Ford GT500 - Now It's Truly Legit

The Ford GT500 is now the car it always should have been. A weight loss of 146 lbs as tested by Car & Driver is the biggest reason. A brief review of the revised 2010 gave positive feedback for the revised interior but weight was still my concern. By all accounts in the media the 2010 suspension was much improved vs. the previous year.

The big news now is an aluminum engine block, saving 102lbs vs. the iron mill. This also contributes to a better front/rear weight distribution for improved handling and braking.

At 3751lbs it's still pretty heavy for a 107.1" wheelbase and not very aerodynamic, but what muscle car is? As mentioned, Ford made improvements to the solid rear axle (SRA). I can't say this ideal for handling like a rear independent suspension (IRS), but it is better for the dragstrip.

Although the rear seats are hardly usable, it does offer that degree of practicality a Corvette cannot. Also, it now raises the bar for Chevrolet to come out with the Z/28 Camaro that weighs the same or less than the non-supercharged SS already does.

Of course, with forced induction and upgraded engine cooling, minor modifications net big gains in horsepower. Just a guess but swapping a smaller pulley on the supercharger and tuning would take the horsepower from 550 to around 650. That's simply awesome. I now want one, badly.

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