Ford shows new Shelby-Mustang GT500 | Gympie Cars | 4WD, Green Cars and Motorcycling in Gympie

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WHILE other US car companies are busy slashing the gas-guzzlers from their model lines, Ford is showing the next generation of its Ford Mustang - a sports coupe famous for anything but frugality.

The redesigned Shelby Mustang GT500 graces the Ford stand at the Detroit car show which lasts until January 25 and is set to reach the showrooms by early spring. Power is provided by a supercharged version of the hardy V8 engine with stump-pulling 540 horsepower.

Ford says the car is designed to engender respect for the troubled blue oval badge despite the credit squeeze which has seen rivals General Motors and Chrysler seek public finding to avoid bankruptcy.

"The muscle car segment is becoming even more competitive," said Jamal Hameedi, chief nameplate engineer for SVT, Ford's special vehicle department.

"We need to uphold the Mustang badge with honour, the Shelby badge with honour and most importantly the Ford badge with honour. The 2010 GT500 is the car that will do all of that."

There are some styling changes to make the Mustang look even more aggressive, but the emphasis is on continuity with the original Mustang GT as immortalised by actor Steve McQueen in the 1968 action thriller Bullitt. The Shelby Mustang is based on the all-new 2010 Ford Mustang first unveiled at the Los Angeles car show last November.