New York Auto Show: Ford Shelby GT-500KR coming in 2008.
Staff Report
Ford gives us a peek behind the curtain for next week's raft of debuts.
03-30-07: Wow! That is about the only reaction we can put down as Ford rolls out some teaser tid bits of what it has in store for the New York Auto Show next week. We have always said this would be a wild week. So, lets get right to it.
Ford pulled the covers off three new limited-edition vehicles today that will be coming for 2008. Most important to us is the 2008 Shelby GT500KR, 1000 of which will come to market next year The other two vehicles are the F-150 Foose Edition and the Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition. All three will make their public debut at the 2007 New York International Auto Show on April 4th.
Launching next spring, the 2008 Ford Shelby GT500KR model features a 5.4-liter supercharged V-8 with a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Pack that boosts engine output to an estimated 540 horsepower. This sounds erily similar to the package that Shelby is currently offering to GT-500 owners in his “40th Anniversary Package”.
Produced in a limited edition of 1,000 units, the Shelby GT500KR coupe comes with a custom carbon composite hood with scoops and stainless steel twist-down hood pins, a lower front air dam with chrome-trimmed functional brake ducts and large 14-inch Brembo front brakes. The suspension has been modified with an emphasis on race-inspired handling.
Drawing inspiration from the classic 1968 KR model, the Shelby GT500KR also features 40 th Anniversary exterior badging, unique striping and a distinctive interior with Carroll Shelby-signature embroidered seats and a 40 th Anniversary numbered dash plaque.
Mustang enthusiasts will surely appreciate a GT-500 that can handle as well as it goes down the road. It will be interesting to see what this car fetches on Ebay when they first hit the showrooms.
Advertisement
Video of Carroll Shelby talking about the new GT-500 KR
Hitting the streets in early 2008 is one tough boulevard cruiser – the 2008 Ford F-150 Foose Edition styled by custom street rod designer Chip Foose.
Lowered, but looking even more hunkered down thanks to its big 22-inch wheels, the special Foose F-150 sports bold racing stripes that start at the edge of the hood and then thin out over the front fenders to run the length of the vehicle only to widen again at the tailgate.
Planned for an initial run of 500 units, Foose gave the F-150 a new grille with horizontal bars as well as rocker moldings to further help lower the vehicle visually while the cab is accented by Chip Foose signature headrests and floor mats, a unique leather-wrapped center console and a Foose-designed serialization plate showing the VIN and build-sequence numbers.
Powering the Foose Edition F-150 is a 450-horsepower supercharged 5.8 liter Triton V8 that puts out 500 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm, making it the most powerful Ford F-150 since the 2004 Ford SVT Lightning. When it hits the streets, it will be the most powerful half-ton pickup on the market.
2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition:
Coming to dealer showrooms this fall, the 2008 Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition turns the hot Expedition concept vehicle created by hip hop DJ Funkmaster Flex into a limited-production, short wheelbase SUV.
The Expedition FMF will sport a two-tone Colorado Red-and-Black paint scheme with Orange pinstriping and special chrome badging, a custom front fascia with integrated fog lamps, side skirts, rear fascia and 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels.
Inside, a matching Colorado Red instrument panel, console bezel, shifter and switch bezels blend with four leather captains chairs with red stitching, FMF red logo headrests, and a red-stitched steering wheel. Rounding out the package is an exclusive numbered dash plaque signed by Funkmaster Flex and SIRIUS satellite Radio.
The Expedition FMF Edition also sports a 340-watt Audiophile™ Sound System, MP3 player audio jack, Powerfold™ third-row seating, heated and cooled front seats and an optional navigation system, power liftgate and rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
