2011 New York Auto Show: 2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake and Shelby GTS

Bucking the new-car, greener-than-thou trends, Shelby American introduced its new 2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake at the New York International Auto Show, along with a new "affordable" GTS package.

Shelby has a real history with the New York event, as the company's very first car was introduced in the Big Apple in 1962. Later, the 1968 and 2008 Shelby GT500KR debuted in the city. This time around, the 2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake is one the highest-output muscle cars ever offered.

The Super Snake starts with a regular production GT500, available through your local Ford dealership. With a base price of $48,645, the GT500 is quite the Mustang right out of the corral. It boasts a 550-horsepower, 5.4-liter supercharged V8 with a six-speed manual transmission. The EPA pegs fuel economy at 15 mpg city, 23 mpg highway - just enough to avoid the gas-guzzler tax for 2011.

Without laundry listing the enhancements, the GT500 elevates the Mustang way beyond the quite enjoyable and capable GT with a full chassis, exterior, and interior transformation. We've sampled the GT500, and with its lighter engine for 2011, it is more entertaining than before and a truly ferocious modern muscle car.

The GT500 Super Snake hisses at such a production machine, and cranks everything up another notch. The $34,500 base package, atop the GT500 car price, brings new six-piston brakes; carbon-fiber body work; abundant scoops, stripes, and decals; 3.73:1 differential; exhaust system; A-pillar gauges; and a cabin makeover. The GT500 supercharger is swapped out for a Shelby/Ford Racing Whipple blower good for 750 horsepower. For 2012, the Super Snake is available with 800 horsepower. (Fresh underwear is not included, but it should be.)

I had a chance to pilot the 2011 Shelby GT500 Super Snake, and not once during that brutal thrill ride did I ever think, "What this needs in another 50 horsepower." But, apparently someone did. That someone is Carroll Shelby, who, his staff half jokingly says, always wants more and more horsepower.

The completed package delivers muscle car thrills on a true super car scale, and it accomplishes it for less than $100,000. (There are many options available, should buyers seek to hit six figures.)

At the other end of the spectrum, Shelby American also introduced the Shelby GTS, an "affordable" package that provides a new entry point into Shelby ownership. It can be applied to the Mustang V6 or GT, and certainly can be built upon from the extensive parts catalog.

The GTS includes a Ford Racing handling package (springs, stabilizer bars, tower brace), free-flow air intake, exhaust system, performance brakes, hood, front fascia, racing stripe, and abundant badging. The GTS transformation starts at $9,995, and it can be applied to a new or used Mustang.

Having experienced the Shelby GT350 around the road course at California Speedway last fall, I can say the Shelby/Ford Racing suspension and upgraded brakes are quite impressive. While even the GTS requires a significant investment, the performance gains and Shelby exclusivity will be worth it for many Blue Oval enthusiasts.

—Jeff Bartlett