2011 Shelby GT500 aims for lean speed

DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. automaker Ford Motor Co. said Monday the 2011 Shelby GT500 Mustang would be 102 pounds lighter and yet more powerful than the 2010 model.

The upgrade will put 550 horsepower under the hood with 510 pound-feet of torque from an all-aluminum engine, The Detroit News reported Monday.

Ford builds the stock models in Flat Rock, Mich., then sends them to Shelby in Las Vegas to add the finishing touches.

In the meantime, the strategy "might not be as sexy as adding more horsepower or bigger brakes, but shaving pounds is the single smartest move you can make," said Carroll Shelby, founder of Shelby American.

In addition, Ford is adding a Special Vehicle Team package that includes 19-inch forged aluminum rims in the front and 20-inch rims in the rear, along with Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G:2 tires, the newspaper said.