2010 Shelby GT500 Details, Photos and more....

The new 2010 Shelby GT500 is the most powerful SVT product to date with 540 horsepower, a host of exterior & interior enhancements, suspension improvements and better highway fuel efficiency. The refinements made on the 2010 Shelby GT500 are due in large part to the work done by Ford and Shelby on the GT500KR. When you look at the 2010 Shelby GT500 Photos you will notice the Mustang looks like it's on steroids.
The 2010 Shelby GT500 is powered by a supercharged and intercooled 5.4-liter dual overhead cam V-8 engine expected to produce 540 horsepower and 510 foot-pounds of torque. The redline is 6,250 rpm. The car’s aluminum power dome hood not only adds to the Shelby’s appearance, it helps cool the engine through a hood extractor.
*** 2010 Shelby GT500 Photos ***

The new 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 delivers the most power and refinement ever for a Ford SVT-tuned performance Mustang – and a few surprises, too.
“The 2010 Shelby GT500 demonstrates Ford’s continuing commitment to high-performance vehicles,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “In addition to the numerous performance and refinement improvements inside and out, the 2010 Shelby GT500 is an estimated 2 miles per gallon more fuel efficient on the highway.”
“We’re proud of the many enhancements that were developed jointly by the Ford and Shelby Automobiles team last year that we’ve now incorporated into the new 2010 Shelby GT500,” said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby Automobiles. “Building on what we learned to create the Shelby GT500KR, this new car offers a great combination of power, handling and braking. It is truly a special car that is a great deal of fun to drive.”
Ford’s Special Vehicle Team used the gains made on the 40th anniversary edition Shelby GT500KR “King of the Road” Mustangs as the performance starting point and built from there. The design team, with a nod to the original Shelby Cobras from the 1960s, takes those design cues even further with nuanced improvements in both the coupe and convertible, each of which boasts a more-refined interior.
“Working together on the KR, the Ford and Shelby teams developed new systems to continually improve the iconic Mustang,” stated Amy Boylan, president of Shelby Automobiles. “Those lessons learned are incorporated into the 2010 Shelby GT500. This approach will help maintain Mustang’s leadership position at the front of the pack and make the ownership experience even more enjoyable.”
“The muscle car segment is becoming even more competitive,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief nameplate engineer for SVT. “We need to uphold the Mustang badge with honor, the Shelby badge with honor and most importantly the Ford badge with honor. The 2010 GT500 is the car that will do all of that.”

More horsepower, more refinement, more functionalityThe combination of added horsepower, refinement and functionality makes the 2010 Shelby GT500 a unique high-performance car. The 2010 Shelby GT500 delivers more horsepower and more torque than the outgoing model, thanks in part to advancements pioneered on the GT500KR.
The 2010 Shelby GT500 is powered by a supercharged and intercooled 5.4-liter dual overhead cam V-8 engine expected to produce 540 horsepower and 510 foot-pounds of torque. The redline is 6,250 rpm. The car’s aluminum power dome hood not only adds to the Shelby’s appearance, it helps cool the engine through a hood extractor.
The Shelby’s open-element air induction system features a conical air filter instead of a flat-panel closed system to reduce air restriction. This approach allows more air to be pumped through the engine, producing more power and increasing the engine’s efficiency.
A cold-air intake feeds the coolest air possible directly into the air box, helping further increase horsepower. The intake necessitated moving the Cobra snake badge to the other side of the grille to enable maximum airflow.
The twin-disc clutch on the six-speed manual transmission has been significantly upgraded, improving drivability and NVH. The discs on the 2010 Shelby GT500 are larger – 250 mm in diameter compared with 215 mm in diameter on the outgoing model – and made of copper and fiberglass to make them more robust.
A unique component of the twin-disc system is the control of the intermediate disc. Rather than floating, it instead has six straps that control the engagement of the clutch, improving drivability.
The 2010 Shelby GT500 offers customers improved straight-line acceleration, plus fuel savings when cruising on the highway in the top gears. Gears 1-4 remain the same, but fifth gear changes from .80 to .74 while sixth gear goes from .63 to .50, meaning that the 2010 Shelby GT500 will turn lower engine RPMs in those gears and deliver improved fuel efficiency. The new final drive ratio, from 3.31 to 3.55, enables the improved acceleration in lower gears while complementing the revised fifth and sixth gear ratios.
The Shelby’s distinct sounds will be apparent as always, though with new refinements, thanks to the work of the Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) team. A patented resonator placed between the air filter and engine throttle body helps keep unwanted noise in check.
“You still hear the supercharger but not so that it’s intrusive,” said Kerry Baldori, chief functional engineer for SVT. “It’s the same with the exhaust. You want people to know you’re driving something special, but you don’t want an exhaust note that overpowers the whole interior.
“We spent a lot of time getting the right sound quality out of the exhaust so you get that nice, crisp Shelby sound outside and a pleasant sound inside the cabin. It’s a nice balance; one isn’t overpowering the other.”
Driving dynamics also are improved, thanks to SVT’s signature chassis tuning as well as new 19-inch Goodyear F1 Supercar tires and forged aluminum wheels on the 2010 Shelby GT500 coupe and 18s on the convertible.
Spring and dampers have been optimized for better roll control, giving customers more confidence when braking, accelerating or turning. The new chassis tuning takes its philosophy from the KR program, with a greater emphasis placed on primary body control.
The team also stiffened the steering shaft.

