Ford is apparently working on a new trim package for the Mustang Shelby GT500 that will split the difference between the Handling Pack and the Carbon Fiber Track Pack. The new Carbon Fiber Handling Package will, according to Ford Authority, introduce mild enhancements and carbon fiber elements to the car without costing quite as much as the Carbon Fiber Track Pack.
The package will allegedly include 20-inch
carbon fiber wheels. Unlike the CFTP, though, whose rims are finished in
exposed carbon fiber, this one’s will be painted. It will also feature the
adjustable strut top mounts and gurney flap, but will eschew some of the
pricier elements of the top trim.
Pricing has not yet been revealed, but the
package is likely to cost less than the Carbon Fiber Track Pack, which features
an exposed carbon track wing, rear seat delete, Recaro leather trimmed seats,
and more, and costs US$ 18,500. It will also cost more than the Handling Pack,
which is offered for US$ 1,500 and includes a gurney flap and splitter wickers to
enhance aerodynamics.
By adding the carbon fiber wheels to a
less expensive package, Ford may be trying to entice buyers who want the weight
savings of the wheels without pushing the price of the GT500 into six-figure
territory. Each GT500 carbon fiber wheel weighs just 17 lbs, helping the
Mustang shed unsprung weight which, in turn, improves handling.
According to the report, the Carbon Fiber
Handling Package will not replace either of the existing packs, but will
instead join them in the lineup for 2021.
