1ST PLACE SHELBY GT-C
Live from Las Vegas, Beauty and the Beast!
2ND PLACE SALEEN S281-3V
Fast, racy, and distinct, but overstyled, overweight, and overpriced.
3RD PLACE ROUSH STAGE 2
Cheesy bits and pieces and lack of edge taint an otherwise tasty treat.
White: Stock Mustang GT
Blue: Roush Stage 2
Red: Saleen S281-3V
Yellow: Shelby GT-C
Horsing Around: Who's legit? Who's fooling around?
To answer these burning questions, our friends at K&N Engineering, Inc., lent us their dual side-by-side in-ground dynamometer setup. We performed three passes in all four cars, each time in third gear. Expecting roughly a 15-percent loss due to drivetrain inefficiencies, let's see which tuner is practicing horseplay.
STOCK MUSTANG GT
CLAIMED: 300 hp @ 5750 rpm, 320 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
DYNO TESTED: 262 hp @ 5545 rpm, 285 lb-ft @ 4170 rpm
VERDICT: Horsepower (+7) and torque (+13) rate higher than expected. LEGIT.
ROUSH STAGE 2
CLAIMED: 300 hp @ 5750 rpm, 320 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
DYNO TESTED: 261 hp @ 5815 rpm, 286 lb-ft @ 4140 rpm
VERDICT: Horsepower (+6) and torque (+14) rate higher than expected. LEGIT.
SALEEN S281-3V
CLAIMED: 335 hp @ 5200 rpm, 345 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
DYNO TESTED: 277 hp @ 5590 rpm, 292 lb-ft @ 4210 rpm
VERDICT: Horsepower (-8) and torque (-1) rate lower than expected. HORSEPLAY.
SHELBY GT-C
CLAIMED: 319 hp @ 5750 rpm, 330 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
DYNO TESTED: 273 hp @ 5790 rpm, 304 lb-ft @ 4100 rpm
VERDICT: Horsepower (+2) and torque (+24) rate higher than expected. LEGIT.
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