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Autoblog Podcast #326

Easter Jeep Safari concepts, Shelby 1000, 2014 Cadillac CTS and Mercedes CLA45 AMG leaks
Episode #326 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth and Zach Bowman talk about this year's Easter Jeep Safari concepts, the 1,200-horsepower Shelby 1000 and leaked images of the 2014 Cadillac CTS and Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG. We wrap with your questions and emails, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #326:

2013 Shelby 1000 unleashes its 1,200 horsepower ahead of NY show reveal

True story: Last fall, I had the opportunity to spend a week with Ford's new 2013 Shelby GT500 - the Blue Oval's factory Mustang with 662 horsepower and 631 pound-feet of torque. It's an amazing beast, to be sure. I'm not sure if it was Michigan's damp streets strewn with potholes and wet leaves, but at no point did I ever say to myself, "You know, Ford is on to a really good thing here, but what it really needs is about twice the power." And yet, for people in warmer climes with infrastructure in better nick - or for those whose muscle cars live their lives out on the track, there's apparently sufficient demand to warrant just such a beast.
Quick studies will recall that Shelby American launched its 1000 last year to commemorate its 50th anniversary, but it is returning to the New York Auto Show with a fresh version based on the 2013 GT500 I drove. The 2013 Shelby 1000 whips up 1,200 horsepower on pump gas thanks to beefed-up forced induction, engine internals and cooling. Wisely, it also incorporates an adjustable suspension and big brake package to make sure those ponies have the best chance being safely deployed to the ground.
What price the world's most powerful "production" muscle car? $154,995 for starters - donor GT500 not included. What, no convertible variant?

Shelby GT name returns for 2014 Mustang with up to 624 hp

Earlier in the year, Shelby American unveiled the 1,200-horsepower Shelby 1000 wearing a price tag of $154,995. Now, the Las Vegas-based company is looking to meet the needs of budget-minded performance enthusiasts with the rebirth of the Shelby GT, which made its debut at the LA Auto Show.
"Budget-minded" is obviously very relative here, but the three levels of upgrades available on the 2014 Shelby GT do represent decent bang for the buck. After purchasing a stock 2014 Ford Mustang GT, which retails for $30,900, Shelby has three packages to improve the Mustang's performance and handling, with the all-in base price coming in at around $45,000.
For $14,995, Shelby will tune your Mustang to 430 horsepower (up from 420 hp) while adding a Borla exhaust, Panhard suspension bar and 20-inch wheels. Shelby also adds its own style with a fiberglass hood, billet grille, unique front fascia and "Shelby" badging on the trunk and seat head rests. If more power is what you're looking for, the Shelby GT/SC adds a Whipple supercharger, Wilwood brakes and performance Michelin tires - for the sum of $27,995. The GT/SC offers a considerable jump in horsepower with the choice of either 525 hp or 624 hp, the latter of which is claimed to give the car a 0-60 time of just 3.7 seconds.