Ford has revealed the Mustang Shelby GT500, the fastest Ford ever built.
Powering the GT500 is a version of the 5.2-litre cross-plane-crank V8 from the GT350, which is now fitted with a 2.65-litre Eaton supercharger. Ford claims it produces upwards of 700 horsepower (522kW) – a final output hasn’t been provided, as the company’s engineers are still fine-tuning the engine. It can sprint from 0-60mph in the “mid 3 second range”, and can complete the quarter mile in under 11 seconds.
All that power is channeled exclusively to the rear wheels through a new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox designed by Tremec. That’s right, there’s no manual – this is due to the sheer speed of modern dual clutch transmissions, as the one in the new GT500 can swap cogs in less than 100 milliseconds.
It rides on 20-inch wheels wrapped in 295mm front and 305mm rear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, which house six-piston Brembo brakes measuing 420mm in diameter.
A number of optional packages are available to GT500 buyers. A Handling Package adds adjustable strut mounts and a Gurney flap, while a Carbon-Fibre Track Package adds exposed carbon-fibre alloy wheels, wider rear wheels, 10mm wider Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 track tyres, adjustable aero parts and a rear seat delete.
Visually, the GT500 adopts a much bolder appearance compared to the standard Mustang GT. There’s a new rear bumper with large grille openings and an improved bonnet (with a 79cm by 71cm vent), which altogether improve airflow by 50 per cent. Other features include larger exhaust tips and a big rear spoiler.
Inside, the Shelby’s interior largely matches that of the facelifted Mustang, with a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, 8.0-inch Sync 3 infotainment touchscreen, and carbon-fbre and suede trim pieces around the cabin. Interior options include Recaro bucket sports seats, a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and electric seats.
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 goes on sale in the US from the third quarter of 2019. Sadly, it’s left-hand-drive only.
