V-8 engines and loads of oomph!
by Ciprian Florea, onThe 2018 Paris Motor Show is packed with cool cars, but you have to look really close to find some American muscle. If you’re a fan of powerful U.S.-built machines, the Shelby was the place to be. The American tuner made a surprising appearance in France and brought along its most spectacular vehicles.
Naturally, the main highlights are the company’s Mustang-based products. Number one on this list is the new Super Snake, built around the facelifted, 2018 Mustang.
Unveiled earlier this year, the latest Super Snake packs more than 700 horsepower and will take you flying from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.5 seconds.
This supercharged beast sounds as menacing as they get and features an impressive amount of high-performance upgrades, including track-ready Brembo brakes.
Also in Mustang territory, we have the GT-H. A tribute to the legendary Hertz Mustang, the modern GT-H was also upgraded with the Mustang’s fresh styling cues. It’s not as aggressive as the Super Snake and its V-8 cranks out notably less power, but it looks really cool in its black and gold livery.
Moving over to trucks, you won’t be able to miss the massive Baja Raptor. Based on the F-150 Raptor, it features a ton of off-road-specific upgrades, including beefier bumpers, auxiliary lights, retractable running boards, and a three-inch lift kit from Fox Racing. This beast tackles any type of terrain thanks to the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine stuffed under the ram air hood. The turbocharged mill sends an impressive 525 horsepower and 610 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels.
The Baja Raptor isn't the only truck you'll find at the Shelby stand. The American firm also brought the F-150 Super Snake.
While not as extreme as the Raptor when it comes to off-road capability, the Super Snake is much more powerful. The massive V-8 under the hood delivers no less than 755 horsepower!
Finally, Shelby also showcases its first sports car in years in Paris. It’s called the Series 2, and it’s a revival of the Series 1 that the brand originally launched in 1998. Virtually identical on the outside, save for a new set of wheels, it features an updated interior and a supercharged V-8 engine borrowed from the Super Snake. It cranks out 580 horsepower in base form, but Shelby will be glad to update the engine to generate more than 800 horses.
Further reading
Read our full review on the 2017 Shelby Super Snake 50th Anniversary Edition.
Read our full review on the 2016 Ford Shelby Hertz GT-H.
