After vanishing for nearly a quarter of a century, Ford’s Shelby GT350 badge returns to adorn the new sixth generation Mustang.

Revealed just ahead of the 2014 LA Auto Show, the 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 has its eyes set on the 505hp Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.

Unlike the last Mustang to wear a Shelby badge, the 5th-gen GT500 that had a 662hp supercharged V8, the new GT350 boasts a high-revving 5.2-liter V8 with more than 500-horsepower and 400 lb-ft making it the most powerful naturally aspirated Ford production engine ever.

Ford says the Mustang Shelby GT350 was made as an all-day track car that’s also street legal.

“When we started working on this car, we wanted to build the best possible Mustang for the places we most love to drive – challenging back roads with a variety of corners and elevation changes – and the track on weekends,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “Every change we made to this car was driven by the functional requirements of a powerful, responsive powerplant – nimble, precise handling and massive stopping power.”

The 5.2-liter V8 is a new unit with a flat-plane crankshaft, the first of its kind from Ford. For the uninitiated, whereas in traditional V8 the connecting rods are attached to the crankshaft at 90-degree interval, in a flat-plane crankshaft, the crank pins are positioned at 180-degree intervals, thus allowing a cylinder firing order that alternates between cylinder banks for better breathing.

“The final product is essentially an all-new powerplant unique to GT350 – and one that takes true advantage of the new chassis dynamics of the Mustang platform,” said Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer, Ford Global Performance Vehicles.

The eight-cylinder unit is paired to a six-speed manual transmission that drives the rear wheels of the Mustang through a Ford-tuned Torsen limited-slip differential.

Ford says it has stiffened the chassis over the standard Mustang with an injection-molded carbon fiber composite grille opening and optional lightweight tower-to-tower brace, while it has also recalibrated the spring rates and bushings and reduced the ride height. The GT350 also the first ever Ford application of continuously controlled MagneRide dampers.

Stopping power is provided by two-piece cross-drilled iron discs mounted to aluminum hats, with the front wheels featuring 394-millimeter rotors clamped by Brembo six-piston fixed calipers with integrated caliper bridges, and the rear, 380-millimeter rotors utilizing four-piston calipers. The GT350 rides on 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Super Sport.

“We took the best Ford Mustang yet and massaged every aspect of the car that affects the performance driving experience,” said Hameedi. “We tested endlessly on the most challenging roads and tracks in the world, and we believe serious drivers will love the Shelby GT350 Mustang.”

Aerodynamic, and consequently, styling upgrades over the standard Mustangs include a new lowered hood made out of aluminum, front and rear aero elements, a re-sculpted fascia, a new rear diffuser, re-contoured aluminum front fenders with air vents, and a subtle deck-lid spoiler.

As for the interior, the GT350 sports newly designed Recaro sport seats, revamped instrument gauges and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The driver also gets a new integrated driver control system that allows selection of five unique modes that tailor ABS, stability control, traction control, steering effort, throttle mapping, MagneRide tuning and exhaust settings.

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