Just hearing the word Shelby evokes images of a fast car that’s ready to race. Ford’s 2018 Shelby GT does not disappoint. It’s ready for the road and the track. Here’s everything you want to know about the latest Shelby GT inside and out.
Performance
The 2018 Shelby GT is ready for the track and the road. Ford outfitted it with a non-turbocharged 5.8-liter V-8 engine with 526 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. It also has race-tuned adaptive suspension, brakes set for high performance, and a few different powertrain upgrades. The engine is fairly flexible and accelerates well without any hesitation. The Shelby’s true power is very impressive once released, and the sound the engine makes is unlike anything else out there.
In driving tests, the Shelby 350 GT proves to handle quite well and is at home on any racetrack or winding mountain road. But it’ll also do well as a daily driver outside of its racing performance capabilities.
Trims and Features
The 2018 Shelby GT comes in two trim levels, the 350 and 350R. The base trim is well-equipped with 19-inch wheels, a six-speed manual transmission, Brembo brakes, adaptive suspension dampers, a Torsen rear differential, and a front-suspension tower brace. Shelby’s exterior also features a rear spoiler and diffuser. The 350 GT received refreshed styling on the exterior for the 2018 model year and the vehicle retains the distinctive Shelby look.
On the inside, the standard Shelby GT looks as sleek as it does outside. It features Recaro front seats with suedelike inserts, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 4.2-inch center display, Bluetooth, a six-speaker sound system, smartphone app integration, Sync technology, and two USB ports. However, adding the electronics package as an upgrade is highly recommended on both trims.
The Shelby GT 350R comes with a lot of the standard features but is really built for racing. The 19-inch carbon fiber wheels with specialist Michelin tires are also part of the upgrade. It has revised suspension tuning, a carbon-fiber rear wing and front chin splitter on the body. It also lacks creature comforts like air-conditioning and others such as floor mats, the sound system, rearview camera, and a rear seat. These features plus dual-zone climate control, Sync 3 with an 8-inch touchscreen, and an 8-speaker sound system are part of an optional R-electronics package.
Smartphone integration is also supported in the Shelby GT.
Comfort and Utility
Despite being built mainly for speed, the Shelby GT is a comfortable ride for daily driving. The seating is comfortable over long distances and doesn’t interfere with the shifting of gears. The cabin is also relatively quiet. The transmission handles almost any road condition with normal or sport mode while maintaining excellent body control. Track mode is also good without being punishing.
The car offers decent cargo space and storage, though there isn’t a lot designated for small item storage.
The 2018 Shelby GT 350 is a fast vehicle built for the track with the horsepower to back it up. It also has a good mix of comfort and features to make it a great daily driving option outside of the track.
Photo by DaMongMan | Licensed under cc BY 2.0
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