Today, April 17, is National Mustang Day. In celebration, Ford has announced its gift to fans: the extension of the 2017 Shelby GT350 and GT350R to the 2018 model year.

This is certainly good news. The Shelby GT350 has gone beyond expectations when it comes to speed, so its extended stay is more than welcome. In addition to the awards that the sports car received, demands for it continue to be high. It's not really a wonder why Ford made this decision.

Ford's exotic 5.2-liter V-8 engine powers the sports car and produces 526 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. The flat plane crank allows the Shelby GT350 to roar from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, while the GT350R shaves off 0.4 second. Its standard features include transmission, engine oil, and differential coolers that properly cool off the car on a race track or on the highway.

Ford Shelby GT350 will stay as its award-winning self throughout 2018. It will not receive modifications or enhancements inside and out. The 2018 models, however, will have more color options: Orange Fury, Kona Blue, and Lead Foot Gray.

But it is not going to be always sunny for the Ford GT350. It is unknown for now if there will be more models in the future or if it will stay despite the imminent launch of a GT500 this year.

"When we introduced the GT350 in 2015, we did not confirm how many years of production would follow," a Ford spokesman said. It is assumed that the automaker will keep the model around until it is replaced by a better one. Who knows, it might not even last the rest of the 2018 model year.

Those who were looking to buy the Shelby GT350 can go ahead and buy with confidence. Those who prefer the new colors, on the other hand, will have to wait until the 2018 models arrive in dealerships in the fall. Prices start at $54,845.

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