Motor Trend tests 2011 Ford Mustang GT, 12.8 1/4!

We've already seen the new 2011 Ford Mustang GT use it's 412 horsepower 5.0 V8 to outgun the Chevrolet Camaro SS and Dodge Challenger. Now we see what it is capable of, thanks to Motor Trend.

The Grabber Blue pony that MT tests in this video puts out a better than advertised 435 horsepower and 404 lb-ft of torque on the dyno, then obliterates the quarter mile with a smoking 12.8 second time at 110 mph. It also runs to 60mph in 4.3 seconds, which is only a couple of tenths slower than the Shelby GT500.

Certainly this is very impressive, and gives the Mustang the current pony car crown. But how Chevrolet and Dodge respond (and they most certainly will) is sure to change the muscle car scene in coming model years.

2011 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 order guide leaked?

For whatever reason, all the latest Mustang news has been leaked on internet forums before anybody else gets it. It makes sense, as the best discussions and sources for info (real or fake) can be found on these social gateways of the interwebs.

The latest tidbit comes to us courtesy of ModularFords.com. One of the members there has posted an order guide for the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang. Most interestingly, the document (if it is real) confirms that an aluminum block replaces the old iron block in the new Shelby.

There are many other nice revelations, such as standard HID lights, 19 inch wheels for the convertible, and an SVT Performance Package. The package adds 3:73 gears, stiffer shocks and springs, staggered 19 inch in front and 20 inch in back wheels, and a Gurney flapped rear spoiler.

Head over to the thread at ModularFords to see the document in it's entirety.

No twin turbo 5.0L for Ford Shelby GT500 after all

Rumors were flying around the last few months regarding the next generation powerplants in the Mustang. So far most of them have proven true, as we know for certain the 2011 model will feature a 5.0L V8 as speculated.

One of those rumors, however, is not going to come to fruition. Mike Harrison, Ford's chief engineer for the 5.0L and 6.2L V8 engines told Autoblog that this was not an option for the new Shelby. The main obstacle is the sheer size of the 5.0, as it consumes almost the entire engine bay of a Mustang.

Well, we can't have everything we want now can we?