Shelby unveils tuned Ford Focus ST, widebody GT500 Super Snake

[warpath]

Autoblog: http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/s...-detroit-2013/

Shelby American has made its name tuning various Ford products, and now the Focus ST can be added to this list. Just introduced at the Detroit Auto Show, the Shelby Focus ST doesn't add any extra horsepower under the hood, but it should still make sizable gains in performance thanks to an upgraded suspension, brakes and exhaust systems. Also on hand at the Shelby display was a widebody version of the powerful Shelby GT500 Super Snake.

Starting with the already-quick Focus ST, Shelby adds Ford Racing suspension components and bigger brakes with cross-drilled rotors, all finished off with a Borla exhaust system incorporating larger, circular outlets. Cheesy body graphics aside, some of the styling enhancements include functional hood vents, a hatch spoiler, unique interior bits and wider wheels and tires. Shelby does mention a tuning option that will increase the engine's 252-horsepower output to more than 300, although no pricing is mentioned. Speaking of price, Shelby says this souped-up hot hatch will carry a "budget minded price" (*ahem*). What is that you ask? Well, after you buy a 2013 Focus ST from your local Ford dealer (base price: $23,700), the Shelby upgrades will cost an extra $14,995. Production of these cars will be limited to just 500 units.

As for the Super Snake, Shelby is giving the car a wider optional body kit to accommodate the 10-inch front and 13-inch rear wheels. Customer can choose just the wider units at the rear or at all four corners. Opting for a "stock" 662-hp Super Snake will cost $28,995 on top of the cost of the Ford Shelby GT500, and if you're really flush with disposable income, there's a tuned 850-hp version for $39,995 (the widebody package is an extra $14,995). Scroll down for the official press release from Shelby.

Press Release:

DETROIT – Jan. 15, 2013 – Shelby American, Inc., a division of Carroll Shelby International (CSBI.PK), unveiled today its new 850 horsepower 2013 Shelby GT500 Super Snake "Wide Body" as well as the new performance tuned Shelby Focus ST at the North American International Auto Show. The two cars represent bookends in the lineup of high performance vehicles available from Shelby American.

"Carroll Shelby's innovative and aggressive hot-rodder spirit lives on at Shelby American today. " said John Luft, president of Shelby American. "His Cobra redefined the sports car genre and then Shelby turned what some called a 'secretary's car', the Mustang, into the fire-breathing GT350. A few years later, Shelby practically invented the American 'pocket-rocket' with the four-cylinder turbocharged, front wheel drive Shelby GLH. This year, we're returning to our roots with a pair of game-changing cars that will rewrite the rules for American performance."

Shelby American takes the stock 662 horsepower 2013 GT500 and boosts its performance to a street-legal 850 horsepower while keeping it 50 state emissions legal and tuned on 91 octane pump gas. Adding Shelby's new Wide Body option puts all that power to the pavement, and the rest is history.

"Now with 13 inch rear and 10 inch front wheels that are wrapped in serious rubber, the car launches and handles like the super car it is," added Gary Davis, vice president of production at Shelby American. The optional wide body package isn't just a cosmetic change, it now gives the Super Snake much more traction and makes it easy to exploit the Shelby's potential right past the competition."

Customers can choose between Satin Black, Gloss White, Silver, Blue and Red stripes. Offered now for the first time, wheel options include a rear-only or front and rear "wide body" packages.

Even though the new Wide Body Super Snake will have the chops to lead the muscle car pack, it is the return of Carroll Shelby's beloved "Pocket Rocket" that may be the biggest news in Detroit.

"Carroll Shelby ignored critics who said the turbo four Omni couldn't be an affordable performance car in the 1980s," noted Gary Patterson, vice president of Operations/Sales. "He proved them wrong with an impressive, lightweight four cylinder performer. Ford Motor Company's new Focus ST is the perfect platform for the rebirth of the front wheel drive turbo four cylinder Shelby. It is a car that Carroll wanted to build before his passing and is a worthy successor to his 'Pocket-Rocket' GLH."

