[crysalis_01]

http://www.stangtv.com/news/strong-r...d-ecoboost-v6/



Strong Rumor: The Next Shelby GT500: Could it be an AWD EcoBoost V6?

By Michael Johnson
posted on Dec 16, 2015

". . .

During the detailing process, the wheels came off, along with the front brakes. It was at this time that Joe discovered something that really has our wheels turning. Joe discovered the front hubs of his new GT350 are splined, like what you would find in an AWD car, or 4WD truck. In talking to fellow GT350 enthusiast Jeff Foster (Who is still awaiting delivery of his GT350R), both surmised the splined hub has to mean something. It must be there for some reason. If we have learned anything about Ford, it’s that nothing is ever accidentally on a car. Every piece is there for a reason. So then, why would the GT350 have splined front hubs?"



Read the rest at the link at the top.

[GretchenGotGrowl]

Interesting, but I wouldn't read too much into it just yet. The Mazdaspeed 3's rear hubs are setup to handle drive input, but no AWD version has been released in all these years.

[SS 1LE]

That would be a huge mistake. Shelby guys don't want AWD, they want RWD...

...and no matter if it's a detuned Ford GT engine or not, the V6 thing will not fly with the Shelby crowd. Now, a twin turbocharged 5.0 would be a different story.

[Bhobbs]

Maybe the hubs are just a shared component and they have no intention of making it AWD.

[Apex Motorsports]

The 5th Gen Camaro has the same. Rather than using unique parts on ever single car the engineers often use existing parts in their "parts bin" to keep costs down.

[PostNup]

Carol would roll over in his grave

[TheReaper]

Make the GT350 AWD and stick a GT500 emblem on it, that should make some people happy.

[trademaster]

It would be a really awesome car. Not quite the spirit of the GT500 though. Maybe SVO?

I think it's just parts sharing.

[crysalis_01]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

Maybe the hubs are just a shared component and they have no intention of making it AWD.

Ford's press release states that the GT350's front knuckle, hub, and bearing assembly are all new parts. According to a few posts I've read on GMI, the GT350's front hubs are a unique part (aluminum to save weight), so there's no commonality with any other Ford product.

I'll have to go double check but I seem to remember that someone said that the part # is different from the GT350 rears, GT/EB/V6 front and rears.

Edit*

It was actually a post on the original article's site. But it's just "some guy" saying something on the internet for now, until verified.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by crysalis_01

Ford's press release states that the GT350's front knuckle, hub, and bearing assembly are all new parts. According to a few posts I've read on GMI, the GT350's front hubs are a unique part (aluminum to save weight), so there's no commonality with any other Ford product.

I'll have to go double check but I seem to remember that someone said that the part # is different from the GT350 rears, GT/EB/V6 front and rears.

Edit*

It was actually a post on the original article's site. But it's just "some guy" saying something on the internet for now, until verified.

That's interesting.

Either way, the GT350 isn't AWD, yet it has splined hubs. If they are unique to the GT350, the GT500 could get unique hubs too. There's no reason to assume one because of the other. Not that you are, I'm just speaking generally.

[crysalis_01]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

That's interesting.

Either way, the GT350 isn't AWD, yet it has splined hubs. If they are unique to the GT350, the GT500 could get unique hubs too. There's no reason to assume one because of the other. Not that you are, I'm just speaking generally.

Yeah, i wouldn't say it's anything more than "scuttlebutt" at this point. Though I do see where the article is coming from. The part may be unique. . . for now. Meaning that it was a part that FMC already had GT500 in development and they figured "why design it twice" and designed this part so it would enter the 'parts bin' and be available for a future product. Whatever that may be.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by crysalis_01

Yeah, i wouldn't say it's anything more than "scuttlebutt" at this point. Though I do see where the article is coming from. The part may be unique. . . for now. Meaning that it was a part that FMC already had GT500 in development and they figured "why design it twice" and designed this part so it would enter the 'parts bin' and be available for a future product. Whatever that may be.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Ford come out with an AWD GT500, especially if it's making a ton of power. They seem more willing to try things than GM. I don't see them going TTV6 in the GT500, though. The GT gets it for racing classifications. The GT500 has no such restrictions and it would likely be a controversial decision.

[Hilflos]

I'm as into the muscle car and pony car heritage as the next guy. I love the front engine rear wheel drive platform. I don't see how going to all wheel drive in a high end Mustang or Camaro would be a betrayal of the heritage, untrue to the spirit, or whatever.

Carroll Shelby got hold of the first gen Mustangs and made them better. If he'd access to the all wheel drive systems out there today, I bet he would have played with them. Look at the performance that can be achieved with them. Just watched a comparison of a rare 1st gen GT350 (1 of 3 IIRC) with IRS vs. the normal live axle over on You Tube, just as an example of his willingness to experiment with what was practical at the time.

Just occurred to me while I was typing, basically what we're talking about would be a production / mass market / modern / factory version of Ken Block's Hoonicorn. One that comes with A/C, satnav, surround sound, and you can it drive to the track.

Keep it around the cost of a GT350 to a Z/28, and I'd buy that. I would dearly love to see that come out of Chevrolet or Ford. 500ish crank hp awd gen 6 Camaro that handles at least as well as the 5th gen Z/28? Yeah, that sounds alright to me.

Really can't see Ford putting a V6 in something with the GT500 nameplate though. That would be, odd. Which is not to say I couldn't see them doing that and calling it something else, an SVO, as trademaster suggested, maybe?

Will be interesting if this manifests, if not we're still pretty well off with what we're being offered now.

[crysalis_01]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

I wouldn't be surprised to see Ford come out with an AWD GT500, especially if it's making a ton of power. They seem more willing to try things than GM. I don't see them going TTV6 in the GT500, though. The GT gets it for racing classifications. The GT500 has no such restrictions and it would likely be a controversial decision.

I agree, my own predictions (that I've posted a couple times) didn't account for a 3.5EB being utilized in Mustang until toward the end of the S550 run in the form of a Mach1. I figured the GT500 would use a 5.xL TT V8.