2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 2dr Coupe
Trim Info:
14 mpg city / 20 mpg hwy
Estimated Mileage
Miles
accurate info about this vehicle
Expert Reviews
There’s no doubting the Mustang’s mass-market appeal, the proof is in the numbers. Ford recently passed a major milestone, announcing it has sold a staggering 9 million Mustangs since the car’s introduction in 1964. The result is a Mustang culture steeped in tradition, history, passion and of course, tuning. And when it comes to tuning Mustangs, no name elicits more respect and nostalgia than that of Carroll Shelby. So who better for Ford to partner with in order to create the most powerful factory Mustang in the company’s long and illustrious history. Thus, the two longtime partners have created the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR, harkening back to Shelby’s original 1968 GT500KR, an abbreviation for GT500 “King of the Road." With design elements and parts coming from Ford, SVT, Ford Racing and Shelby motors, the 2008 GT500KR represents the ultimate factory Mustang and, with just over 1,700 models being produced, quite possibly the most exclusive as well.
The GT500KR belts out possibly the loudest V-8 soundtrack we’ve ever heard and the supercharger isn’t far behind, emitting a piercing howl beyond 3,500 rpm. All that noise isn’t just for show and keeping the KR below the speed limit is mostly an exercise in futility.
The KR’s lofty price tag and limited production gives it real “collector car" appeal, meaning few will see (or equally important, hear) one on the road, let alone have the opportunity to own an example. Those who do are well advised to invest in oil stocks, as they’ll be habitually refueling the KR.
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Big power is the GT500KR’s obvious appeal and it doesn’t disappoint, belting out 540 horsepower. The supercharged V-8 sees the GT500KR to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds and through the quarter mile shortly thereafter in 12.1 seconds. Without a doubt, the KR needs this power in order to hurl its bulky dimensions down the road because, despite being 22 lbs slimmer than the standard GT500, it still weighs in at 3,879 lbs. The heavy front end results in diminished feedback, though it’s certainly an improvement over the standard GT500. Despite its mass, the KR manages 1.00g on the skid pad thanks in part to bespoke Goodyear Eagle F1 soft compound tires, though the stiffer, lower suspension and revised camber setup certainly play a role as well. As such, where you think the KR’s rear end will break loose under mid-corner acceleration, with some minor throttle adjustment it just grips and goes. The stiffer setup manifests itself only on the roughest of roads and the same goes for the Mustang’s often-bashed live rear axle.
The KR is powered by a violent, deafening Ford SVT-engineered 5.4-liter supercharged V-8, churning out 540 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. Power is transmitted through the rear wheels via a shorter 3.73:1 final drive ratio (as opposed to the GT500’s 3.31:1), and the six-speed gearbox boasts 25 percent shorter throws than that of the GT500.
The aerodynamics of the KR have been reworked with the primary focus being on stability at speed. The result is a pronounced carbon fiber front spoiler which increases front-end downforce by 31 percent, but just as noticeable is the short rear wing in the back, the aim of which is to reduce rear-end downforce, moving aero pressure closer to the car’s center of gravity. The ABS system and traction control have received extra tuning as well, and as a result, the traction control now yields improved straight line acceleration performance – something the KR excels at – while 60-0 braking has been reduced by 6 ft.
It sounds strange, but the GT500KR’s hood is somewhat of a technological marvel. Formed from two pieces of carbon fiber, the Dual Chamber Ducted Hood not only weighs 11 lbs less than that of the GT500, but also features unique ducting chambers which isolate intake and outlet air. Basically, the inlets seen on the front of the KR’s hood feed to the air intake filter, which is sealed against the closed hood, isolating it from the rest of the engine compartment to prevent heat soak. At the same time, hot air rises into alternate ducting open to the engine bay, which then vents into the atmosphere through the topside engine vents. This ensures the KR inducts cold air into the supercharger while simultaneously shedding engine heat.
So what of the KR’s mileage? In two words: Not good. EPA numbers haven’t been released yet, but the 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 is going to be thirsty, with Shelby reporting a combined cycle average consumption of 15.3 mpg throughout initial testing. Once you’ve heard the GT500KR’s exhaust note, however, you’ll realize you wouldn’t have it any other way.
Interior
The KR distinguishes itself from standard Mustangs with a large, three-spoke steering wheel complete with requisite cobra logo, a Shelby Motors production plaque mounted between the center air vents and black sports seats featuring Carroll Shelby’s autograph on the headrest. Unfortunately, the interior plastics are still lower-level Mustang, and don’t match the hefty price tag. The seats are comfortable enough for long rides and the back seat is best suited for extra baggage, not people.
Sitting lower than the GT500, the KR has an immediate sense of aggression about it from its front brake ducts and carbon fiber spoiler to the dual exhausts and massive rear tires. Shelby and GT500KR logos have been fitted around the exterior to remind you that this is a special Mustang; not that the exhaust note would ever let you forget it.
Being king of the road comes at a shocking price - $79,995 to be exact – quite steep when you consider the standard GT500 is only $45,000. While the GT500KR outperforms the GT500 in every way, it’s hard to say the price hike is justified. However, considering there will only be 1,000 KR’s for 2008 and 746 for 2009, after which production will cease, the KR is very much a collector’s car. Still, slightly less could get you any number of evocative machines including a Porsche 911, Nissan GT-R, Lotus Exige S or, for $85,000, a Dodge Viper SRT-10.
The GT500KR is more than homage to a long gone classic – not to mention a mouthful of letters and numbers – it is a truly capable high-performance machine. It may not be as nimble as some of the lightweight competition, but the appeal of the engine note alone is enough for most muscle car junkies. While the Ford Shelby GT500 KR might not be the absolute ruler of the road its name suggests, it’s certainly a member of the royal family.
