The heart of Shelby GT500 performance begins with a 700-plus-horsepower 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine. It鈥檚 mated to an ultra-fast TREMEC 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and calibrated by Ford Performance with state-of-the-art drive mode technologies. As the most powerful production Mustang ever, the Shelby GT500 powertrain is the primary enabler for the ultimate performance that follows.
When it arrives this fall, the most powerful street-legal Ford vehicle in history is projected to post mid-three-second 0-60 mph times and sub-11-second quarter-mile times for the quickest acceleration ever in a road-going Mustang.
A hand-built double-overhead-cam engine shares the aluminum block, bore and stroke of the Shelby GT350鈥檚, adding block and head structure, improved oil and cooling capacity, plus a cross-plane crank to support its higher horsepower.
Helping to deliver more than 700 horsepower is a 2.65-liter supercharger. A unique roots-type compressor features an inverted design with charged air output at the top for more compact packaging 鈥� one that allows for a larger air-to-liquid intercooler for consistent track performance.
鈥淲ith its supercar-level powertrain, the all-new Shelby GT500 takes the sixth-generation Mustang to a performance level once reserved only for exotics,鈥� said Hermann Salenbauch, global director, Ford Performance vehicle programs. 鈥淎s a Mustang, it has to be attainable and punch above its weight. To that end, we鈥檝e set a new standard among American performance cars with our most powerful street-legal V8 engine to date, plus the quickest-shifting transmission ever in a Mustang for all-out precision and speed.鈥�
TREMEC 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
For enthusiasts who demand performance at the highest levels, automated manual transmissions are the domain of exotic supercars. Capable of shift transitions in less than one-tenth of a second, markedly faster than any manual gearbox, Shelby GT500鈥檚 computer-controlled TREMEC 7-speed dual-clutch transmission delivers the best of both worlds 鈥� high power and torque transfer plus smart powertrain controls. With this dual-clutch transmission, a whole new world of performance is at your fingertips 鈥� full automatic, semi-automatic paddle shift mode and full manual paddle shift.
In each mode, the new dual-clutch transmission markedly outperforms even the most skilled manual transmission drivers in every environment 鈥� street, drag strip or track. Leveraging years of racing and performance engine development, Shelby GT500 brings some of the industry鈥檚 best drive mode technologies to the car鈥檚 Track Apps that tick off seconds and capture driving data.
To channel power and torque to the unique carbon fiber driveshaft, Ford Performance leveraged learnings from the tuning of its Ford GT supercar鈥檚 dual-clutch transmission and selected the TREMEC庐 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. This dual-clutch transmission is designed for a number of drive modes, including normal, weather, sport, drag and track, and activates features like line-lock and launch control through selectable Track Apps.
鈥淭his is a watershed moment for us at TREMEC,鈥� said Matt Memmer, TREMEC engineering director. 鈥淎ll systems and subsystems 鈥� including hardware such as low leak solenoids, to control systems and software to optimize the performance of the system 鈥� were internally developed for maximum performance.鈥�
Featuring twin clutches that engage and release in perfect computer-controlled synchronization, the TREMEC DCT can transition from gear to gear with either imperceptible limousine-like shifts or the ferocity of an F1 machine. 鈥淥ur virtually dry clutch design marries the benefits of wet and dry clutch technologies into a hybrid design,鈥� explains Antonio Herrera, TREMEC鈥檚 managing director. 鈥淭he result is shifts that are flawlessly tailored to the Shelby鈥檚 performance modes and respond brilliantly to inputs from the driver.鈥� Working side by side with Ford engineers, the TR-9070 integrates into the Shelby powertrain in a way that must experience to be appreciated.
The all new TREMEC DCT combines TREMEC鈥檚 years of experience in performance transmissions with cutting-edge design mechatronics and software to make the GT500 the most powerful Mustang ever built. 鈥淭his new transmission represents a massive investment in terms of both dollars and man hours,鈥� commented global business development director, Dave Hadley. 鈥淗owever the results have proven well worth the effort. The DCT is a masterpiece in transmission design and we鈥檙e honored to have played an instrumental role in Ford鈥檚 new Shelby GT500 program.鈥�
On the dawn of its 55th anniversary, TREMEC rocks the muscle car ecosphere with the release of its all-new 7-speed DCT!
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