Designed in the Shelby skunkworks and tested extensively at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the front wheel drive Shelby Focus ST is a driver-focused masterpiece of performance with a budget minded price.

New Ford Racing suspension pieces lower the car while the wheels and tires improve grip and traction. The bigger Shelby spec brakes with drilled rotors enhance the stopping power; along with the sound of the Shelby/Borla exhaust makes it uniquely Shelby. Inside, the car has a complete Shelby branded custom interior, Shelby shifter and finished off with the unique Shelby CSM badge. On the outside, the Shelby is easily identified by its functional hood vents, hydro-carbon front and rear grille inserts, Shelby lettering and rear Hydro-carbon spoiler. Three visual graphics packages are offered, ranging from "traditional" Shelby stripes to more edgy Shelby checkered flag splash or competition graphics. Under the hood, Shelby American adds stylish hydro-carbon components and is developing an optional performance tune expected to significantly increase horsepower.

The post-title package for the 2013 Shelby GT500 Super Snake starts at $28,995 (662 hp) and $39,995 (850 hp). The wide body option adds another $14,995, not including the base GT500. The 2013 Shelby Focus ST post-title package begins at $14,995 not including the Ford Focus ST and will be limited to 500 per model year.

Shelby American is now accepting orders for the limited edition cars. Interested parties should contact their sales team at (702) 942-7325 or visit.

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[Vostok 7]

I came for the widebody Super Snake and I'm leaving disappointed.

[warpath]

Originally Posted by Vostok 7

I came for the widebody Super Snake and I'm leaving disappointed.

Found some. Happy?

[808subbie]

Somthing somthing wide body somthing somthing.

[heavyD]

So they take a base Focus ST (no NAV, HID, Recaro seats), tune it, lower it, throw on some bolt-ons, wheels, ugly seat covers for the base Focus seats and charge $15k extra? They should have at the very least included the Recaro seats as using the base seats in this car is silly.

[warpath]

Pic's added

[White out]

850 horsepower

Go on . . .


Hate the hood, don't like the widebody.

[GDB FAN]

Shelby says this souped-up hot hatch will carry a "budget minded price" (*ahem*). What is that you ask? Well, after you buy a 2013 Focus ST from your local Ford dealer (base price: $23,700), the Shelby upgrades will cost an extra $14,995.

[skywaffles]

The widebody looks stupid.

[Vostok 7]

Originally Posted by skywaffles

The widebody looks stupid.

You look stupid. Dat tail.

[skywaffles]

Originally Posted by Vostok 7

You look stupid. Dat tail.

Have you and Funker swapped eyes?
How a widebody Mustang should be done:

[mrkyle3]

Hahahaha $40k for a wrong wheel drive focus with 300 hp? Wow. And actually I just reread it. Same amount of hp as the regular focus ST for $40k, just upgraded suspension and such. The 300hp will be an additional option for additional $$ I'm sure.

Should have made it AWD and 350 hp. Now that would have been awesome. And take off all the badging and black hood so it doesn't look like a rice bucket.

[Calamity Jesus]

Originally Posted by skywaffles

Originally Posted by skywaffles

The widebody looks stupid.

You're right.. that does look stupid.

Originally Posted by mrkyle3

Hahahaha $40k for a wrong wheel drive focus with 300 hp? Wow. And actually I just reread it. Same amount of hp as the regular focus ST for $40k, just upgraded suspension and such. The 300hp will be an additional option for additional $$ I'm sure.

Should have made it AWD and 350 hp. Now that would have been awesome. And take off all the badging and black hood so it doesn't look like a rice bucket.

You're new to this Ford/Shelby thing, huh?

[SCRAPPYDO]

Got excited about ST parts, then remembered it had the $helby name, and realized the aftermarket will do it better without the Chicken Farmer tax on it.

Only Carol Shelby could price gouge beyond the grave.

[industrial]

Originally Posted by skywaffles

Have you and Funker swapped eyes?
How a widebody Mustang should be done:

So red and bulbous like something else I've seen.

