[thePill]

I firmly believe that there will be a 20th anniversary SVT Cobra. Whether it will be an addition to the current lineup or replacing the GT500 is confusing people. 2012 should be the model year (correction: calendar year) it comes out but it could be released in CY13 to be correct. This could also be said about the 50th anniversary Mustang, could it be released in 2013 as a MY14 or will they wait until 2014 and make it a 2014 1/2 (or just a 2015 altogether). I would assume that it will be as soon as possible due to the current sales numbers.

The ZL1 is now rumored to be over 570hp and I am assuming that the torque would remain the same as the CTS-V. This is probably be the result of the better exhaust setup and not intentional. Ford will push the GT500 to compete with the ZL1 and most likely approach the showdown with a lower price point and some improved performance. If the GT500 shows up with the FR500CJ setup with equal horsepower, the ZL1 will have it's hands full. Weight will not be in the favor of the manual ZL1 and will likely be 300lbs heavier than the GT500. I don't expect the GT500 to lose any more weight unless there is an engine or transmission swap... or finds a lighter kit or deletes some seats.

If Ford leaks info that the GT500 will not be a twin turbo they wouldn't be lying, It will be the SVT Cobra with the first direct injection Coyote (5.0 or 5.8) that will be the TT Mustang. This SVT Cobra will NOT be a ZL1 competitor but more of a GT500 competitor limited to 5100 units as the original 1993 SVT Cobra was.

Regardless, the ZL1 will be a major performer and with the automatic option, the '12 GT500 will have a hard time with it as it did with the auto CTS-V. The manuals will be a tight race, I think the '12 ZL1 will be quicker than the current '12 GT500. However, this does leave Ford the oppertunnity to come back with the '13 GT500 though, as they will be released shortly after the '12 ZL1.