We’ve just returned from Dearborn, where Ford showed select members of the media an advanced preview of some of the new iron they’ll be debuting in New York next week. Chief among them is this limited-edition Shelby GT500KR Mustang, which will find its way into the driveways of 1,000 fortunate customers next spring.
Designed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original “King of the Road” Mustang, this hardtop-only coupe (no convertible model is planned) has been massaged by SVT to get a full 540 horsepower/510 pound-feet of torque out of its 5.4-liter supercharged V-8.
Officials were quick to point out that the KR doesn’t only gain in power, it also has a number of other bits that will find their way into Ford’s performance catalogs, to be available ala-carte to current Mustang owners.
(Click through to the jump for further details, additional images, and Ford’s official press release)
In addition to the Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack (cold air intake, various ECU tinkerings), the car receives a bunch of other performance parts, including a short-throw shifter, low-restriction exhaust, a Shelby KR-style carbon-fiber hood, a strut tower brace, and so on.
Brakes will stay stock, save the addition of some cooling ducts, but the suspension receives a whole host of upgrades, including revised springs, dampers, and stabilizer bars. The new bits will be shrouded by Shelby-designed 18-inch GT500KR wheels (the showcar seen here has 20-inch wheels).
While the company declined to put a sticker price on the car, given its upgrades on a standard GT500, it’s reasonable to assume that the car will likely sell for around $50k—provided your dealer has one available.
MORE MUSTANG POWER: FORD SHELBY GT500KR ‘KING OF THE ROAD’ RETURNS IN 2008
2008 Shelby GT500KR* Celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra GT500KR, Ford and Shelby collaborate on a new ‘King of the Road’ Mustang with the 2008 Shelby GT500KR.
* Shelby GT500KR features an estimated 540-hp 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 with a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack, 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, short-throw shifter, and unique suspension tuning.
* Exterior design draws inspiration from the classic Shelby KR Mustangs and features unique carbon composite hood, wheels, and special 40th Anniversary badging and unique striping.
* Shelby GT500KR arrives in spring 2008 in an exclusive run of only 1000 units.
DEARBORN, Mich., March 30 - Ford and Shelby Automobiles are at it again, this time in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR. To be unveiled at the 2007 New York International Auto Show, the 2008 Shelby GT500KR—the most powerful Mustang to date—will once again mark Mustang as ‘King of the Road.’
“I’m proud to once again be a part of an historical moment, bringing back the ‘King of the Road’ Mustang, and collaborating with Ford SVT and Ford Racing” said Carroll Shelby. “I’m committed to continuously upping the ante when it comes to performance, and it’s great to be doing it with Ford.” “The return of the Shelby GT500KR further establishes Mustang as the true king of the pony car segment,” said Robert Parker, manager of Ford Car Brand. “With the unveiling of the new KR we are staying true to the promise we made our loyal Mustang fans to continue Mustang’s prowess by bringing new, exciting and more powerful Mustangs to market.”
Forty years ago, at the 1967 New York Auto Show, Ford introduced the most powerful Shelby Mustang ever. Like every Mustang that bore the name ‘Shelby,’ the GT500KR carries with it its own unique story.
The 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500KR was a mid-year introduction, based on the 1968 Shelby GT500. Ford added ‘Cobra’ to the Shelby’s moniker to help usher in the beginning of a new performance era at the company. The Cobra name referred to the new 428 Cobra Jet V-8 that was planted under the KR’s custom fiberglass hood. It was the engine that would once again vault the Mustang to the head of the pack.
Ford conservatively rated the 428 CJ at 335-horsepower, but in reality it made more than 400-horsepower and 440 pounds-feet of torque. The KR model was also equipped with a modified suspension and was offered both in fastback and convertible models. Ford dealers sold 1,570 GT500KR models in 1968, 1053 fastbacks and 517 convertibles.
While the name ‘King of the Road’ may have been the perfect fit for the world’s most powerful Mustang, it also provided Shelby the chance to steal the thunder from cross-town rival General Motors. As the legend goes, Shelby learned that GM was planning to introduce a high-performance model and call it ‘King of the Road.’
Since he had always wanted to use the name, and as one to never miss an opportunity, Shelby set his organization in gear, registering the name and designing new badging for the Cobra Jet-powered Mustang, christening it the GT500KR, and bringing Ford’s ‘King of the Road’ to market before GM ever got a chance to apply the name to their product.
Thoroughbred Pedigree
Just like its 1968 namesake, the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR builds on the strong foundation of the Shelby GT500. Packing 40 more horses under its custom-designed carbon composite hood, the GT500KR is the most powerful production Ford Mustang ever produced.The modern Shelby Mustang line-up started with the 2007 Shelby GT500 coupe and convertible. With the recent launch of the 2007 Shelby GT, the 2008 Shelby GT500KR becomes the third production high-performance Mustang brought to market through the relationship of Shelby Automobiles and Ford. Ford and Shelby Automobiles also partnered up with Hertz to produce a special limited run of 500 Shelby GT-H “rent-a-racer” Mustangs available only for rent.
