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King of the Road Indeed: The 2008 Shelby Cobra GT500KR Concept Surfaces

Is 540 horsepower (and 510 lb-ft of torque) sent to a live rear axle enough to constitute monarchical sovereignty over all thoroughfares? You make the call, we'll make with the specs on the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR. The name recalls one of the last Shelby Mustangs to be produced during the late 1960s. This King comes with a six-speed manual and a rear axle ratio of 3.73:1. It gets the Ford Racing power package, which includes a modified ECU and cold-air intake; performance suspension including stiffer springs, dampers, and stabilizer bars; Shelby-designed 18" wheels (20" for show purposes); short-throw shifter and front strut tower brace; carbon composite hood featuring classic Shelby 'KR' design, and front brake cooling ducts. We'll see it at the New York auto show next week ahead of its arrival next spring for a run of 1000 units. – Mike Spinelli

SHELBY GT500KR 'KING OF THE ROAD' RETURNS IN 2008 [StangsUnleashed.com]

11:49 AM on Fri Mar 30 2007
By Mike Spinelli
11,868 views
19 comments

Comments

Jonny Lieberman at 11:02 AM on 03/30/07
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Perfect!

And, as the stock GT500 actually pumps out 520 or so horsepower.... this should be perfect.
crazygutgut at 11:02 AM on 03/30/07
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yippie ... another mustang variant...
Rabbi Dave at 11:08 AM on 03/30/07
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spinelli, go to the ford media site for fuck's sake.
Rabbi Dave at 11:08 AM on 03/30/07
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jonnyl,
this did answer your prayers didn't it?
Larry Forney at 11:22 AM on 03/30/07
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Why do I like this? What's happening to me? Am I going through the change? I'm not even thirty!
FrankRizzo at 11:23 AM on 03/30/07
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My GOD, they make more Mustang variants that my beloved Subaru does Impreza variants, and THAT'S saying something!

I still think it'd get smoked on a road course by lesser cars, as I bet the suspension setup is still just above what Fred had in the Flintstone-mobile.
SteveR at 11:26 AM on 03/30/07
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That thing is a rolling mullet...I love it!

It occurs to me that they're not leaving much wiggle room for Saleen and Roush with these things, are they?
Rabbi Dave at 11:28 AM on 03/30/07
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maybe that's why saleen had to lay off some folks recently.
Jonny Lieberman at 11:42 AM on 03/30/07
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@David Thomas: Yes, my imaginary god is a kind, fake god.
Miscellanea at 11:43 AM on 03/30/07
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@David Thomas: and looking at other companies to partner with.
Ben Wojdyla at 12:59 PM on 03/30/07
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Right, this was totally necessary.

"Hey guys, lets get in a dick waving competition with GM and their superior bargain supercar chassis while the Japanese and Koreans eat our lunch with everyday products"

"Sounds cool, lets throw a bunch of dev money down the toilet"

"Only if we can spend a truckload of money on tooling and equipment we'll have to maintain for the federally mandated 10 years of service parts"

"Hey guys, isn't the Cobra a good enough halo car? Do we really need another Mustang when the Taurus, Focus, Crown Vic, minivan, b-class, and hybrid programs could use some attention?

"....STFU! What a total newb! who hired this guy? GTFO."
danio3834 at 01:44 PM on 03/30/07
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All cynicism and industry BS aside...

This thing is Bitchin!
Mad_Science at 01:47 PM on 03/30/07
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@BenWojdyla: Exactly

I never heard anyone saying "You know, that 500hp in the GT500 isn't quite enough...what for really needs is about 40 more HP, then I'll totally buy one"

Actually making the GT500 was a great idea and hearkens to the Ford of long ago.

Making a cosmetically different, incrementally upgraded edition of what's already a low volume halo car is very Ford-of-recent-years.

It would've made more sense to replace the GT500 with this.
Rabbi Dave at 02:22 PM on 03/30/07
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you know I didn't think to ask but will they make a 2008 GT500 and 2008 GT500KR?
Elhigh at 02:30 PM on 03/30/07
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That's the same ratio as stock on my '87 Toy PU. Better brakes, though. I bet I could swap that axle in.
Jonny Lieberman at 03:29 PM on 03/30/07
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@Mad_Science: Actually -- I was asking for a little more power.
smokyburnout at 07:13 PM on 03/30/07
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i really like the look, but when are we going to see a variant with the wider taillights, as seen on some old-school shelbys and the 2003 mustang concept?
and, it needs more power. the shelby gt doesnt have enough horsepower up on the mustang gt, and this dont have enough on the gt500...
bamfford at 11:12 AM on 03/31/07
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The Mustang continues being the King! It killed the sales of the camaro/firebird/trans am for GM and challenger/GTX/satelite cars for Chrysler. NOW that Ford is reeping all the sales even more, again, the other two are taking notice and finally waking up, but they will never compare to the Mustang. Sorry, the proof is in the pudding, cannot change the facts and history non-Mustang Lovers!
wohho at 11:16 AM on 04/05/07
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Who wants to bet that bamfford beats off to old copies of 5.0 magazine?