Although the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show has yet to open its doors to the public, several exciting new vehicles have gotten unveiled to the press so far, and these vehicles include a special 2015 Ford Mustang variant that hearkens back to the glory days of muscle cars in the’60s, and boasts the most powerful normally-aspirated V8 engine ever manufactured by the company.
The new Mustang we’re talking about is the 2015 Ford Shelby GT350, a car whose definite specification is a 5.2-liter flat-plane crankshaft V8 engine that makes more than 500 horsepower and 400 lb/ft. torque, by Ford’s estimates. Specific horsepower and torque figures have not yet been revealed, but these numbers are undoubtedly impressive for an engine that is neither turbocharged nor supercharged.
The Shelby GT350’s engine features a crankshaft typically used on race cars, which produces additional horsepower by lacing the connecting rods at intervals of 180 degrees. As is befitting of a performance-oriented vehicle, the 5.2-liter V8 engine is paired with a six-speed manual transmission, while it also comes with stiff suspension, a more aerodynamic design, and other tweaks that enhance its status as a more potent twist on the standard 2015 Ford Mustang. An optional Track Pack is also available, and comes with an engine oil cooler and transmission cooler.
The 2015 Ford Shelby GT350 is, despite those imposing horsepower and torque figures, a street-legal Mustang variant. Pricing information has not yet been confirmed, nor has a specific release window.