The 2007 Shelby GT500 has been one of the most successful vehicle programs in the 14-year history of Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) and that success has opened the door for more performance collaborations with Shelby Automobiles and Ford Racing. Working together, these three performance powerhouses are driving Mustang momentum on the street and on the racetrack. Dealers cannot keep the cars on their lots, customers are clamoring for more, and racers are bringing home championships.
Shelby Mustangs have already achieved some impressive highlights showcasing an enthusiast demand that is unmatched in the business:
# The first 2007 Shelby GT500 available to the public sold for $600,000 dollars at the 2006 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, AZ benefiting the Carroll Shelby Children’s Foundation.
# 2007 Shelby GT VIN#1 also went for $600,000 at charity auction, this time at the 2007 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction (and the winning bidder also took the opportunity to purchase VIN#2 at MSRP).
# Shelby GT-H coupes auctioned off to Ford dealers after completion of Hertz rental duty consistently average $50,000, with high auction bids of $90,000.The Shelby GT500KR will be produced in an exclusive run of 1000 units and will begin arriving in Ford dealers in the spring of 2008.
Crowning the New “King of the Road”
Doug Gaffka, Ford SVT chief designer, and his team worked closely with Carroll Shelby and the Shelby team to make certain the new KR was crafted in the spirit of the original Shelby muscle car.“This was a great effort between Ford and Shelby Automobiles,” said Gaffka. “The Shelby team and I were in constant contact melding Carroll’s classic design cues with some modern concepts and ideas and finessing them into the design of the new KR.”
Gary Davis, vice president of production and product development for Shelby Automobiles, played a key role in defining the look of the custom designed carbon composite hood for the GT500KR. His knowledge of the original GT500KR helped sculpt a modern interpretation of the original’s bulging hood scoop, a visual indication of the extra horsepower packed beneath it. The hood is secured by a pair of stainless steel, twist-down hood pins. The composite front valance houses a pair of chrome-trimmed, functional brake ducts to cool the large 14-inch, vented Brembo front brakes.
Side stripes are true to the original KR right down to the font used for the ‘GT500KR’ lettering, while the classic LeMans-style striping that races down the center of the car has been deleted between the leading forward edge of the hood scoops and the front of the hood, accenting the scoops and giving the KR its distinctive face. “That was Shelby’s idea,” said Gaffka. “It’s a special touch that adds some down-the-road differentiation. There will be no doubt that it’s a ‘King of the Road’ Mustang that’s filling up your rearview mirrors.”
The show car wears exclusive, Shelby-designed 20-inch, forged, polished aluminum wheels with special custom center caps, mounted on Pirelli rubber. Production models will arrive with an 18-inch version of the design.
Each KR model is identified by special 40th Anniversary KR badges on the fenders and grille, distinctive body colored mirror caps and Shelby lettering stretching across the front of the hood and along the rear portion of the deck lid. A special Shelby VIN tag is affixed to each vehicle, mounted in the engine compartment.
The all-leather interior features Carroll Shelby signature embroidered headrests and an official Shelby CSM 40th Anniversary GT500KR dash plate mounted at the top of the center stack.
The KR’s 5.4-liter V-8 Gets the Royal Treatment
Just like its namesake, the 2008 ‘King of the Road’ packs a walloping dose of Ford performance power under its massive composite hood scoops. The Ford SVT-engineered 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 is treated to a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack that boosts horsepower to an estimated 540 and torque to 510 ft.-lbs., thanks to revised ignition and throttle calibration and a cold air intake system that replaces the stock unit.Calibration modifications include advancing the ignition timing as well as re-mapping of the electronic throttle settings to provide quicker throttle response for better off-line and mid-range acceleration. Increased throttle response will be met with a sharper roar from the Ford Racing-inspired exhaust system.
Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission and 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, upgraded from the standard GT500’s 3.31:1. Gear selection is courtesy of an all-new Ford Racing short-throw shifter making its debut on the KR. Topped with a white ball, the new shifter is 25 percent shorter than the unit on the GT500 providing for crisper, sharper shifts.
Ford SVT, Ford Racing and Team Shelby worked together to develop the KR’s suspension tuning. Based on initial work by Ford Racing and the team at Shelby, often at Shelby’s own facility on the grounds of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ford SVT chassis engineers will apply fine tuning techniques to prepare it for the streets.
“The production Shelby GT500 was maximized to deliver the perfect balance between ride and handling,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief nameplate engineer, Ford SVT. “In that same ride versus handling continuum, the KR will lean heavier towards all-out handling while still making it drivable on the street.”
