It seems that the eagerly awaited 2017 Ford Shelby GT500 may arrive sooner than expected, possibly at next month’s Detroit Auto Show.
While it has been no secret that Ford has been hard at work developing the model in recent months, its launch date has been less clear. However, if you type in ‘2017 Ford Shelby GT500’ into Google (depending on your location), it may return a link to Ford’s website titled ‘2017 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 | The Cobra of Performance Cars’.
Although a URL does appear under the title, that link doesn’t currently work and instead redirects you to the webpage of the standard Ford Mustang. In addition, a quick Google search of ‘GT500 Convertible’ returns similar results with a Ford webpage listed for the 2017 model, suggesting that the droptop is also just around the corner.
As Automobile Magazine reports, sometimes the Google result for the Shelby GT500 reveals that it will feature a number of “selectable drive modes” and be powered by a 5.8-liter V8, potentially an uprated version of the supercharged unit that powered the previous GT500. If accurate, that would mean reports of the new GT500 opting for two turbochargers were inaccurate.
The previous GT500’s 5.8-liter V8 delivered a manic 662 hp and 631 lb-ft of torque. However, with the arrival of the SRT Hellcat twins, it’s inevitable that Ford will aim to outdo its rivals by increasing horsepower north of 707 hp, potentially towards the 750 hp mark.
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