Shelby GT350 Mustang to pack 392kW

Ford has finally revealed full details of the upcoming Shelby GT350 Mustang’s powerplant… and it produces even more grunt than anticipated.

Motoring.com.au has already detailed the Shelby GT350’s 5.2-litre capacity and flat-plane crankshaft arrangement, but while initial reports suggested ‘over 500hp' (373kW), Ford has now released definitive outputs, showing 526hp (392kW) of power peak at 7500rpm.

That makes it the most powerful naturally-aspirated Ford powerplant in history, and is backed up by 429lb-ft (582Nm) of torque at 4750rpm. Ninety per cent of the engine’s peak torque is delivered between 3450 and 7000rpm.
   
To achieve these impressive headline figures without forced induction, Ford has ensured the new V8 – exclusive to Shelby GT350 and GT350R variants – can rev.

With the engine’s connecting rods attaching to the gun-drilled forged crankshaft at 180-degree intervals, the V8’s ignition events are alternated between the engine’s two cylinder banks, improving engine breathing and allowing for the 8250rpm redline.

The slightly-oversquare (94mm bore, 93mm stroke, for 5163cc total displacement) sports a 12.0:1 compression ratio and a single 87mm throttle body. The camshafts generate up to 14mm of valve lift, with hollow-stem intake and sodium-filled exhaust valves controlling gasflow.

The Shelby GT350’s engine block is also exotic, being crafted out of aluminium and featuring plasma cylinder linings, replacing the traditional (and heavy) iron linings.

Both Shelby GT350 and GT350R ’Stangs will only be available with an aluminium-cased Tremec-built six-speed manual gearbox.

“A new Mustang as exceptional as the Shelby GT350 deserves an equally extraordinary engine,” said Dave Pericak, director of Ford Performance.

“The all-new naturally-aspirated 5.2-litre V8 perfectly fits the balanced dynamics of the Shelby GT350, and we believe this new engine will become a performance legend.”

Alas, as we've reported, both the GT350 and GT350R Mustangs will not be produced in right-hand drive and therefore won't be available Down Under, and nor will a new-generation Shelby GT500 if it eventuates.

As we revealed exclusively last month, however, a mammoth 500kW Roush Performance kit and a range of other official Ford Performance Racing upgrades will be available for the new supercharged V8 Mustang GT when it goes on sale here in December.