Chassis engineers worked closely with the engine department in a holistic approach to the development of the KR, tuning the suspension to best optimize the engine enhancements.
“We aren’t fixing our attention on one or two attributes, but working on the vehicle as a whole,” stated Gary Patterson, vice president of operations for Shelby Automobiles. “The throttle response, power delivery, exhaust note, and handling should all gel together to deliver a total driving experience.”
The GT500KR will feature unique spring rates, dampers, stabilizer bars, and strut tower brace, all designed specifically for the KR, to deliver the precision handling package.
Mustang Momentum Cannot be Stopped
Unwilling to wait for the impending pony car war to heat up, Ford is extending Mustang’s leadership position by feeding the enthusiast demand for more models, features, performance parts, and special editions. Ford has committed to at least one new Mustang ‘feature’ vehicle per year. For 2007, it is the Shelby GT, and for 2008, there will be at least two including the Shelby GT500KR and the previously announced Mustang Bullitt. Ford’s ‘Steed for Every Need’ strategy currently offers four horsepower options for Mustang, with pricing from $19,995 for a 240-hp V-6 Mustang coupe to $46,500 for a 500-hp Shelby GT500 convertible.Ford has also introduced several special packages on Mustang further increasing its unique offerings, including the Pony Package and the California Special. In addition, Ford Racing offers a complete catalog of performance parts for Mustang fans, from custom wheels and exhausts to the complete, turn-key Ford Racing Mustang FR500C race car.
As a result, Ford offers Mustang enthusiasts the ability to buy, modify and drive the steed that perfectly fits their need.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 280,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Aston Martin and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.About Shelby Automobiles, Inc.
Founded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby Automobiles, Inc., manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products. The company manufactures authentic continuation Cobras, including the 427 S/C, 289 FIA and 289 street car component vehicles. In 2007, the company partnered with Ford Motor Company to launch the new Shelby GT, which is based on the Mustang. For more information about Shelby Automobiles and to see the build of a 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR, visit www.shelbyautos.com.2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR – Specifications and Design Highlights
# 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 producing an estimated 540-horsepower and 510 ft.-lbs. of torque
# Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack featuring revised calibration and cold air intake system
# 6-speed manual transmission with 3.73:1 rear axle ratio
# Ford Racing performance exhaust system
# Unique performance suspension tuning: springs, dampers, and stabilizer bars
# Shelby-designed ‘GT500KR’ 20-inch wheels (18-inch version for production)
# Ford Racing short-throw shifter and front strut tower brace
# Unique carbon composite hood featuring classic Shelby ‘KR’ design
# Front brake cooling ducts
# ‘Shelby’ lettering across the front edge of hood and rear decklid
# 40th Anniversary badges on the front quarter panels
# Carroll Shelby signature embroidered headrests and floor mats
# Official Shelby CSM 40th Anniversary GT500KR dash plate
great car, with 50 grand price tag. I wonder though whether it can handle all that power. it’s the same thing I think with the new 600bhp viper, can these two cars handle that much power. WR please do a test drive for them and tell us.
Nice hood.
MAN, itll be impossible to get one of those, with only 1000, they’ll be charging at least 100k US, definitely double sticker price
The current Cobra can’t put all the power down as it is. How is adding 65hp going to make the car faster/better unless you drive around on drag radials. It is just a desperate attempt by Ford to make a profit and what a better whore than the Mustang? The only problem is that Ford has exhausted almost all the past Mustang name plates. Soon all the people old enough to remember these vintage name plates will be too old to drive one.
A classic already. And noone on Earth gives a damn whether or not it can put all that power down and hold it. Most will never be driven and the ones that are will be parading around with an occasional throttle blip to make the chicks get wiggly.
Ford is decidedly desperate and it’s going to suck every ounce of life from whatever U.S.-based hit it’s got. Nothing wrong with it - everybody does it.
This is very cool. The KR takes me back to my high school years in NJ. I lived on RT 22, just west of the Shelby dealer in Scotch Plains. I worked at an AMOCO station that the dealer would fill up the cars prior to delivery. The sales guys would complain about how hard it was to get rid of these expensive GT500KRs! (not a problem anymore)
These modern Shelby variants are pretty easy to eclipse, with a Mustang GT and the robust aftermarket. I have an 06 GT with suspension and performance modifications that puts me in between the GT500 and the Shelby GT from a performance standpoint. My total investment is less that $33K including the car.
I hope Ford keeps on this path, I could not afford to participate the last time you could buy a muscle car from a dealer.
Stock brakes on a high performance car?? Brakes are very important with speed. I hope the cooling ducts mean something
The brakes are stock Cobra brakes. 4 piston calipers and oversized rotors.
