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The latest Ford Racing email newsletter contains some juicy stuff for Mustang fans. It confirms that the 2011 Shelby GT500 will be revealed this coming Monday, February 8, at 1:30 PM Eastern time via a live webcast, during which FoMoCo VP for global product development, Derrick Kuzak will also run down the SVT product strategy with Jost Capito, Ford's director of global performance vehicles. The newsletter includes a link to FordMediaLive.com, which is counting down the seconds to the webcast in real time. We recommend you click on the system test button, because doing so gives you a teaser reel of the 2011 Shelby GT500 (shown above), and if you've been following the leaked developments so far, it's pretty revealing. (Note: Ford has since pulled down the old test/teaser reel and replaced it with generic nature scenes.)

As you know, the Shelby GT500 order guide found its way onto the web last week. Among the new-for-2011 features mentioned (beyond the aluminum block for the blown 5.4-liter V8), are the glass roof option, which is installed on the car in the video, and the new SVT Performance Package, which is also equipped. Visual giveaways that differentiate the performance pack cars are readily evident: the hood stripes are skinnier than the ones on the standard GT500, and the body-side stripe is solid (it's bisected on the regular GT500).

Even more obvious are the different wheels, 19 x 9.5 inches in front, and 20 X 10 inches in back) that are exclusive to the SVT Performance Package. Finally, in the shot of the car's rear end, the spoiler with Gurney flap is plainly visible. Regular GT500s don't get the flap.(Never mind; I forgot that the 2010 GT500 rear spoiler had the flap, too. - Nunez) As specified in the leaked order sheet, the performance pack cars also get upgraded to a 3:73 rear axle ratio over the base GT500's 3:55s.On top of all that, The Detroit News reports this morning that the tweaked, aluminum-block 5.4 gets another 10 horsepower over the iron-block version, raising total output to 550 HP.

There's more to tell, but unfortunately, we're sworn to secrecy until 1:30 sharp on Monday. What we will say is this: The Mustang V6 and GT aren't the only ponys in the stable that get better for 2011. As good - great, even - as the 2010 Shelby GT500 is, the 2011 improves on the formula. Stay tuned for some pretty hot stuff on Monday. Thanks to Murray for the heads-up, and to commenter Mike for the Detroit News link.


Sneak Peek: 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 w/ SVT Performance Package [w/video] — Autoblog