging the economic realities of our times," said Shelby American president John Luft at the time.
We have to wonder, though. Are younger buyers interested in buying a Shelby Mustang? Will people actually buy a Shelby with a V6? We aimed to find out for ourselves and picked up a V6 model in Race Red with White Le Mans stripes at Shelby's facility in Gardena, CA for a week-long test.
Continue reading 2012 Shelby GTS
2012 Shelby GTS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsNew York 2011: Shelby targets younger crowd with GTS Mustang
Filed under: Aftermarket, New York Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Ford
2012 Shelby GTS - Click above for high-res image gallery
Designated as the spiritual successor of the Shelby GT that was built from 2007 to 2008, the new GTS represents the base model in the Shelby lineup. According to company president John Luft, Shelby's average buyer is in their late '50s, and the iconic tuner hopes to bring in a younger crowd with a more affordable offering.
Available as a post-title package on both the Mustang GT and the Mustang V6, the GTS includes a variety of upgrades including a Ford Racing handling pack, Borla exhaust system, Baer brakes, unique front fascia, Le Mans stripes and a deep-draw hood. Optional components include superchargers for both the V6 and the V8, a Watts-link rear suspension system, upgraded brakes and more.
Pricing for the Shelby GTS starts at $9,995, not including the base car, which means a customer can get their hands on one for as little as $32,000. You can read more details about the Shelby GTS in the official PR after the jump.
Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL
[Source: Shelby]
Continue reading New York 2011: Shelby targets younger crowd with GTS Mustang
New York 2011: Shelby targets younger crowd with GTS Mustang originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsNew Shelby Ford Mustang models could include V6, twin-turbo GT500
Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Ford
Shelby Mustang Concepts - Click above for image gallery
Earlier this year, Shelby announced it would focus less on building complete cars and more on selling parts, and that transition began when the company brought much of its manufacturing in-house and created a new speed shop to customize Mustangs at its Las Vegas facility.
Looking to the future, Shelby has now posted a query online asking its customers what they want to see from the company, and in the process it's proposed four Mustang aftermarket packages ranging from a V6 model to a twin-turbo Shelby GT500.
While probably the least likely to appeal to the everyday Mustang enthusiast because of its cost ($100,000 not including the car), the twin-turbo GT500 obviously caught our attention. The concept, codenamed 2010-04a, would be based off the 2007-2009 GT500 and would feature a twin-turbo system with variable boost good for 1000+ horsepower at the rear wheels in addition to an adjustable suspension, widebody kit, 10-point roll cage and more.
On the other end of the spectrum, Shelby is considering offering a package for 2010+ V6 models carrying the Shelby GTS moniker. This seems more likely to make it to production, especially since Shelby has already produced a working prototype. The GTS would feature various visual and performance upgrades and the package would retail for somewhere between $9,000 to $12,000. Finally, the last two concepts are based on the new 2011 Mustang GT and would feature the same styling upgrades as the V6 version. Follow the jump for a full list of proposed features for both the twin-turbo GT500 and the GTS model, and let us know which packages you think Shelby should offer.
[Source: Shelby American]
Continue reading New Shelby Ford Mustang models could include V6, twin-turbo GT500
New Shelby Ford Mustang models could include V6, twin-turbo GT500 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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