There's been a lot of talk about Ford's->ke31 upcoming Shelby GT350, especially in regards to what engine might find its way under the hood. At some point, word on the street pointed toward the next Shelby->ke1359 carrying either a twin-turbo, 5.0-liter V-8 or an updated version of the 5.8-liter eight-banger found in the 2014 Shelby GT500. Those rumors went down the drain in September 2014, when Ford's own parts website leaked some precious information, including that the GT350's powerplant will displace 5.2 liters with no forced induction whatsoever.

Was that enough to quench our thirst for GT350-related details? Heck, no! But, fortunately, the folks over at Motor Trend did some digging to find out the precise configuration of the mill Ford is planning for the GT350. And as it turns out, the upcoming muscle car ->ke507 will get its juice from a flat-plane crankshaft V-8. It's a bit tricky when it comes to vibrations, the report adds, which is why development has been a little slow, but it appears Ford's SVT division found a way around these problems by fitting the pony with a host of heavy-duty parts.

The engine can now spin at 7,500 rpm, which brings it close to what the initial GT350's capabilities. Add an output that's rumored to be close to the 600-horsepower mark, and we have a neck-snapping rig in development.

Click past the jump to read more about the Ford Shelby Mustang GT350.

What is a Flat-Plane Crank?

Don't know what a flat-plane crank is? I could spend countless hours trying to type out an explanation, or I could simply post a video that shows the difference between it and a more traditional cross-place crank. I think I'll post the video, enjoy!

Why It Matters

It's happening again! The sixth-generation Mustang buzz is back, only this time we're talking about a bigger engine, a whole lot more power and an aggressive body ready to blow the BMW M4 to smithereens.

Getting excited is part of the game when the Shelby name is part of the equation, and although the lack of official details might get us hooked on painkillers, reports like these are keeping us on our toes. The fact that the new GT350 remains all-motor is great news. It might seem old fashioned, but sometimes one must stick to its past to keep the flame burning.

Ford Shelby Mustang GT350

Rumors about a high-performance muscle car based on the redesigned, sixth-generation Mustang have been flying around since before the regular vehicle was officially unveiled. It took more than six months for the souped-up 'Stang to make its first public appearance.

It came as a surprise when a downright aggressive Mustang showed up at the Nurburgring track in July 2014, finally confirming Ford is indeed up to something evil, likely to the extent of giving the Camaro Z/28 a run for its money. The camo-wrapped muscle car showcased a newly designed body kit that took the already sporty 'Stang and turned it into a track swallowing beast. A large bumper, prominent side skirts, a vented hood, and a race-like diffuser were there to let us know something big was cooking in Detroit. And we can't wait to taste it!