When Richard Hammond reviewed the GT500 on Top Gear, he stated that Ford didn’t include an IRS on the Cobra because it would add $5,000 to the sticker price. While there is the chance that he wasn’t correctly informed regarding that matter, he was correct in saying that you _cannot_ keep adding power to the Mustang without first modernizing the suspension (Roush Mustangs make the GT500s look like trash, and have 85 fewer BHP). By which I mean **ditching the live rear axle!!** While I think this car looks excellent and probably sounds better, there is no way I would pay _at least_ $50K for a Mustang that still has a prehistoric differential out back. C’mon, FoMoCo… Don’t you think you’ll make enough money back on each one you sell to include an IRS?? And it’s not exactly like those in the market for a GT500KR are scrupulous spenders, anyway. Just give me an IRS already!!! I’m so tired of complaining about this issue, but Ford never fixes the problem.
[…] wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptWe’ve just returned from Dearborn, where Ford showed select members of the media an advanced preview of some of the new iron they’ll be debuting in New York next week. Chief among them is this limited-edition Shelby GT500KR Mustang, … […]
You’ll be seeing morons at Barrett-Jackson spending $300,000 on one. (They spent more than a half-million on a GT500.) The car looks good (much better than the plain-Jane GT500), but cut the weight–please. If this car comes in at 3,400 lbs., it’ll be a godsend. If you can’t buy a GT500KR for under $100,000, consider a Roush Stage 3 or a Saleen S281 Ultimate.
this is what american cars should be!!!
Ana bahibak inta,Ya Mustada!.
[…] Winding Road Magazine, MI - Mar 30, 2007Celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra GT500KR, Ford and Shelby collaborate on a new King of the Road Mustang with the 2008 …Ford Previews GT500KR Ahead Of NY Rollout […]
[…] For more info and pics click here These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]
Ford…Ford….Ford….come on now….build a new car forget the mustcant!!! You will never achieve a perfect car like the Corvette. People want to get there money out of a car some how….you pay that much all that power better grip the road. I can’t wait to see the road test. I bet if they put KR against a stock vet (Lowest price vette) and vette runs all over it. The mustang just isn’t what it use to be. its a cheap teenage young 20’s kids car…You buy that KR then have to put 10 grand to keep up with the cars breed to race and rip asphalt off the road…We will see though. The car has great design features. but nothing special under the hood. The rear end will go some time…Good luck ford… I have pictures of the new Corvette SS if anybody is interested and a small article on it…now thats gonna be one hell of a car!!!!billabong21@gmail.com
^”Wayne Evans”
Your comparing two different animals…The corvette is chevy’s highest performance car, like the ford GT. The real comparison is between the KR and the new Camaro SS or something, just like it was 40 years ago. Your the first person I have seen to compare a low profile high perf. car (corvette) to a 4 seater slight performance car thats been tuned and tweaked to be like a high performance car(Mustang KR). Its apples to oranges man.
The real rivals like I said, are the Camaro and Mustang, like its always been.
Cant wait to see how many melted valve covers, siezed rocker arms, broken conrods, and exploding spark plugs this new junk can produce. GG Ford.
Sweat car It would be nice to own!!!!
The original “King of the Road” didn’t come out in ‘68 and it wasn’t a Shelby.
It was Tasca Ford dealership that retrofitted ‘67 GTs with 428 Police Interceptors that were called “King of the Road”.
OMG DUDE NEVER EVER COMPARE A MUSTANG TO A STUPID CHEVROLET ESPECIALLY TO A CORVETTE PLEASE… the mustang can beat the corvette with no problem.. and the mustang dont look like some one came up behind and kicked its butt flat… see if cops actually got a ford mustang for a car.. they would have no problems getting the people that decide to run away from them because no other car can beat this one… FORD IS THE BEST
This is my dream car, i would give my left boy for this car!
ok i will admit it pobably cant compete with a corvette. but like its been said before….the corvette is in a different performance catagory than the mustang. It is very unfair to compare the two. Its biggest competitor is the Comaro. You want a to compare a vette with somthin? Try the Ford GT. I do like the corvette but it doesnt look anywhere as badass as the mustang shelby. or any mustang for that matter. I am not sure if they kept the live rear axle or not in the 08 i have not done all my homework….but knowing Ford they did..so then OTHER THAN THAT, they did a great job on this car. Looks Amazing!
wayne, your a dumbsht, there is no better car then the mustang. the mustang still looks like a muscle car. And the only thing that has stayed the same on the corvette is the tail lights. Its obvious that ford has stuck with there roots by keeping the same great look. The corvette is a piece, its way too expensive for what your getting. take for example, in 2003 the cobra mustang sold for about half as much as the corvette and the ran the same times. if you put the R version wing on it, it would do 175mph STOCK. there isnt alot of $35,000 cars that can do that. So i would say that chevy wont ever achieve a more perfect car then the mustang.
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