Anyone with a pulse is aware of how well the 2005 Ford Mustang has been received by critics and consumers alike. Of course, that makes sense - it's a car that offers contemporary styling with a definite retro flair and a choice of two desirable engines. That car is so hot, in fact, that its rumored that factory executives and Ford’s own designers are far behind a long list of customers waiting for 2005's gotta-have-it car. Apparently Ford isn't satisfied with this raging interest, though, so 2006 will add a higher performance version called the Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500, an asphalt-munching beast that traces its heritage back to a highly praised 1968 model of the same name.

With Ford's talented SVT (Special Vehicle Team) unit and the legendary Carroll Shelby working together on this project, it was almost certainly a guaranteed success. The result of this collaboration will surely put goofy grins on the faces of Mustang and power lovers everywhere: 450 horsepower, 450 lb.-ft. of torque, Brembo calipers, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a price that should be in line with that of the previous Mustang Cobra model. And according to project designers, the 2006 Ford Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500 "will be the most powerful production Mustang ever built."

Ford officials are tight-lipped on how much it will cost to get into a 2006 Mustang Shelby Cobra GT500, but they do say that pricing will be in the same range as the previous Cobra, which started in the mid $30s. However, since the new model is better in most every way, we expect pricing to start at least in the high $30s.