2015 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350R

Here we have a special Mustang, built to celebrate 50 years since the original 1965 GT350R. Ford produced a limited run of only 37, the same number of FIA-homologated competition cars Carroll Shelby produced in 1965. This is the first year for the flat plane crank V8 that spins to 8200+ RPMs and makes 526 naturally aspirated horsepower. Here is more from Ford's November 17th, 2014 press release: The new GT350 builds on Carroll Shelby’s original idea – transforming a great every-day car into a dominant road racer – by taking advantage of a dramatically improved sixth-generation Mustang to create a truly special driving experience. Driving enthusiasts behind the wheel of a Shelby GT350 can expect to be treated to the most balanced, nimble and exhilarating production Mustang yet. “Everything we changed on GT350 is purely functional-driven design, with the goal of improving the overall performance of the car,” said Chris Svensson, Ford design director, The Americas. “We optimized the aero shape of the car, and then fine-tuned what was left to increase downforce and cooling airflow.” All bodywork from the windshield forward is unique to this high-performance model and up to two inches lower than Mustang GT. The new 5.2-liter engine is the first-ever production V8 from Ford with a flat-plane crankshaft, an architecture typically found only in racing applications or exotic European sports cars. Unlike a traditional V8, where the connecting rods are attached to the crankshaft at 90-degree intervals, this design evenly spaces all crank pins at 180-degree intervals.