Owners of the new Ford GT500 are a proud group – proud of the car and proud of
the 500 horsepower that comes with the stock engine. But the engineers at Roush
Performance, the leader in Ford powertrain development and all things
high-performance, are ready to unveil a new "Roushcharger" that can boost the
performance over the edge with up to 700 horsepower.
The GT500 "Roushcharger" will be offered in three different kits. The simplest
upgrade is the addition of a Cold Air Kit with new calibration which nets 45
horsepower.
The next step is including the 2.3L blower in a package which adds 120
horsepower and 88 lb.-ft. torque while keeping a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty.
This warranty will not void any offered by the factory. This kit includes the
"Roushcharger", a 78mm non-removable pulley and new calibration.
For those living on the wild side, a non-warranty version will also be offered
for off-road use, and this version is anticipated to push the GT500 engine to a
mind-boggling 700 horsepower, 200 more than the stock engine. Customers will
have to purchase a 72mm or 76mm pulley separately, and this version does not
include an upgraded calibration. Other modifications may be necessary in order
to maximize the horsepower gains.
"Our engineers have really pushed the envelope with this "Roushcharger" and I
think it is a credit to them to get as much as 200 horsepower more out of the
GT500 engine," said Jack Roush. "We are expecting that there will be a certain
number of Shelby owners who intend to keep their car in stock condition, but
there are also going to be those who want to push that envelope and have
bragging rights over their friends. From mild to wild, we can help them get
where they want to go with horsepower. It all depends on if they want the
peace-of-mind of having a warranty, or go right to the edge and let it all hang
out."
The GT500 "Roushcharger" is a new derivative design from the current roots-style
applications currently on the market and features a considerable improvement in
both airflow and efficiency. The bottom line is the more airflow, the more
power. Noteworthy is that this is the first application that will be
incorporating this new technology, both on the OE and aftermarket side.
The cold air intake kit considerably reduces pressure drop across the stock air
box and filter element. It comes with a high-flow, large 6-inch conical filter
and the rotomolded airbox seals to the hood to reduce leakage. Again, the bottom
line is less loss equals more airflow which results in more power.

