2017 Shelby GT350: What You Need to Know

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Ford proclaims that the Shelby GT350 Mustang is the most track-ready, street-legal Mustang ever. It is hard to argue the point. Where past Shelby Mustangs were abundantly powerful and capable of doing smoky burnouts, their handling in recent years fell a little short of what might have been expected in a world-class sports car.

The new Shelby GT350, introduced last year and returning for 2017 with few changes, is a different animal. It is lighter, delivers sharper, better-balanced handling, and features a flat-crank 5.2-liter V8 engine that sounds and responds more like a racecar engine than a motor meant for the street. In this regard, the Shelby GT350 is very much in the original sports car mold. It is a car that can be driven legally on public roads to and from racetracks, where it can compete successfully.

For hardcore racing enthusiasts, Ford also offers the Shelby GT350R. Think of the GT350 as the better daily driver. For all you need to know about the Shelby GT350 and GT350R Mustang, read on.

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Styling

While the hood and front fenders, each with air vents, are not shared with the non-Shelby Mustangs, the styling themes and overall look certainly are. If you can recognize the current Mustang from a distance, you’ll have no problem picking out the Shelby GT350 or GT350R.

Still, changes in the exterior are numerous, with most of these modifications designed to improve aerodynamics. In addition to the hood and fenders, these changes include modifications to the front fascia and a rear functional diffuser that boosts downward force while ducting air to the now standard differential cooler. 

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Engine and Transmission

The normally aspirated 5.2-liter V8, the only engine offered, produces 526-horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. Its unique sound, a cross between a deep burble and a muted but sharp bark, is entirely appropriate for a street-legal track car and a byproduct of its flat-crank design.

On the track, the engine begins to deliver maximum performance once the tachometer needle passes 4,000 rpm. From there, engine speeds just keep climbing. Maximum engine speed is an astounding 8,250 rpm. Sending this power to the rear wheels is a six-speed manual transmission. Its clutch is surprisingly light for the engine’s power, and the shift linkage feels solid and precise. No automatic is offered, though there are rumors that a dual-clutch automatic is in the works for a 2018 update. 

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Suspension

Ford started with the new Mustang platform introduced for 2015. It included an independent rear suspension for all Mustangs for the first time. For the Shelby GT350s, Ford tuned the springs, shocks, anti-roll bars, and bushings to make the Shelby competitive with some of the world’s best-handling vehicles.

With the Track Package now standard, all 2017 GT350s have magnetic variable dampers, transmission and differential coolers, front shock tower bracing, and firmer springs, made livable on public roads by the fast-acting magnetic dampers. With this change, the base price of the 2017 GT350 rose by about $6,000.

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Wheels and Tires

It should come as no surprise that the Shelby GT350 has larger tires than the standard Mustang GT. Up front, Ford installed 295/35 Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires on 19-inch alloy wheels, painted black.

The GT350R uses lighter carbon-fiber 19-inch wheels and 305/30 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. The R’s carbon-fiber wheels weigh only 18 pounds each, which cuts unsprung weight to aid ride and handling.  

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Brakes

Track trials show that the Shelby GT350 has great brakes. To achieve its excellent stopping distances, brake feel, and heat resistance, Ford uses two-piece cross-drilled brake discs with Brembo six-piston calipers up front and four-piston calipers at the rear.

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Interior and Technology

The driver and front passenger are hugged by aggressively bolstered Recaro sport seats with cloth upholstery. These are designed to work well on the street and at the track. A flat-bottom D-shaped steering wheel makes getting in and out easier. Upgraded gauges have finishes meant to minimize reflections, while a new, optional Electronics Package includes SYNC 3 voice-activated navigation and a nine-speaker audio system. Leather-trimmed, power-adjustable sport seats are another option. 

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GT350R

The GT350R is for owners who will participate in track events frequently. Changes to the base GT350 include an upgraded suspension, stickier tires, and deletions of the back seat, air conditioning, radio, backup camera, and tire inflator kit. That’s all done to save vehicle weight, but it also lightens the buyer’s wallet by $7,500.

Having stepped up to the R version, buyers can undo some of these austerity measures by opting for the $3,000 Electronics Package, which includes an audio system, dual-zone electronic climate control, voice-activated navigation, and a tire inflator kit.

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Options

Options are surprisingly few. Some colors will add $395 to the sticker price, while the wide racing stripes are $495 extra. Shelby GT350 buyers can upgrade the car’s audio system and add SYNC 3, voice-activated navigation, and dual-zone electronic climate control, among other features, with the $3,000 Electronics Package.   

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The Competition

Ford had some lofty targets in mind when it designed the Shelby GT350 and GT350R. At an introduction, a Ford spokesperson compared the Shelby GT350 to performance models from BMW and Porsche. While some people could argue that there will be little cross shopping between the Shelby and these brands, the GT350’s sticker price, not to mention possible dealer surcharges when demand exceeds supply, suggests some viable alternatives.

Among domestics, the 650-horsepower Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is a logical competitor. It is a little faster, handles superbly, and it can be had with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which will please many potential buyers. Fiat Chrysler has the 707-horsepower Dodge Challenger Hellcat, which is less of a track car but still one impressive grand touring machine. It, too, gives buyers the choice of a manual or automatic transmission. And then, let us not forget the Corvette.

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Legal Issues

A lawsuit has been filed against Ford Motor Company by three 2016 Shelby GT350 owners who claim that their transmissions and differentials overheat during track use. External coolers for the transmission and differential fluids solve this problem, but they were only included on GT350Rs and cars with the optional Track Package in 2016.

The plaintiffs argue that their cars are not fit for track use without external coolers and Ford, having promoted the car as “Track Ready,” is therefore at fault. Ford has added these coolers on all GT350s for 2017 by making the Track Package standard equipment. 

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