On May 17, 5:35*pm,
(MummyChunk) wrote:

So now the question is when will this feature trickle down to the GT
model? Guessing, I'd say the GT will see it as an option in less than
3 years.

Patrick


> From AB
>
> 2013 Shelby GT500 Launch Control Ensures Smooth Starts Regardless of
> Surface Condition
>
> • 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 is the first to be equipped from the factory
> with launch control
>
> • SVT engineers have given Shelby GT500 drivers the ability to
> fine-tune the launch control settings, spinning wheels for consistent,
> maximum acceleration
>
> DEARBORN, Mich., May 17, 2012 – Paraphrasing a classic quote –
> "With great power comes the need for great control" – the
> engineers at Ford's Special Vehicles Team have stepped up to the plate
> to manage the massive output of the 2013 Shelby GT500.
>
> Whether a driver is a track-day veteran or getting his first
> ultra-high-performance sports car, the new launch control system on
> the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 will help ensure he gets smooth, consistent
> and fast starts every time.
>
> Uncontrolled wheel spin is generally undesirable, whether commuting to
> work or racing away from the Christmas tree on a Friday night at the
> drag strip. Both safety and performance suffer when the wheels can't
> get enough grip on the road. However, properly regulated, some wheel
> slip can be your friend.
>
> "Launch control is essentially a special mode of the traction
> control system that integrates the brake and engine management systems
> to keep the tires balanced on the peak of the mu-slip curve in order
> to achieve maximum thrust," explains John Pfeiffer, senior
> engineer, SVT Vehicle Engineering. "With so much more power and
> torque on tap from the new 5.8-liter V8, launch control makes it
> easier for drivers to take advantage of the performance."
>
> With launch control enabled, the driver just has to press the
> accelerator pedal to the floor and then smoothly and quickly release
> the clutch pedal just as he normally would when executing a clean
> start. The difference is that the electronics will automatically hold
> the engine steady at the desired speed and manage the rear brakes to
> allow the optimum amount of wheel slip for maximum traction.
>
> "We recognize not every driver has the same style, and surface,
> tire and climate conditions vary," said Eddie Khan, SVT
> Engineering supervisor. "Most of our competitors' launch control
> systems have a fixed engine launch speed. We've given Shelby GT500
> drivers the ability to adjust the engine speed to achieve best and
> most consistent performance, no matter where and when they
> drive."
>
> Shelby GT500 drivers can enable launch control in two ways – either
> through Track Apps™ on the 4.2-inch LCD in the instrument cluster or
> simply by tapping a switch on the left side of the instrument panel.
> When using the Track Apps screen, drivers can also adjust the desired
> engine speed for the launch in 100 rpm increments from 3,000 to 4,500
> rpm. When first getting accustomed to launch control or if the
> pavement is cooler, a lower speed may be more appropriate. Switching
> to racing tires or running in an autocross event on a warm Saturday
> morning may call for a launch speed closer to the upper end of the
> range.
>
> Once the desired engine speed has been set, launch control can be
> toggled on or off by tapping the instrument panel switch – more
> convenient than the intricate multistep process required on many other
> vehicles. After the launch control has been enabled or disabled, it
> retains that mode even after the engine has been switched off and
> restarted, something drag racers frequently have to do as they slowly
> make their way through the lines to the next quarter-mile pass.
>
> "We developed this system to enable 90 percent of drivers to be
> able to achieve very fast, smooth and consistent starts with the
> Shelby GT500 regardless of their skill level," said Khan.
> "Experienced drag racers may be able to get away slightly
> quicker, but chances are they won't be as consistent."
>
> Veteran drag racers will find the Shelby GT500 also gives them extra
> flexibility. Switching off the traction control while the launch
> control is on produces an rpm-only mode that engine calibration
> engineer Tom Siebyla has tuned to keep the engine speed rock-steady
> with the electronic throttle and ignition without scrubbing off any
> speed with the brakes. Autocrossers or track-day racers can also mix
> and match the normal, sport and off modes of the stability control
> with the launch control to achieve the degree of sliding or control
> that best suits the conditions or their personal driving style.
>
> For those times when there isn't enough grip to use launch control
> effectively, such as dust or moisture on the pavement, Ford electronic
> brake control development engineer Dan Dunn has built smarts into the
> launch control that enable it to automatically switch off and revert
> to traction control.
>
> "It's not as intrusive as some TC systems have been in the
> past," added Khan. "We wanted to help the driver make
> consistent starts without getting in the way."
>
> Launch control won't do the driving, but it is a tool to help drivers
> extract consistent high performance from the most powerful production
> Mustang ever.
>
> "For drivers who want to have some fun at their local drag strip
> with a stock machine, the 2013 Shelby GT500 is the ultimate bracket
> racer," said Khan. "We've given our drivers the ability to
> exert control over all the power and torque this Mustang can
> produce."
>
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