As part of Ford’s new 2013 Mustang line-up, the Blue Oval is bringing the second installment of their resurrected Boss 302.
While the 2013 Mustang Boss 302 retains the same engine capabilities as the 2012 model, Ford made sure that the new model stands out from its predecessor in sheer looks alone. It comes bearing new styling and design details that allude to the rich and long heritage of the Boss 302 name.
“Last year, we proved the car had what it takes to perform," said Dave Pericak, the Ford Mustang’s chief engineer. "This year, we focused on enhancing its eye-catching looks and celebrating its history.”
No truer words have ever been spoken because the car just looks flat-out smoking hot. The new paint finish has a history, as does the equally fresh hockey stick graphic and reflective stripes. These two, plus a whole lot more, come with the 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302, proving without a hint of doubt that the Boss is indeed back.
You know how the Chevy Camaro ZL1 was supposed to be sitting atop the Muscle Car War heap? Yeah, not so much anymore. Meet the 650 HP 2013 Shelby GT500 — it's gonna try to make the ZL1 its little b*tch.
Yes, you're reading that correctly — the new Shelby GT500's 5.8-liter supercharged V8 engine is rated at an astonishing 650 HP and 600 lb-ft of torque. That's a whopping 100 HP and 90 torques more than the 2012 model year.
It's almost as if Ford's adding the power just so it can shove its snakeskin-boot-clad foot right up the NACA ducts of its bowtie-bedecked competitor.
That's right, in fact, I'm wondering why they're even bothering to call it a GT500 anymore. Shouldn't they be calling it the GT 650 or something more appropriate for a muscle car with a 200 MPH top speed?
The Ford Mustang GT500 has been the king of the hill in the American muscle car segment since returning in 2007, but when the Camaro ZL1 hits the market later this year, the Shelby Mustang will have a much tougher fight on its hands - unless the rumors of a new engine with over 600 horsepower prove to be true. Over the past few months, sources such as Car & Driver have reported that the 2013 Shelby GT500 could see anywhere from 600 to 620 horsepower, up from the 550 offered in the 2012 GT500.
This power increase for the 2013 Shelby GT500 could come by means of the current 5.4L engine being enlarged to 5.8L and the Eaton M112 blower would be replaced by a similar Eaton TVS supercharger, similar to the one used on the Camaro ZL1. That engine setup would yield between 600 and 620 horsepower according to these rumors, but what if Ford decided to better utilize the new 5.0L V8 from the Mustang GT?
Ford is currently selling a supercharger package for the 2011 and 2012 Mustang GT that ramps the power up from 412 to a whopping 624 horsepower. This package does void your engine warranty but it must be reliable enough for the company to trust it; as they wouldn't be selling supercharger packages that are going to blow up engines. If Ford can reliably make 624hp in an aftermarket package, you would think that they would be able to market a production version that they are comfortable selling on the showroom floor with a warranty...but if they go the route of the 5.8L V8, it would leave more potential to squeeze out more power in the aftermarket.
