2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang rated at 526 hp, 429 lb-ft

[MrChrisLS3]

Originally Posted by Thor142

It's on there. https://nurburgringlaptimes.com/lap-times-top-100/

I always wondered why the Z/28 didn't do another few runs in better weather. Even watching the lap video with the rain is really impressive though 160mph with the wipers on lol.

While auto manufacturer's will certainly use these lap times as marketing tools, it's not the reason they are there. It costs them a fair amount of dollars to use the Ring. Their main purpose for being there is suspension and drivetrain testing and tuning. They only have so much time, and so much budget to get that done. As Tadge Juecter repleid in an "AskTadge" column in another forum, if they can get done what they need to do, and have extra time, they'll run a hot lap or two, but it's not the objective of the trip.

[Stingray]

Fresh from yesterday and today in Monterey and Laguna Seca... the kickoff of the GT350 North American Tour and Media Event.

[titanfan]

Initial reports from Laguna Seca has the GT350R running low 1:30's on the media track day. That's moving on out!

[Stingray]

Originally Posted by ztwentypoop

Initial reports from Laguna Seca has the GT350R running low 1:30's on the media track day. That's moving on out!

From Detroit's latest article: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opi...urns/32434845/

"As a result, the pony combines the finest attributes of the old, musclebound GT500 and the corner-carving Boss 302. This combination of high-revving power and handling inspired Ford to not only benchmark the car to Camaro’s ferocious Z28 track start, but to look beyond to Porsche’s 911 GT3.

A stretch, you say? Early testing shows the GT350 R — which saves another 100 pounds from the standard GT350 with tricks like carbon-fiber wheels and no backseats — lapping in the low 1.30s at Laguna alongside the Porsche."

Looks like it can hang very well with the big boys.... http://www.motortrend.com/features/laguna_lap/

Randy P. fast lapped a '14 Z/28 at LS in 1:37....

[72MachOne99GT]

7 seconds at the LS?

Now come on....

I agree it's faster..or will be... than a Z28...but different day different Temps different conditions...yea? Maybe?

[Stingray]

We'll see when Randy P. is at the helm.... plus even a 1:35 lap time is blazingly quick at LS.

[khell86]

Originally Posted by Stingray

We'll see when Randy P. is at the helm.... plus even a 1:35 lap time is blazingly quick at LS.

Supposedly they're running low 1:30s

[Stingray]

Originally Posted by khell86

Supposedly they're running low 1:30s

Yeah that's what I posted in post #200... it was based on media commentary/feedback from LS since it was on par with the GT3 this week there.

I'm thinking more along the lines of in between 1:34-1:36... such as the 1:35 I estimated.

Low 1:30's (i.e. 1:33 or lower) is literally super or exotic car level... heck the 918 Spyder barely did a sub 1:30.

[shaffe]

Originally Posted by 72MachOne99GT

7 seconds at the LS?

Now come on....

I agree it's faster..or will be... than a Z28...but different day different Temps different conditions...yea? Maybe?

As awesome as that would be, I cant see it. Would love to see it, but can't

Originally Posted by Stingray

We'll see when Randy P. is at the helm.... plus even a 1:35 lap time is blazingly quick at LS.

I am now even more excited for Randy to take one around Laguna

[Stingray]

Very cool and/or interesting details... especially #14 below.

Source: http://www.hotrod.com/cars/new-car-r...50-and-gt350r/

The first thing you have to know about the 2015 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 and GT350R is that they’re not just Mustangs run through the performance parts bin. Like Ford’s successful 2010-2014 F-150 Raptor program (an off-road truck based on the F-150, but with desert-racing-bread shocks, tires, seats, and unique bodywork) the 2015 Mustang GT350 and GT350R are practically all-new cars simply based on the 2015 Mustang GT architecture.

According to the Chief Engineer of Ford Performance, Jamal Hameedi, the GT350 and GT350R are a collection of “bespoke parts specifically combined to make a balanced vehicle.” Hameedi would know, he was—by no coincidence— the driving force behind Ford’s F-150 Raptor program.

