Ford has ended its vagueness about the output of the V8 in the 2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang and GT350R Mustang, revealing it’ll make 392kW and 580Nm.

THE 2016 FORD SHELBY GT350 Mustang and GT350R Mustang will go on-sale in the US later this year and Ford has finally detailed the output of the naturally-aspirated 5.2-litre V8 under their bonnets. Claimed as the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine in Ford’s history, the V8 will produce 392kW (at 7500rpm) and 580Nm of torque (at 4750rpm).

“The Shelby GT350 program began with a clear objective – create the most balanced, nimble and exhilarating production Mustang yet,” said Jamal Hameedi, Ford Performance chief engineer. “Every change we made to this car was driven by the functional requirements of a powerful, responsive powerplant. The high-revving, naturally aspirated 5.2-litre flat-plane V8 delivers on every target we set – high horsepower, broad torque curve, aggressive throttle response and light weight.”

According to Ford, “Unlike traditional V8 engines, the all-new 5.2-liter uses a flat-plane crankshaft more typically found in a Ferrari sports car or in racing applications. The design of this new engine for the Shelby GT350 was optimized using computer-aided engineering and fully digital performance simulations. Millions of intake, cam and exhaust configurations were iterated before arriving at the optimal combination”.

In both Shelby GT350 and Shelby GT350R, the all-new 5.2-liter will be paired with a six-speed manual transmission as its only gearbox option. The Tremec TR-3160 six-speed manual is specifically engineered for less mass and high-rpm application in the new Shelby Mustangs. The six-speed features a lightweight, die-cast aluminum case and clutch housing for increased overall powertrain stiffness. Gear cross-sections, the dual-mass flywheel and dual-disc clutch are all optimized for an overall reduction in inertia and weight.

“A new Mustang as exceptional as the Shelby GT350 deserves an equally extraordinary engine,” said Dave Pericak, director, Ford Performance. “The all-new naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V8 perfectly fits the balanced dynamics of the Shelby GT350, and we believe this new engine will become a performance legend.”