*** 2010 Shelby GT500 Photos ***

“All our changes were about making the car to respond as fast and as predictable as possible,” Hameedi said. “The 2010 Shelby GT500 conveys an athletic, confident feel. The shifter, clutch pedal, brake-pedal efforts and overall steering efforts are easier now. We wanted to make sure we had a nice, crisp short-throw shifter that was easy to go from gear to gear.”
The Goodyear F1 Supercar 19-inch tires have been upgraded, too. SVT members developed a “recipe” for the attributes and characteristics they wanted in the tire, which Goodyear’s team of engineers, designers and manufacturers brought to life. The result is better grip, better handling and better NVH properties, leading to a better customer experience.
The wheels themselves complement the high-performance nature of the 2010 Shelby GT500. The 19-inch wheels are forged aluminum wheels milled on both sides. The extra machining process creates “blade” spokes with very thin, yet strong, cross-sections. The spokes have a specific curve from the rim to the hub, not only for strength, but also to accentuate the offset and width of the tires.
The 2010 Shelby GT500 features AdvanceTrac, Ford’s stability control system with several options for performance. The default “on” mode accommodates every-day driving, and a Sport mode delivers for those wanting to put the Shelby GT500 through its paces on the track. The system also can be turned completely off, although the anti-lock brake system and other active safety systems remain in place. Standard safety equipment includes: dual stage front air bags, side-impact air bags and Ford’s Personal Safety System.
Numerous aerodynamic upgrades, including a redesigned splitter, were made to the front end of the 2010 Shelby GT500.
“We worked hard to get as much downforce with as little drag as possible,” Baldori said. “We worked to seal off the air that comes in the front so it can’t go underneath the car. We spent a lot time sealing components such as the radiator and intercoolor to get rid of all the leak paths.
“The result of this evolution of aerodynamics is we’ve increased downforce, reduced drag and improved the overall efficiency of the 2010 Shelby GT500.”
Directing the air so it’s used most efficiently was a painstaking process that ultimately will be rewarding to customers. The design of the front fascia and the car’s “flush” hood helps focus air flow. The top grille focuses air into the radiator, with a rubber flap inside the engine compartment helping to seal the system. The lower grille helps cool the intercooler. SVT engineers also went as far to block off specific diamonds in the front of the 2010 Shelby GT500’s distinctive grille to help maintain the correct cooling and aerodynamic balance.
A meaner, reskinned snake ready to take to the streetsThe 2010 Shelby GT500 is the most-robust design and most-distinctive model of the new 2010 Mustang lineup. “The design we chose was a ‘flush’ hood where the fascia defines the entire front of the vehicle,” Hameedi said. “That’s very hard to execute from an engineering standpoint, but it really sets the Shelby off as very, very different from the base Mustang.”
“This epitomizes the ultimate Mustang,” added George Saridakis, Exterior Design manager of the Mustang and Shelby GT500. “It’s all about power and expressing power.”
Saridakis said his team took a cue from the Shelby AC Cobra 427 with respect to the front grilles, which are gaping and appear ready to swallow the road.
Another obvious difference for the Shelby is the addition of racing stripes, which also will now be available on the convertible. “Racing stripes made their mark on 1960s-era Ford performance vehicles,” Hameedi notes. “That’s something we feel is a key part of the Shelby performance DNA – maybe more so than some of our competition.”
Rounding out the Shelby’s exterior modifications are the unique signature coiled Cobra badges on the front grille and front fenders, a more aggressive front splitter and lower-drag rear spoiler, which added to improved aerodynamic features, round out the exterior modifications. “We wanted the spoiler raked back aggressively to minimize drag, but we also have an integrated Gurney Flap that provides the downforce,” Saridakis said.
