The 2016 Shelby GTR350 Mustang will be released with carbon fiber wheels. (Photo : YouTube)
New reports claim that the upcoming Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R supercar will sport carbon fiber wheels. This sparked rumors that the carbon fiber wheels option will cover the Ford GT lineup as well.
Ford Motor Company has struck a deal with Australian company Carbon Revolution. The latter was selected by Ford to supply it with carbon fiber wheels. Reports claim that Carbon Revolution is the first company ever to mass produce lightweight carbon fiber wheels.
Carbon Revolution is just one of the 63 Australian suppliers that will manufacture parts for Ford.
Carbon Revolution chief executive officer Jake Dingle told Cars Guide, "No-one has been able to do what we've been able to do. Even the aerospace industry couldn't figure out a way to do it."
Ford has been working with Carbon Revolution for almost two years now. The two companies have been subjecting torture test on carbon fiber wheels. These tests include hitting pot holes at speeds reaching 100km/h in order to see if the wheels would shatter.
For now, only the Mustang Shelby GT350R is confirmed to sport the lightweight carbon fiber wheels from Carbon Revolution. Ford has yet to confirm whether the new wheel option will be released to the new GT lineup.
According to Motor Authority, using carbon fiber will result in significant weight reduction as well as reduction in vibration and noise.
The new Ford GT is currently in testing phase, both the road and race model. The race car will debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January 2016. The road model of the Ford GT is expected to be released before the end of 2016.
