The 2012 Ford Shelby GT500 is a four-seat high-performance coupe or convertible based on the Mustang. Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, high-performance tires, Brembo brakes, a rear spoiler, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, keyless entry, air-conditioning, cruise control, a leather/Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, leather/Alcantara-upholstered sport bucket seats with racing stripes and Cobra logos, a power driver seat, a Sync multimedia voice control system and an eight-speaker audio system with a CD player,
auxiliary/USB audio jacks and satellite radio.
The GT500 convertible also comes with a power-operated soft top. Both the GT500 coupe and convertible have side stripes on the rocker panels and hood stripes that run from nose to tail (but not over the convertible top). Ford offers a stripe-delete option for buyers who prefer a less ostentatious look.
Options include a glass roof for the coupe, leather Recaro front seats, an Electronics package (hard-drive-based navigation system, HD radio and dual-zone climate control), an upgraded "Shaker 1000" 10-speaker 1,000-watt sound system and the SVT Performance package (unique 19-inch front/20-inch rear wheels, a rear spoiler with a Gurney Flap, higher-performance tires, revised suspension tuning, unique stripes/rear spoiler and a 3.73 limited-slip rear axle).
Powertrains and PerformanceThe rear-wheel-drive 2012 Ford Shelby GT500 is powered by a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 that produces 550 hp and 510 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed manual is the only transmission available. Acceleration from zero to 60 mph requires only 4.4 seconds on its way to a quarter-mile time of 12.4 seconds at 116 mph. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 15 mpg city/23 mpg highway and 17 mpg in combined driving.
Safety
Standard safety features for the 2012 Ford Shelby GT500 include antilock disc brakes, traction control, stability control and front-seat side airbags. Ford's MyKey system (which allows you to limit the car's top speed and stereo volume) is also standard. A temporary tire-inflation kit replaces the spare tire.
In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, the Mustang coupe received the top score of "Good" in frontal-offset and side-impact tests. In Edmunds brake testing, a GT500 with the optional SVT Performance package stopped in just 104 feet from 60 mph. The massive standard Brembo brakes also experienced no fade after multiple passes.
Interior Design and Special FeaturesExcept for some suede trim, Cobra badges and a cue-ball shift knob, the GT500 interior isn't much different from that of a well-appointed Mustang GT. The abundance of hard plastics and similarities to lesser-trim Mustangs in a $50,000 car is slightly disappointing. Gauges are slightly more legible than the hieroglyphics found in the Mustang, but both place the optional multifunction display too low in the center stack. Climate and audio controls are also small and hard to read at a quick glance; thankfully, the Sync voice-activated system nearly eliminates the need to bother. Outward visibility is best-in-class thanks to thin A-pillars and flip-down rear headrests.
Interior storage is notably scarce, with a shallow center armrest bin and a small glovebox and door pockets. The coupe's trunk can hold a generous 13.4 cubic feet of cargo, and split-folding rear seats allow you to load larger objects. The convertible lacks the folding seats and can only hold a maximum of 9.6 cubes.
Front seats are generally comfortable, although taller drivers may bemoan the lack of a telescoping steering column. Nearly any rear-seat passenger, regardless of size, will find scarce legroom among his or her chief concerns.
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