Fewer Pounds, More Ponies
The biggest change comes as a result
of switching from iron to aluminum
for the 5.4-liter V-8 engine block.
The switch is more dramatic, both on
the spec sheet and from behind the
wheel, than you might think. Ford
claims a massive weight savings of
102 pounds, which suggests that the
old iron block might have been
carrying some unnecessary mass. The
updated engine block features
cylinders that are finished with a
spray-on coating, rather than a
steel sleeve. In addition to saving
8.5 pounds over the traditional
steel-sleeve aluminum block, the
spray bore reduces friction and
increases heat transfer from the
combustion chamber to the coolant.
Power climbs 10 ponies to 550 hp at
6200 rpm, while torque is unchanged
at 510 lb-ft. Fuel economy also
increases to 15 mpg city and 23 mpg
highway. That’s one extra mile per
gallon in both ratings, which allows
the GT500 to escape the gas-guzzler
tax that ensnared last year’s car.
|
|
An optional $3495 performance
package is new for 2011. It lowers
the car eleven millimeters in front
and eight millimeters in the rear,
and features springs that are 20.5
percent stiffer in front and 9.5
percent stiffer in back. It also
includes a shorter, 3.73:1 final
drive ratio, a Gurney flap on the
spoiler, narrower stripes on the
hood, and a white cue-ball shifter.
Forged aluminum wheels, measuring 19
inches in front and 20 inches in
back shave a total of fifteen pounds
off the base car’s weight. The
gorgeous, graphite-finish wheels are
wrapped in Goodyear’s new Eagle F1
Supercar G:2 summer tires.
Other new features include an
optional glass roof on the coupe
($1995), convex blind-spot mirrors,
standard high-intensity discharge
headlamps, and fold-down rear
headrests that greatly improve
visibility. Pricing starts at
$49,495 for coupe and $54,495 for
convertible.
