The Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 2019 improves somewhat to perfection

At launch, Keith Weston, Vehicle Dynamics Supervisor at Ford, helped me learn more about the car.

For 2019, Michelin has designed a set of GT350-specific Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with more exaggerated surface contact ratios to increase longitudinal and lateral grip. Ford has therefore improved the aerodynamics by closing a little of the grille to reduce the forward lift and reduce the drag coefficient. (Apparently around 0.010, if you were curious.)

At the back, the spoiler has been revamped to increase the strength of support. And customers now have the option of using the new Gurney shutter that comes off or attaches with four bolts.

As David Tracy reported last June, MagneRide shocks have also been adjusted:

To readjust the new shock absorbers (which changed compared to the previous year due to the revised tires), it was necessary to adjust the amount of current absorbed in the dampers' coils under different driving conditions. This modifies the magnetic field created and modifies the "tightening" of the bond between the ferrous particles in the damping fluid, thus modifying the rigidity of the shock.

"The system has therefore obtained information on the direction of acceleration, yaw movement, wheel rotation, wheel speed and vertical longitudinal acceleration data," said Weston. "We are able to use it to determine the desired damping characteristics for these conditions. The vehicle can very quickly respond to this information and adjust the depreciation level to best suit the situation, "he explained.

(I asked a Ford representative if the newly calibrated dampers could be applied to the 2016 GT350 models and he said he could not understand why.)

The ABS software has also been redesigned. As a rule, the anti-lock brakes are there to help you steer the car when braking. But in order to adjust a performance car, Ford wanted to maximize the car's ability not only to turn during braking, but also to do so with as much stability as possible.

"You can not change a single component of the system without developing the rest of the system," said Weston. "Tires are an important catalyst for changes in the car. We had the new tire and we developed the rest of the system so that it works with the tire. "

"[The GT350] very easy to drive fast, "he concluded emphatically," It rewards the driver and helps make this experience fun, I drove a lot of fast and fun cars, it's a fast car that's also fun. "

He is right.

What's great

Because we live in a crazy, power-hungry world, 526 HP no longer raises eyebrows. Why would you do it when you have Corvettes, Hellcats and Demons that are over 700? But what makes all the difference is the way these 526 HP are shot down.

Some of the big German cars I drove recently have the impression of running in deep sleep. The movements and momentum are there, but the sensations are always toned down and softened under layers of NVH padding and luxurious touches.

Mustang, on the other hand, is the strong, cheeky, unrefined and cheerful alternative. He rushes into the braking zones, tears in the bends and screams like a banshee on straight lines. Noise is enough to crack the stone.

The power supply is incredibly linear and just keeps going. The GT350 stands out at 8,250 rpm and its rotational speed is comparable to a jump in the sky. M1 is a smaller track and the speed of the car is long, so it was perfectly happy to make it all in third position.

But when it came to doing it, moving alone was a joy. The shifter is short and the doors are perfectly cut. You have to apply a little force behind each throw before the lever gets into the case with a satisfying metal rattle.

The steering is nice and heavy, but not the added weight artificially by the other cars to make things more "sporty". It was important, as there was a reason for heaviness. At no time did I know where the nose was pointing or what was happening with the front tires. There was no play in the off-center wheel. Even the smallest movements of my hands were swept by the tires.

Grip too was ubiquitous. Gusts of acceleration were carefully crushed, while sticky tires clenched their claws into the sidewalk in turns to launch the sling to the next summit.

All these factors – linear power, acute direction, ceaseless adherence – have resulted in one thing: trust. Everything worked so well in symphony with everything else that I no longer need to think of them once I understood them. No surprises. No ghosts. Which meant I could concentrate a bit more on my own limits, learn the track and perfect my line.

Cars are a little funny like that. The better they are, the less you have to think about it. Less you need to make up for some deficiencies. Once this happens, finding the limit is up to you all.

What is weak?

On the track, the GT350 is a star. But on Michigan's pothole roads, the situation is less than brilliant. Do not get me wrong, this is done perfectly every day, but you will be extremely aware that you are driving on a performance suspension system.

Even in the most casual driving modes, the GT350 rolls hard, is strong and its direction is heavier. But as I am a masochist and I like things like that, it does not bother me too much. The hard suspension may shake the glass in your cup if you're not careful, though.

And since it has front tires of 295 sections, the staking, a phenomenon where the wheels of a car tend to follow the road, is a remarkable thing. We can not help you, you just have to take care of it.

A representative from Ford told me that a lot of work was needed to make the car comfortable on a daily basis. I would not call it exactly uncomfortable, but the quality of driving is something that a friend who knows nothing about cars could mention because he noticed it.

One of the drawbacks you mentioned about flat surface V8s is the extra vibration due to imbalance issues. Personally, I did not notice more vibrations than in a normal Mustang, whether driving in the city or at traffic lights. Weston said the company apparently "did a lot to minimize the vibrations".