Ford Teases Shelby GT350 Mustang for 2017
Ford lifts the standard of its flagship with a host of new additions, giving consumers what they want.
The GT350 rules the roost as the ultimate production Mustang in history, and all types of it are in huge demand in the US. Ford knows this, and to ensure that the buyers don’t quit, they’re adding more. The Track Package used to be an optional extra – a bundle of parts to solidify the great deal that was already in the Mustang; now, this is standard. From June on, buyers will get suspension tower braces, a bigger downforce generating rear spoiler, the MagneRide damping system and coolers for engine oil, transmission and differential.
In 1964, the Mustang was a vehicle that ran on the idea of ‘Tabula Rasa’. It was a blank slate you could tailor to your taste, through extras and personal touches. This became the globally accepted way of selling, and doubled as a great method to judge consumer trends. All of this has fed into Ford’s decision-making process for standard and optional equipment packs for the 2017 model-year.
Alongside the track package, further customization comes in colors. New exterior paint shades include Ruby Red Metallic, Lightning Blue, and Grabber Blue. Also, for those owners who just want to cruise in comfort, the car can be specified with a nine-speaker audio system, latest generation voice-activated infotainment unit and electrically operated leather trimmed sports seats.
“Ford Performance is always listening to customer feedback,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “We have adjusted the packages available to continue to provide more of what customers want”. Thanks to this, the sporty GT350, powered by a 5.2-liter, naturally aspirated flat-plane crankshaft V8 sending 526bhp to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, is bound to be the flagship to look at for a long time to come.