What’s inside counts with the 2010 Shelby GT500The base 2010 Mustang received a powerful new interior design. For the GT500, the interior design team members challenged themselves to raise the bar even higher to create the ultimate Shelby Mustang interior.
Using genuine materials such as real leather in all seats, real aluminum on the instrument panel and Alcantara inserts on the seats and steering wheel gave the appearance a precisely crafted, jewel-like yet functional feel. “You’ll definitely know you’re in a Shelby,” said Douglas Gaffka, Chief Designer, Shelby GT500.
The genuine aluminum finish panels have a unique-to-GT500 three-dimensional dimpled texture pattern inspired by racing clutch plates, braided hoses and cross-drilled racing brake rotors. The pattern has been painstakingly tuned to compensate for the compound curvature of the instrument panels. In addition, the “GT500” logo has been discretely engraved into the aluminum in front of the passenger as a nod to classic Shelby Mustangs of the 1960s.
This unique aluminum finish panel is fully encapsulated by an exquisite soft seamless TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) instrument panel with a shape that resonates with Mustang’s powerful heritage. The center stack flows into the console and features a sub-flush shifter trim ring, flush cup holder door and lockable console stowage featuring the word “SHELBY” engraved in its Satin Liquid Chrome release button.
All 2010 Mustangs and Shelbys feature bright 360-degree rings surrounding the gauge cluster, uninterrupted by the steering column. These rings will come in chrome for the Mustang and a Satin Liquid Chrome finish for the GT500. This finish is featured throughout the interior. An intricate cobra is etched into the center of the aluminum steering wheel badge. The Shelby Cobra appears at startup on the navigation screen, and the familiar red “SVT” logo utilizes new ambient lighting to illuminate the door scuffplate.
“When customers drive this car, they’re not only going to be impressed by the performance and the Shelby heritage, but they’re going to see all these carefully designed details and know they’ve bought a well-crafted car,” Saridakis said.
Even the classic white shift knob – an icon of Shelby Mustang DNA from years past – received special attention. First, it had to be the traditional white. It also had to be specific to the Shelby. The answer was to combine the racing-stripes theme with the traditional “H” pattern found on shifters to create a one-of-a-kind knob. Like the exterior, the racing stripes wrap from end to end, encircling the knob.
Wide suite of standard features on the 2010 Shelby GT500The 2010 Shelby GT500 includes several Ford innovations and industry-exclusive standard features, including:
SYNC: The voice-activated hands-free in-car communication and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft. The system fully integrates most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players, providing customers hands-free cell phone and music selection capabilities – plus new 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report provided with no monthly fees.
911 Assist: When a phone is properly paired, turned on and connected to SYNC, the system is ready to assist in placing a call directly to a local 911 emergency operator in the event of an air bag-deploying accident. The key advantage of SYNC 911 Assist is speed, as calls are placed directly to local 911 operators.
Vehicle Health Report (VHR): SYNC gathers relevant information from the major vehicle control modules and packages diagnostic data into a usable format in a matter of minutes. That data packet is sent to Ford via an 800-number automatically dialed using the customer’s paired and operable mobile phone.
Ambient Lighting System with MyColor™ allows drivers to customize the interior lighting of the vehicle to suit their mood. The enhanced MyColor system features seven base colors – ice blue, purple, blue, orange, red, white and green. Customers also can create 125 custom colors by mixing the red-green-blue palette.