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2008 Mustang Specs – 2008 Mustang SpecsStandard Safety. Side air bags are now standard on all Mustang models.Cool New Features. Available interior ambient lighting and HID headlampsadd a touch of upscale class. Bold Design. Three new colors andavailable 18-inch premium w Source: www.hotrod.com
Mustang Bullitt (TM) Races to the Streets in 2008 – Mustang Bullitt (TM) Races to the Streets in 2008SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 6 - Four decades after hitting thebig screen and redefining the onscreen car chase, the Ford MustangBullitt returns to the streets in 2008, blending the best Mustang everwith the la Source: www.hotrod.com
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt – Filed under: Garage, Coupes, FordClick above for high-res gallery of the Mustang BullittMy earliest memory of falling in love with a car was a Mustang. As a kid, a friend of our family had a blue 1969 Mach 1 with the Shaker hood scoop, louvers on the Source: feeds.autoblog.com
DRIVERS LOG: 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt: – EXECUTIVE EDITOR WES RAYNAL: IÂ’m sure that if it hasnÂ’t happened already, it will very soon: All 7700 Mustang Bullitts will be sold. Recall that it took only a couple of months to sell all 5000 of the Â’01 Bullitts. Source: www.autoweek.com
Tjaarda and HST International now taking orders for all-electric Mustang and Shelby Cobra – Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green DailyHST International and Tjaarda Design have announced a new partnership that they say will "change the face of electric cars." Actually, what's going on here is that the partnership is changing whats under the hood o Source: feeds.feedburner.com
2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR – 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR Source: cars.about.com
First Drive: 2008 Shelby GT500KR, Part 2 – Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Ford, ShelbyClick above for new high-res gallery of our GT500KR First Drive Our initial drive of the Shelby GT500KR on public roads revealed that Ford, SVT and Shelby had addressed many of the issues that we had with Source: feeds.autoblog.com
First Drive: 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR – It's Good To Be King: GT500, kicked up a notch. Or two. Source: www.motortrend.com
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Shelby GT500KR priced near $80,000: – There's nothing low-key about the 2008 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR--including its price--which will be about $80,000 when the remake of the 1968 classic arrives in showrooms later this month. Source: www.autoweek.com
Comparison: 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 vs. 2008 Ford Shelby GT500 – Time Travelers: Nixon may not be in the White House, but among the Big Three it's 1970 all over again. Source: www.motortrend.com
Ford GT500KR Test Drive - Part I - Garage419 – We stomp on the new 540hp Ford GT500 King of the Road through the hills of Utah. Can this car keep up with all the hype? Watch and find out. Source: www.garage419.com
Big, bad horsepower daddy: A new king of the road – If you think the 500-hp Ford Mustang GT500 is a bit anemic, you're in luck. Coming to Ford dealerships later this month is the biggest, baddest, fastest production Mustang ever, the limited-edition Shelby GT500KR. Source: www.autoweek.com
Ford GT500KR Test Drive - Part II - Garage419 – Matt Farah takes a ride in the new GT500KR around Utah's famous Miller Motorsports Park. Does the supercharged Mustang live up to its name of King of the Road? Can this car keep up with all the hype? Watch and find out. Source: www.garage419.com
Ford King of the Road GT500 Worth... $154,991?! – eBay is somewhat of a double-edges sword. On one hand, it can get you great deals on products you want. On the other hand, however, it is a go-to place for people trying to sell the hype of their wares onto an unsuspecting public. There is no greater Source: forums.motivemag.com
Long Live the King: The Shelby GT500KR Returns – With Texas-sized fanfare, complete with fireworks and a chili cook-off, Carroll “Ferrari’s ass is mine†Shelby finished his eighty-fifth lap of the sun this past January. He’s no spring chicken, but the race is far from over Source: feeds.feedburner.com
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Eighth Verse, Same as the First – We recently had the chance to flog four examples currently offered by Ford at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Source: www.0-60mag.com
Track Test: 2008 Roush 427R Trak Pak Mustang – Filed under: Tuners, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Ford, ROUSHClick above for a high-res gallery of the Roush 437R Trak Pak Mustang. We've driven our fair share of Mustangs, but it's a rare occasion that we get to drive one at the track. That's part of the rea Source: feeds.feedburner.com
2008 RaceCraft 420S Mustang – 2008 RaceCraft 420S MustangSaleen Incorporated, best known for modifying high-performance Ford Mustangs and F-150s, has created a new entry-level performance vehicle line.Racecraft, a name associated with Saleen suspensions, will now become a full Sa Source: www.automobilemag.com
SHORT STINT: 2008 Ford Mustang convertible: – OUR TAKE: The Mustang convertibleÂ’s ride is fairly soft, and it gets out of sorts over rough pavement. That said, it is still surprising just how quiet the Mustang is. Source: www.autoweek.com
Long Term Update 2: 2008 Ford Shelby GT Convertible – According associate Web editor Kirill Ougarov, "Between the Shelby's cool factor and throaty engine noise, you almost forget about its bumpy, shaky ride, underwhelming stereo, and it-is-what-it-is interior."Other complaints? "The old-school Hurst shi Source: www.motortrend.com
Ford Forums – Interact with the Ford community. Source: www.fordforums.com
Mustang Forums – Interact with the Mustang community. Source: www.mustangforums.com
Comparison: 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR - America's Best Handling Car Contender Video – We test the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR as part of America's Best Handling Car competition.... Source: www.motortrend.com
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Ode to the 2005-2009 Ford Mustang – Filed under: Coupes, Sports/GTs, Ford It is one of the most loved and hated cars on Autoblog.com - the Ford Mustang, particularly the latest generation produced from 2005-2009 known as the S197. Its proponents rave about its bang for the buck and han Source: feeds.feedburner.com
