Ford's in-house performance division, the Special Vehicle Team, has given itself one helluva 20th birthday present - in the shape of the Ford Shelby GT500 convertible, making its debut this week at the Chicago Auto Show.
Officially speaking, SVT was born at the 1992 Chicago show with the launch of the SVT Mustang Cobra and F-150 Lightning pick-up. Since then Dearborn's go-fast guys have built more than 210 000 cars and trucks with names such as Ford GT, Mustang Cobra R, SVT F-150 Lightning, F-150 SVT Raptor, Shelby GT500KR and the soon-to-be-launched Focus ST.
MORE THAN 320KM/H FLAT OUT
That 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra's five-litre V8 was good for 173kW, which shows you how far SVT has come in two decades - the GT500 boasts 480kW from its supercharged V8 and, when fitted with the optional Performance package, it's nearly 3.5 seconds quicker around Sebring International Raceway than the previous models.
The 5.8-litre, all-aluminium engine also delivers 815Nm, taking the GT500 to more than 320km/h flat out and making it, Ford says, the most powerful production V8 on the market, thanks to a new supercharger, new cross-drilled block and heads, revised camshaft profiles, a new carbon-fibre driveshaft and upgraded clutch, gearbox and rear axle.
ELECTRONICALLY ADJUSTABLE DAMPERS
The Performance package adds Bilstein electronically adjustable dampers; at the simple push of a button on the dashboard the suspension is re-set from Normal mode (a comfortable ride over everyday road irregularities) to Sport mode, giving improved response time on the track, less body roll and reduced pitch under braking.
New Brembo brakes come with six-piston front callipers and larger discs all round, with more aggressive, softer-compound pads for more initial bite.
As with the coupé, the convertible will also be available with the Track package, which includes all the Performance goodies plus an external engine oil cooler, gearbox oil cooler and differential oil cooler.
Sadly, there are no plans to produce the Ford Shelby GT500 convertible in right-hand drive.