Not that long ago Ford released the all new 350 and 350R Mustangs, which are two of the best cars Ford ever made. However, like with any other car, the two aren’t perfect, but both of them are damn close to being the best muscle cars in the World. One of the best parts about the 2017 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 – GT350R is the fact that unlike the Camaro ZL1, the Mustang is more of a track oriented car. This means that it is faster around a track, more enjoyable to drive and also a lot more aggressive. The downside is that the Mustang is also that it is a track oriented car which means it is not as comfortable as the ZL1 on the road, and it is not as fast in normal conditions either.
This means that the two special edition Mustangs are targeted at a more specific market which also means that Ford is expected to sell less of it. The interesting part is that they are not selling less than the ZL1. In fact, the GT350 and its R version are two of the best selling Mustang editions ever made, and that’s for a very good reason. It is also one of the most interesting and even though it is not perfect, the Mustang still is one of the better cars out there.
2017 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT350 – GT350R PRICE
Another interesting part about the 2017 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 – GT350R is the price. The base model starts at just $57,000 while the R adds another $10,000 on top of that. While it may seem high for a muscle car, for what the two car offer the price is more than adequate. In fact, only a couple of years ago the wheels on the GT350R were priced at more than $50,000 which shows how much research and development Ford put into their two models.
The two are quite new to the market, but quite soon an update is going to roll out. This will not change anything about the engine or the suspension setup in the R, but the base car will receive some extras. For starters, the previously optional heavy duty springs and aluminum brace are now going to be offered as standard. On top of that, the base GT350 will come with slightly upgraded brakes and even a new technology package. All of these are meant to make it a better buy than the ZL1 and for what we are concerned, Ford might have just done it.
INTERIOR
Also, the interior of the R version is expected to be slightly updated. Why? Well, to allow customers to get air conditioning and even a better audio system. This was not possible before because Ford wanted a track focused car and that’s it.
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
The most interesting part about the 2017 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 – GT350R is going to remain the engine. While the two are quite different overall, the engine is the same 5.2 liter naturally aspirated V8. At a first glance, it would seem the typical American V8, but it is a lot more than that. The engine features a flat-plane crank, high compression pistons, lightened components, direct injection and double-overhead cams.
This means that this rather unusual engine makes 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque, all with a red-line of 8,250 rpm. This makes it not only perfect for racing, but it also makes it one of a kind on the US market. While there are more powerful engines out there, the 5.2 liters in the Mustang will surely be one of the favorites. Also, the Mustang’s six-speed manual has been tweaked to perfection, and that’s great especially when it is the only available transmission.