Available options:
Voice-Activated Navigation with SIRIUS Travel Link™ is an industry-leading technology that will provide users with a unique, information-rich in-car experience. The suite of data services includes up-to-the-minute real-time traffic data with accident and incident information for 78 markets, coast-to-coast weather data including current conditions and five-day forecasts and fuel price information for more than 120,000 gas stations. SIRIUS Travel Link also offers sports scores and schedules and a listing of more than 4,500 movie theaters with movie times, theater addresses, movie synopses and more.

This combination of outstanding performance coupled with a fresh, exciting, well-crafted interior intensely focused on improving the entire experience will make the 2010 Shelby GT500 even more sought after, and a fitting addition to a long and proud history.
The 2010 Shelby GT500 will be in dealer showrooms in spring. The cars will be built at the Auto Alliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.

Few companies have restructured more aggressively than Ford

We're making the necessary changes to succeed in today's tough environment.

1. Fuel Economy

Ford is bringing affordable fuel economy to millions of drivers by delivering best-in-class or among the best fuel economy with every new vehicle introduced.
The new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid is rated as North America’s most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan with fuel economy of 4.6L/100km city and 5.4L/100km highway -- Toyota Camry: 5.7 city / 5.7 highway.
Ford is introducing industry-leading, fuel-saving EcoBoost engines on today’s vehicles for up to 20 per cent better fuel economy and up to 15 per cent fewer CO2 emissions versus larger-displacement engines.
We will be offering EcoBoost in Lincoln MKS and the Oakville-built Ford Flex this year.
Ford has also announced an aggressive new electric vehicle plan to bring a family of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles to market by 2012.
Ford is already putting into effect a major element of this electrification strategy with its strategic alliance with Canadian-based auto supplier Magna International to produce a new battery electric small car.

2. Quality

This month (January) the all-new 2009 Ford F-150 was named North American Truck of the Year at NAIAS.
In December, MOTOR TREND magazine named the F-150 the 2009 Motor Trend Truck of the Year™.
Ford quality is now on par with Honda and Toyota – and is consistently being recognized by important third-parties like J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Study.
Consumer Reports gave 44 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles average or better reliability ratings. Now, almost every Ford product rated by Consumer Reports carries an average or better reliability rating.

3. Safety

Ford is leading in safety leadership with the most U.S. government 5-star safety ratings of any auto company and recently moving past Honda for the industry’s most Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) "Top Safety Picks".
For example, the 2009 Ford F-150 is the only pickup truck to earn both the government’s top 5-star crash-test ratings and the IIHS “Top Safety Pick" award.

4. Innovation
Ford is continuing to lead in vehicle connectivity by adding 911 Assist to Ford SYNC.
This year, we'll introduce new smart safety features, such as the industry-first MyKey technology that limits top speed and audio volume for teens and the first forward crash-avoidance system for mainstream vehicles.
Active Park Assist helps drivers to parallel park with the touch of a button and without ever touching the steering wheel. This feature will be available in mid-2009 on Lincoln MKS and the Oakville-built Lincoln MKT.

2009 Detroit International Auto Show

This weekend we attended the Detroit Auto Show as we do every year.

There were lots Exciting New Vehicles to see I took lots of photos.
(Click Here for my Photos of the 2009 Detroit Slide Show)

The Ford Motor Company unveiled the 2010 Ford Taurus at Detroit’s NAIAS, a complete redesign of the flagship sedan, and one that reaches us a full year ahead of schedule. What makes the timing so impressive are the new model’s high ambitions.