Some readers may be disappointed to learn it’ll be nearly impossible to build a 2015 Ford Mustang GT into a GT350 (or the more extreme GT350R) due to the level of unique parts. It certainly won’t be cost effective to do so. The good news, however, is that once you add up all of the unique features of the 2015 GT350 you realize what a performance value these cars are. Even with a starting price of $49,995. Need more convincing before you trade in your 2015 Mustang GT for a GT350? Here are 18 more things we learned from Hameedi and his team about the GT350 and GT350R before Ford let anybody drive one.

1. The GT350 and GT350R use a wider front clip than the Mustang GT, and it’s completely unique from the A-pillar forward.

2. The front 305mm wide tires are attached to unique GT350/GT350R aluminum uprights (steering knuckles). The base Mustang and GT cars use cast-iron steering knuckles.

3. Ford fit stiffer front wheel bearings and unique radial-mounted brake calipers that allows for a stiffer mounting than traditional cross bolts to these unique steering knuckles. The stiffer front wheel bearings are said to reduce caliper knockback, a condition where deflection in the wheel bearings allow the brake rotors to push the brake pads into the caliper pistons, and back into their bores creating a “knockback” sensation. This knockback creates an unpredictable and unstable brake pedal feel.

4. Because of the unique frontend and wider front track width, the tire scrub radius of the GT350 and GT350R have been optimized to be just outside of the front tire’s static centerline. This was done to target the functional centerline of the tire—not the static centerline of the tire—when the car experiences extreme cornering loads.

5. Jamal Hameedi, Chief Engineer of Ford Performance said, "the [GT350] is all about balanced handling and performance,” and that “more engineers have worked on this car than any Mustang in history." Hameedi went on to say, "we've gone further than many engineers thought we would, or could."

6. The Mustang GT350 and GT350R’s flat-plane crank 5.2L V8 engine is lighter than the Ferrari 458's flat-plane-crank 4.5L V8 engine.

7. The GT350 front end is what makes it unique. Hameedi said, "if you get the front end right, the rear follows."

8. The GT350 seats, which are based on an existing Recaro design, were modified specifically for the GT305/GT350R.

9. Ford Performance developed the GT350 over a three-year period.

10. When asked if of the Ford F-150 Raptor’s success paved the way for Ford Performance to create the GT350, Hameedi said, "because the Raptor was a success, Ford let the leash out on this car—to get parts like the flat-plane crank, the wheels, and the brakes. Those parts are from off the reservation. All of the gold [in this car] comes from off the reservation.”

11. Hameedi reports that Ford couldn't have reached its specific power output goals for the GT350 without the flat-plane crank: a naturally aspirated 100 hp per liter.

12. One of the benefits of the flat-plane crank is that it improves windage and oil control in the engine’s crankcase. The way Ford does it, the 5.2L flat-plane engine “breathes” bay-to-bay (side-to-side) instead of from the front of the engine to the rear—the way a traditional cross-plane crank V8 engine does.

13. By spraying the bottoms of the GT350/GT350R’s 5.2L’s pistons with oil jets from the main oil galley, Ford engineers were able create better knock control. This allows 2-degrees more spark advance from the 12:1 compression 5.2L without detonation.

14. The 5.2L engine was designed for 93-octane fuel, but will run on 87 octane with only a 15hp decrease in peak power.

15. The GT350 has been to more track days than any Mustang in history. “We've probably got triple the number of track days in it then we had with the GT500,” said Hameedi.

16. The benchmark for the GT350 was originally the Porsche 911 Carrera S, then Ford Performance upped the ante by targeting the Porsche GT3. When asked if that was an extreme goal? Hameedi said, “We always punch above our class.”

17. When asked about the GT350’s ability to race at track days during the summer heat in Texas or Arizona, Hameedi responded, “There’s very little fall off this with this car. The brakes and engine are both capable of 20-minute laps [in those conditions].”

18. When asked whether drag racing or road racing development led to a better daily driving car, Hameedi conceded that “if you have tunnel vision for either one you won't have a great daily driver,” but if he had to choose he said a road race car could still be good on the street.

[tones2SS]

Not only is it a beast on the track,...but it sounds like a beast and looks like a beast!
What a gorgeous car. I want one.

[72MachOne99GT]

That blue looks almost purple.

Will fap.

[hotlap]

It's a good looking car

[Dave McFly]

I cannot wait to see what they do for the GT 500