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Cars > Ford > Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible 2013

 By Ketan Patel View Comments

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Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible 2013

The Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 convertible 2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the manufacturer’s Special Convertible Team (SVT) and it is built to make an impression. The 1993 variant of the Shelby featured a 5.0l V8 engine capable of delivering 235hp, while the new one produces 650hp in the same V8 setting. The convertible is a slightly modified variant of the popular coupe that made this automobile performance group globally renowned.

This Shelby convertible is built to be used both on racetracks as well as on the road for regular use. There are plenty of options to tune and tweak for getting the beast sitting in the belly of the car up and running. In fact, there is a Performance Package that modifies the convertible to make it faster than the existing model by about 3.5s. The new engine is a 5.8l V8 turbocharged one that can comfortably deliver 650hp and along with the specially designed Bilstein tuners, it is a treat to drive this powerhouse!

A simple switch on the dashboard allows drivers to switch between the normal and sports mode. The first is meant for regular use while the latter optimizes performance on the racetrack, especially at cornering. Control in the convertible is further enhanced by the Brembo brake system which has a short stopping time and the latest six-piston calipers at the front, coupled with bigger rotors both at the front and rear further enhance braking performance.

The V8 engine has been optimized for performance in every aspect possible, straight from the material used to build it. A new supercharger adds power and the gearbox is built to handle the torque more effectively and use the huge load of power in such a way to make it comfortable for any driver on any road. The convertible is sure to add more customers to the already large Shelby fanbase.



New 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible Helps SVT Mark Its 20th Anniversary of Delivering High-Performance Vehicles



  • New Ford Shelby GT500 convertible makes its debut at the Chicago Auto Show, serving as the celebratory vehicle of the 20th anniversary of Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT)



  • The newest Shelby GT500 convertible with the optional Performance Package is nearly 3.5 seconds faster than the outgoing model at Sebring International Raceway. The 5.8-liter supercharged V8 with 650 horsepower, Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers and new Brembo brake system are key enablers for the improved performance



  • SVT has produced more than 210,000 cars and trucks during its 20-year history, with more than seven different nameplates that include the Ford GT, Mustang Cobra R, SVT F-150 Lightning, F-150 SVT Raptor, Shelby GT500KR and the soon-to-be-launched Focus ST



CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2012 – The official launch of SVT came during the 1992 Chicago Auto Show with the unveiling of the 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra and SVT F-150 Lightning. Now Ford returns to Chicago to celebrate its past and look to the future with the 2013 Shelby GT500 convertible.

In honor of SVT’s anniversary, a commemorative lighted sill plate will be used in the 2013 Shelby GT500 to celebrate the many years of performance vehicles. The 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra offered a 235-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine, which demonstrates just how far the products have come in 20 years. The 2013 Shelby GT500 with its 650-horsepower V8 marks the latest offering from one of the oldest and most successful automotive performance groups in the world.


“The Shelby GT500 convertible is every bit the performer that the coupe is,” said Kerry Baldori, SVT Global Performance Vehicles chief engineer. “All of the significant changes we made in the program were instrumental in delivering a convertible that could really shine on the track but can still be driven on a daily basis.”

The 2013 Shelby GT500 convertible with the optional Performance Package is faster around a track than the outgoing model. The new convertible shaved nearly 3.5 seconds off its lap time at Sebring International Raceway compared to the 2011 and 2012 models.

Keys to the improved lap times are the power boost from the new 5.8-liter supercharged V8 producing 650 horsepower, as well as the SVT-designed Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers available on the Performance Package and the all-new chassis tuning.

Accessed on the dash with a simple push of a button, normal mode gives customers a more comfortable ride over road irregularities. Sport mode is all about performance, delivering improved response time on the track and less body roll while cornering with reduced pitch under braking. The upgraded dampers allowed SVT engineers to tune the convertible more aggressively for the track, while still being able to maintain desirable on-road manners.

A new Brembo brake system also is a key enabler in boosting the performance of the convertible. The new brakes offer drivers enhanced stopping power to help keep their car under control, while new six-piston calipers in front along with larger front and rear rotors further improve braking performance. More aggressive brake pads also help the car achieve high deceleration and further robustness for more driver confidence.

20 years of high-performance innovation

Each of the more than 210,000 SVT vehicles produced since 1993 has been designed and developed with the four SVT attributes in mind: Performance, Substance, Exclusivity and Value. These hallmarks still guide the brand’s vehicle development today.

“In the past 20 years, SVT has engineered world-class mid-engine supercars, front-wheel-drive performance cars, rear-wheel-drive muscle cars and high-performance on-road and off-road pickup trucks,” said Jamal Hameedi, SVT chief engineer. “There is no other performance house in the world that can match that diverse résumé.”

Since 1993 more than seven different SVT vehicles have been produced, including several versions of the Cobra and Shelby GT500, the F-150 Lightning performance pickup and F-150 SVT Raptor, the SVT Contour sports sedan, plus both three- and five-door versions of the SVT Focus. Special SVT Mustang Cobra R models were made in 1993, 1995 and 2000.

SVT has joined with Team RS in Europe to form the Performance Vehicles Group to devise a strategy for all future global performance Ford cars. The resulting Focus ST is Ford’s first truly global performance car, giving drivers around the world the opportunity to share the exhilarating performance, excellent handling, addictive sound and sporty design Ford’s ST badge represents. The Ford Fiesta ST Concept also signals the next step in Ford’s global performance vehicle strategy and hints at how a future Fiesta ST model might look when it joins the Focus ST in the global small car portfolio.


Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible 2013

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