Ford F150 was named the North American Truck of the Year. It did, however, face some stiff competition. The all new 2009 F150 is a perennial favorite and can claim the top sales numbers for any vehicle in North America for 27 straight years. It is also the top selling Canadian pickup for 42 straight years.

The Truck of the Year Award is just one of many prestigious honors the F150 has had after recently being named Motor Trend “Truck of the Year” and “Truck of Texas” by the Texas Auto Writers Association.
For 2009 the F150 has received five star front and side impact ratings from the NHTSA and is a Top Pick for the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

Ford also had the SVT Raptor on Display this is an Awesome Off Road F-150 The Raptor goes on sale in the summer of 2009 with the base, 5.4L three-valve engine. The 6.2L becomes available the following winter.

There were way more Electric and Hybrid Vehicles this year. Some Manufacturers had up to 6 vehicle lines that they will be offering in Hybrid or Electric. Downstairs there was a full track that Visitors could have a ride in the Electric and Hybrid vehicles including the Ford Escape and the All New 2010 Hybrid Fusion that gets up to 2 times better fuel economy better than it's Competitors.



Ford Motor Company announced an ambitious and daring strategy to transform the way America drives: “We are launching an aggressive plan to bring pure battery electric vehicles as well as next-generation hybrids and plug-in hybrids to the market quickly,” says Bill Ford Jr., the company’s executive chairman, adding that “our electrification strategy is not a test program.”

The company has already produced a prototype, based on the Focus platform, and allowed journalists to take it for a spin through downtown Detroit. By next year, Ford will offer a full-battery–operated van to commercial fleets, and by 2011, the first of Ford’s passenger vehicles — a small car developed with world-class supplier Magna International — will be ready for American drivers. Ford will start out by producing 10,000 cars.

Partnerships like the one with Magna inform Ford’s strategy, which will focus on helping the country’s infrastructure to evolve, improving battery technology, and working with the government to adapt policy. In total, the automaker will produce four different electric vehicles over the next four years, each expected to reach up to 100 miles on a single battery charge. Since most Americans typically drive about 35 miles a day, these cars are the perfect choice for commuters and city drivers.

In conjunction with its battery electric vehicles, Ford will continue to develop hybrid cars, and it will also begin production of a next-generation plug-in hybrid, expected to reach the market by 2012.

Transit Connect will be here soon!

The 2010 Transit Connect will be hitting our shores this summer. As the ordering window is quickly approaching.

Transit Connect, the first of several great Ford European transplants coming to Canada, is purpose built and fills a "void" in the marketplace. No other small commercial van available today offers the cargo carrying capacity, maneuverability, fuel economy and Built Ford Tough dependability that Transit Connect delivers.

Small businesses and large fleets have all said they've been waiting for this type of vehicle for a long time. These customers have had to compromise and put up with re-purposed minivans and other vehicles to satisfy their small commercial van needs. Transit Connect is the no-compromise, award winning, purpose built solution they've been waiting for.

With Fuel Economy being high on the list of wants (and expectations for a small van), Transit Connect delivers. Estimated fuel consumption of Transit Connect is 10.9L/100km city & 8.5L/100km highway (26 mpg/ 33 mpg) which is sure to please your cost conscious customer.

The Packaging:

The key strategies we followed when packaging Transit Connect were simplicity and value. One Engine/Transmission combination and two no-nonsense, well equipped arrays (110A and 210A) with three available options make Transit Connect easy to order. We've also packaged Transit Connect similar to its closest competitor, the Dodge Grand Caravan Cargo. Selected standard equipment includes:

· 2.0L I-4 Duratec 4 Cylinder Engine
· 4 Speed Automatic Transmission
· Front Wheel Drive
· 15" Steel Wheels with Wheel Covers
· 114.6" Wheelbase
· Air Conditioning
· Dual Sliding Side Cargo Doors without glass
· 180 Degree Opening Rear Cargo Doors
· AM/FM CD with audio input jack
· Multiple 12V Power Points
· 6 Way Manual Cloth Driver Bucket Seat
· 4 Way Manual Cloth Passenger Bucket Seat
· Dual Front Air Bags / Seat Mounted Side Air Bags
· Tilt/Telescoping Steering Wheel
· Speed Control
· Four Wheel ABS
· Tire Pressure Monitoring System
· Front Row Floor Carpeting
· Cargo Area Rubber Floor Mat
· Dual Power Mirrors
· Full Width Overhead Storage Shelf
· Locking Fuel Filler Door and Locking Hood

