Connect with us

Ford Dives Deep into the Shelby GT350’s Handling

(Credit: © Ford)

Latest Car News

Ford Dives Deep into the Shelby GT350’s Handling

Shelby GT350R Mustang

Shelby GT350R Mustang (Credit: © Ford)

So much stock has been put into the 2016 Shelby GT350’s flat-plane-crank V-8 that Ford felt it was time to take a dive into the suspension system of this model and its even hotter R sister.

2016 Shelby GT350 Carbon Fiber Support

2016 Shelby GT350 Carbon Fiber Support (Credit: © Ford)

Making a great-handling car starts with stiffness. To achieve a 28 percent stiffer chassis than the standard Mustang GT, Ford includes new lightweight aluminum strut-tower braces that connect the struts to the firewall. Also part of the equation is a carbon-fiber grille opening reinforcement that is 24 percent lighter than steel without compromising its rigidity.

Linking the moving bits together is another piece of the equation, and the GT350 received plenty of attention in this area. Ford begins with an all-aluminum front knuckle, hub, and bearing assemblies, which not only reduce weight, but are also stronger than those on the standard `Stang. It also adds in rigid bushings in the control arms and installs larger-diameter antiroll bars to keep everything nice and tight.

2016 Shelby GT350 Rear Suspension

2016 Shelby GT350 Rear Suspension (Credit: © Ford)

A hidden weapon in the Shelby GT350 is its MagneRide suspension system. The GT350 marks the first time ever that Ford has used a continuously variable MagneRide system. These updated dampers are filled with iron particles that change the pressure within via an electrical current. This helps stiffen or loosen the ride to compensate for the conditions.

2016 Shelby GT350 Rotor and Caliper

2016 Shelby GT350 Rotor and Caliper (Credit: © Ford)

Going fast and handling the twist are only two parts to a track-tuned machine. The third ingredient is being able to come to a halt under great control and very predictably. The GT350’s two-piece cross-drilled iron rotors with aluminum hats are more than capable of handling these duties. Up front are 394 mm rotors clamped by six-pot Brembo calipers, while the 380 mm rotors on the rear get the squeeze from four-pot Brembos. Cool brakes are effective brakes, and the GT350 has dedicated cooling ducts for both the front and rear speed eaters.

2016 Shelby GT350 Tire

2016 Shelby GT350 Tire (Credit: © Ford)

The final pieces of the track-tuning puzzle are those hunks of rubber on the corners. Ford includes 19-inch cast-aluminum wheels on the GT350, and then slathers them in Michelin Pilot Sport tires specifically manufactured for the fast Mustang. The aluminum rollers measure 10.5 inches wide up front and 11 inches wide on the rear.

The GT350R gets a little more rubber in the form of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires wrapped up in 11-inch-wide rollers up front and 11.5-inch-wide rims out back. The wheels on the GT350 are not only wider than those on the GT350, but they are also about 50 pounds lighter, further reducing the model’s unsprung weight.
Needless to say, Ford went the extra mile to make the GT350 and GT350R two badass rigs. Let’s just hope that they live up to the hype.

Continue Reading
1 Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

More in Latest Car News

SPONSORED

Newsletter

Get Our StoriesIn Your Inbox

Subscribe for our latest news, reviews, and lists.

Popular Stories

Recent Posts

SPONSORED
To Top