[derkahn]

I have some gym socks with bars of soap in em to beat the crap out of the ford "designers" wtf guys? why reinvent the wheel they have already done the focus rs that looks waaay better and works.. just import the focus RS http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...st-350-hp.html
no I don't want the kawasaki green one, but at least its not some lame-o two tone

[mhoward1]

This isn't ford. This is Shelby America (ie Shelby's greedy shareholders and family) trying to make a buck with as little work as possible by using the Shelby name.

[FaastLegacy]

Typical Shelby. Put a few token mods on a car, put their name on it, and then add $10k+ to the price.

Some of the Mustang guys go crazy over the Shelby stuff. I'm not the least bit impressed with any of it. It's just overpriced junk that you can do yourself for a fraction of the cost.

[teh POD]

Originally Posted by skywaffles

Have you and Funker swapped eyes?
How a widebody Mustang should be done:

Nice Starion! :trollface:

[mtarr07]

Waste Of Monies

[Skunkers]

Originally Posted by FaastLegacy

Typical Shelby. Put a few token mods on a car, put their name on it, and then add $10k+ to the price.

Some of the Mustang guys go crazy over the Shelby stuff. I'm not the least bit impressed with any of it. It's just overpriced junk that you can do yourself for a fraction of the cost.

^ This. ^

What makes it more insulting is the fact that they usually try to use Ford Racing parts where ever possible. And largely use other parts from other aftermarket companies where they can't. Then they just stick some Shelby badges/trim on and kick the price up. If they actually developed more of the parts themselves it would seem more valid.

Furthermore, I suspect the more often they do this, the less these cars will be worth. Now they aren't the only ones guilty of this; but I think Shelby trades on the value of some of the rare tuned muscle cars of yore, like the original GT500 and Yenko. But ever since the 2005 Mustang came out, they have been churning out special editions at an alarming rate. I think it's disingenuous because people buy these things thinking "Ooh Shelby... keep it in a garage and it will be worth a lot one day." but the more models they make, the more they dilute the potential future market that they are trading on. Now, I know it's not Shelby's responsibility to make sure the cars are worth something someday, but that is a part of the appeal customers are hoping for, so it just seems manufactured and predatory.

[Calamity Jesus]

Originally Posted by Skunkers

Furthermore, I suspect the more often they do this, the less these cars will be worth. Now they aren't the only ones guilty of this;

I, too, am eagerly awaiting the specs and pricing for the 2015 Saleen Focus ST.

[Skanky]

For about $500 Cobb or Unleashed tuning will give you a 300hp+ ST.

Stickers are very cheap.

Rims and suspension 2-3000 at the most.

That price is a joke.

And yes. Bring me a real Rs with revoknuckle. Done.

[FaastLegacy]

Originally Posted by Skunkers

Furthermore, I suspect the more often they do this, the less these cars will be worth. Now they aren't the only ones guilty of this; but I think Shelby trades on the value of some of the rare tuned muscle cars of yore, like the original GT500 and Yenko. But ever since the 2005 Mustang came out, they have been churning out special editions at an alarming rate. I think it's disingenuous because people buy these things thinking "Ooh Shelby... keep it in a garage and it will be worth a lot one day." but the more models they make, the more they dilute the potential future market that they are trading on. Now, I know it's not Shelby's responsibility to make sure the cars are worth something someday, but that is a part of the appeal customers are hoping for, so it just seems manufactured and predatory.

Agreed. The Mustang stuff from the 60s and the genuine Shelby Cobras will be worth something in the future. All of the S197 Shelby special editions for the most part will be worthless.

I don't count the new age GT500 in this conversation because it really isn't a Shelby, Shelby just whored his name out to Ford for marketing purposes. Shelby doesn't actually do anything to those cars and wasn't involved in the design process, other than a bit of input from Carroll himself.

[424wrx]

like already said, bring the focus rs. awd and more power. too much money for this focus.