Two arrays satisfy customers requiring rear door glass and those requiring no rear door glass:

The 110A Array Features:
· Dual Rear Cargo Doors Without Glass

The 210A Array Features:
· Dual Rear Cargo Doors With Glass
· Rear Glass Defroster
· Rearview Mirror
· Heated Exterior Mirrors

To round out the offering, the following three options are available on all arrays:

AdvanceTrac® w/RSC
Reverse Sensing System
Engine Block Heater


Transit Connect, the Built Ford Tough no nonsense small commercial van, coming summer 2009. Further details including dealership sales support materials, comprehensive dimensions, upfitter information and pricing will be released in the coming months.

2009 Ford F-150 Testing with Dirty Job's Mike Rowe

Take a test drive with Professional Drivers as they put the 2009 Ford F-150 through its paces in Durability, Towing, Handling and Fuel Economy. You will see out of Ford, Chevy, Dodge and Toyota who is the clear winner. (click on F-150 image)

Catch a glimpse of the new '09 F-150 and your eyes will thank you. We've redesigned F-150 from every angle and the results are striking. From the powerful, athletic Super Duty-inspired front end to little things like all-new badging, we made every line in the sheet metal count. The result? The new '09 F-150 looks as unstoppable as you'll feel driving it.

With Better Suspension than its Competitors Stronger Frame, Better Fuel Economy and Trailer sway control the F-150 is tough to beat.

Best-in-class capability Best-in-class payload The new F-150 continues our legendary payload capability, shouldering massive loads with ease. F-150's lighter yet stronger frame delivers a payload capability of 3,030 lbs.* (1,374 kg), which is best in class. And its deep box lets you pack in lots of cargo. Equip your F-150 with the Heavy Duty Payload Package** and increase the GVWR to 8,200 lbs. Bigger payloads can mean fewer trips, saving time and money.

Fuel economy improvements Improved aerodynamics and weight reductions help the new F-150 cut through the air with less drag. This contributes to increased fuel efficiency and reduced noise. New open-valve injection on three-valve engines produces better fuel swirl for faster and more complete combustion. And the six-speeds on F-150's new transmission deliver smooth and seamless shifting. The result: more power, better fuel economy, and lower emissions.

The new trailer sway control is advanced technology that's standard on every F-150. A yaw motion sensor in the AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) system detects trailer sway through the motions of the truck. AdvanceTrac then automatically corrects the motion by reducing engine torque and using selective wheel braking to help keep both truck and trailer under control.

Landscape Ontario Congress 2009

Every year we have a booth at the Landscape Ontario Congress. The show was a real success we had amazing attendance with Landscapers from all over Canada including US and International Visitors. This is the Largest show of its kind in Canada with over 12000 visitors each year we had over 200 people visit our booth alone.


This year we had on display a 2009 Ford F-650 with a Eloquip Landscaper Dump Body. The F-650 really attracted a lot of attention with its Chrome Grille fully loaded interior and shiny aluminium body. This truck was a real value at $63,500.00 including the Dump Body.


The Landscapers we talked with were looking forward to another busy year with many of them still working on projects that were not completed in the Fall. Of course with the snow we have had for the last 2 years they are very busy all winter long. In our Booth we had the support of Colin Ball, Ruth Anne Lust and Kim Williams this year in our booth we worked hard but all had a lot of fun as well. It is nice to meet existing clients and meeting potential new ones. Our Owners are there every year to help and support the Commercial Team and are very interested in the needs of our very important Commercial Clients.






Sean Lockhart
Donway Ford and Sterling Trucks