You know how the Chevy Camaro ZL1 was supposed to be sitting atop the Muscle Car War heap? Yeah, not so much anymore. Meet the 650 HP 2013 Shelby GT500 — it's gonna try to make the ZL1 its little bitch.
Yes, you're reading that correctly — the new Shelby GT500's 5.8-liter supercharged V8 engine is rated at an astonishing 650 HP and 600 lb-ft of torque. That's a whopping 100 HP and 90 torques more than the 2012 model year.
It's almost as if Ford's adding the power just so it can shove its snakeskin-boot-clad foot right up the NACA ducts of its bowtie-bedecked competitor.
That's right, in fact, I'm wondering why they're even bothering to call it a GT500 anymore. Shouldn't they be calling it the GT 650 or something more appropriate for a muscle car with a 200 MPH top speed?
Whatever.
Anyway, this might just seem like Ford's plopping a bigger engine under the hood, right? Of course not. I mean, what would make you think that?
Well, other than their own press release saying "It might just seem like we're putting a bigger engine into the car." But come on, that would just be ludicrous to assume it's nothing more than the life-size equivalent of an Estes model rocket or a Mustang with a Wily E. Coyote-style rocket strapped to it.
Because Ford's added all sorts of other stuff to help manage all that power and torque — you know, like 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels coupled with Goodyear Eagle® F1 SuperCar G: 2 tires on all vehicle configurations and a Torsen limited-slip differential.
Well, Ford'll add that Torsen limited-slip diff if you order the optional Performance Package.
Oh, you didn't order the optional Performance Package? Then yeah, it's pretty much just a giant honkin' engine strapped onto a 3,850 lb. muscle car. But don't worry — it'll go purdy damn fast in a straight line.
Also, did we mention Ford's press photos have a blonde behind the wheel. Because, you know, this is America...truck (axle), yeah!