2016 Shelby GT350 Mustang Horsepower Talk: Over 100HP/Liter Equals 520-plus HP – Video

After a few runs on the speedway with that particular Avalanche Gray and a plethora of other muscle cars of days long past, a Q&A session with Ford Shelby Brand Manager Jim Owens followed and guess what: the previously mentioned Mustang is the first technical trial example manufactured with non-production tools.

Mr. Owens also disclosed: "we haven't divulged the model year yet and there is a reason for that," after which he told the attendees that the GT350 will become available in the United States "earlier in the fourth quarter." You can read anything you want into that, but two things are certain: the pricing proposal will be submited to the Blue Oval's vice president on April 2nd and that 5.2-liter flat-plane crankshaft Voodoo V8 engine will be packing "over 100 HP per liter."

Based on its displacement, that means we're in for a naturally aspirated vee-eight lump producing north of 520 horsepower. As an added bonus, Owens confirmed the redline sits at a screaming 8,250 rpm. What else did we learn from the recording of the Q&A session with Jim Owens? In terms of production numbers, we're told that: "It would be safe to say it would be somewhere between a Boss 302 number and the current GT500 production number and I wouldn’t be surprised if the R might be akin to... the Leguna Seca version."

A Shelby GT350S Mustang racecar will also be produced under a contractual agreement between the Ford Motor Company and Shelby American. If we're lucky, a Shelby GT350 Mustang Track Attack program will follow. Last but not least, the bigger aerodynamic rear wing is a part of the GT350's Track Package.