2013 Shelby Focus ST Unveiled at Detroit Auto Show

There are few things in American auto history with as much tradition as the Detroit Auto Show, and one of them is the Shelby name. Those not in the know probably at least recognize the name from super fast roadsters like the Shelby Cobra, but longtime enthusiasts might remember the start: 1986, when Carroll Shelby made tiny Dodge subcompacts into screaming, tire-burning, roadway-eating beasts. Shelby American remembers, too, and is using 2013 to revisit that heritage.

In 1986, the car Shelby and his team made history with was a Dodge Omni GLH hatchback. It wasn't the stuff of dreams, but Shelby had a vision. When the team was done with that hatchback, it went 0-60 in 6.5 seconds, which was more impressive at the time. So when Shelby American revealed their version of the Ford Focus ST, two things were turned: heads, and the hands of time.

Never has a 40-mpg hatchback had it so good. The engine-tweaking done by Shelby maintains the gas economy of the Ford Focus, thought the EPA is still in the process of approving an optional engine tune package. This is the first time, however, that Shelby has tinkered with one of Ford's EcoBoost engines, and the resulting “green muscle” is exactly in line with what's expected of a Shelby-branded remake.

Ford racing parts were thrown in, seriously souping up the Focus' already tight handling. Bigger brakes with cross-drilled rotors were added, too, and a matching Borla exhaust. The new exhaust, with is bigger outlets, adds volume to the normally quiet Focus. The basic package includes a spoiler for the hatch, functional and aggressive-looking hood vents, and unique Shelby-inspired touches. The 500-unit production comes with three graphics packages: traditional stripes, a checkered-flag splash, and competition graphics. They all look a little cheesy but somehow still good on this unique muscle car.

There's a few exterior details, too, for those who care to look closely. Widened tired and larger wheel sit further out than the basic Focus, helping to lend a more rapacious air to the otherwise unassuming hatchback. Shelby branding is splattered across the interior, too, including a Shelby shifter and a Shelby CSM badge.

Also unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show was the Shelby GT500 Super Snake, a retool of the new Ford Mustang. The stock Shelby Mustang horsepower was ratcheted up from 662 hp to 850 hp for their premium package. This is the same as previous Super Snake models, but the newest edition comes with options for a wider body which helps apply more of that beastly power to the road.

As usual, these Shelby mods aren't for the faint of heart or slim of wallet; the Shelby Focus package adds an additional $14,995 to the base price of a Ford Focus ST, and the Super Snake upgrade starts at a cool $28,995, with the 850 hp tuning coming in at $39,995. Still, that's not bad for a piece of hot rod history.

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