10-23-06 Roush Performance: 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 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 roto-molded air-box seals to the hood to reduce leakage. Again, the bottom line is less loss equals more airflow which results in more power.
Available in black or chrome polished, the GT500 ROUSHcharger kits should be available by the end of the year. Pricing is still to be determined.
For more information on Roush vehicles, parts and performance crate engines or for a list of Roush distributors, please visit www.roushperf.com
Prototype car also showing Cold-Air Intake 
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