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Exterior
The 2010 Mustang is more of a refresh than it is a new Mustang, and while the 2010 Ford Mustang GT and the 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 both clearly reflect those changes, the GT 500 adds an aspect of functionality to the aggressive new look.  The most obvious difference between these two Mustangs is the front fascia.  The 2010 Mustang GT has a front end design similar to the previous generation, with two massive driving lights mounted in the flat black grille, flanking the running pony that was also redesigned for 2010.  Along the bottom of the 2010 Mustang Shelby GT 500's front fascia, there is a large cooling opening also finished in flat black, and that trim wraps around to the wheel openings.  The 2010 Mustang Shelby GT 500 puts function before form, making sure that the 540 horsepower engine is kept as cool as possible. 

The Mustang Shelby GT 500's driving lights have been moved to the lower fascia area directly below the headlights, and in their absence the upper grille area features a shape that helps to funnel cool air into the engine bay.  The only obstruction on the grille of the Ford Mustang GT500 is the silver Cobra badge, as the Shelby model doesn't feature the running pony.  The lower fascia area also has a design to help funnel air through the Mustang GT 500's large front mounted intercooler, and the unique GT 500 hood contains large vents to help channel the hot air out of the engine bay.  Along with channeling the air, the upper grille design offers better aerodynamics than the 2010 Mustang GT, as the Ford Shelby GT 500 grille comes to the top of the front fascia and the hood meets the back of the fascia, where the Mustang GT hood hangs out over the sunken-in grille and driving lights.

The 2010 Ford Mustang debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2008 showing off a new, sleek exterior, and Ford unveiled the 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 at the Detroit Auto Show a few months later.  The 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 received similar changes in styling as the Mustang GT, but Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) took the refresh a step further but inside and out.  The 2010 Mustang GT is expected to have an MSRP around $33,000 and the Shelby GT500 will likely cost around $45,000, so what differences account for that price gap?





Drivetrain
The Mustang faithful hoped for a big jump in power from the 2010 Mustang GT to accompany the aggressive new look, but with only 315 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque the 4.6L V8 received only a minor improvement.  The 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, like the previous GT500 models, boasts of being the most powerful production Mustang ever made.  That claim is backed up by the 540 horsepower supercharged 5.4L V8, using tuning improvements from the 2008 Ford Mustang GT500 King of the Road.  The 2010 Mustang GT offers a five-speed manual or automatic transmission, while the Mustang Shelby GT500 returns an improved 6-speed manual transmission.  Although there are optional differential choices, a 3.31 rear-end is standard in the Mustang GT.  The 2007 Mustang GT500 offered the same 3.31 ratio, but thanks to the improved transmission, the 2010 Mustang GT500 now has a 3.55 gear, giving the car better low end acceleration without hurting fuel economy.

After comparing the 2010 Mustang GT against the 2010 Dodge Challenger, people may stop thinking of Dodge as: "Oh yeah, the car Al Bundy drives!" "Married with Children" stopped making new episodes years ago, yet the reaction that all too many people have toward Dodge is a negative one . This is regrettable because Dodge has turned out a few sweet vehicles since that sitcom stopped being made; the impressive new 2010 Dodge Challenger for example.

Ford Mustang GT and Chevrolet Camaro: if you were asked to name two American musclecars, chances are they would be the first two out of your mouth. In the current climate, there are as many reasons as you can think of for buying Ford, Chevrolet, or anything American. First, it helps  an economy that pretty desperately needs it right now. Second, it could very well help your own personal economy as US cars are a pretty affordable option in this day and age.

Let's say that you won a contest, and you would be trading in the car that you currently drive daily to work, or whatever it is that you go each day.  You would be saying goodbye to your current DD and you had a choice of two cars.

 

• 1968 Shelby G.T. 500 KR
• 2008 Shelby G.T. 500 KR

 

Now, before thinking about this, keep in mind that this will be a daily driven model with  a fully stock interior, exterior, and drivetrain.  Any option from the two years is available, but that's all.  One of the rules is that you will be not free to sell the car, so no consideration is to be made as to the value of the car for resale.

 

For those who aren't familiar with the two, following is a brief rundown of each.