It's been more than four months since the Shelby GT350 broke cover at the Los Angeles Auto Show,->ke211 and Ford->ke31 has yet to reveal the actual output of the muscle car.->ke507 However, as the on-sale date (slated for the fourth quarter of this year) approaches, more details are starting to surface. The latest info surrounding the GT350 comes straight from Shelby brand manager Jim Owens, who was on hand to chat with enthusiasts at the Texas World Speedway, where Ford showcased the GT350 this weekend. Owens divulged several juicy bits about the GT350, including the fact that the 5.2-liter V-8 will make more than 100 horsepower per liter.

That's at least 520 horses, which is 20 horsepower more than Ford's initial claim of "more than 500 horsepower." Owens also said the redline will be set at 8,250 rpm and that the car will be a "relative performance value," which could mean a sticker of around $50,000. Expect production numbers to be in the Boss 302 range for the GT350 and 302 Laguna Seca range for the GT350R, he added, according to Mustang6G.

Lastly, Owens confirmed the GT350 will also get a race version under the GT350S moniker. He didn't provide a launch date for it, but it's likely to arrive in 2016.

Continue reading to learn more about the Shelby GT350.

Why it matters

When automakers state a certain car will have "at least" a certain amount of horsepower, the final figure usually doesn't surpass the initial estimate by more than few horses (I'm not counting Dodge's Challenger->ke249 and Charger Hellcats, which jumped from "600 plus" to 707 horsepower). It's exciting to discover that Ford massaged the flat-plane V-8 to crank out more than 100 horses per liter. If you still had doubts that the Blue Oval means business, then it's about time you become a believer. The news of a race-prepped version being in the works is equally important. With the Mustang now using an independent rear suspension, the GT350 has even greater motorsport potential and it could become a strong contender for the Pirelli World Challenge, among other series.

2016 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang

Find out more about the Shelby GT350 in our full review here.