Ford didn’t have anything new to introduce at the
Los Angeles Auto Show, but it doesn’t mean the automaker came empty handed. As noticed by Automotive News’
Michael Martinez, Ford created a special display to confirm the
highly-anticipated Mustang Shelby GT500 will be unveiled on January 14th.
Unsurprisingly, this coincides with the first day of press previews at the
North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The display doesn’t reveal much else, but it does
confirm the GT500 will be a 2020 model. This isn’t too surprising considering
it’s almost 2019 already. While Ford is keeping details under wraps, the automaker has
previously said the car will be the “pinnacle of Mustang performance” as it
will feature a supercharged V8 engine that produces more than 700 hp. This means the model will be even more powerful than the Ford GT which
has a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 that develops 647 hp.
Besides the high-performance engine, the GT500 will
come equipped with “innovative track technologies, performance hardware, plus
aggressive and functional track-tuned styling.” Speaking of styling, a couple of
images reportedly leaked out of a Ford dealer convention earlier this year.
They showed the model will follow in the footsteps of the GT350, but adopt a
revised grille with a center-mounted Cobra emblem. The car also had a gloss
black front bumper accent and a more aggressive front splitter.
Moving further back, the model was equipped with a
ventilated hood and a massive carbon fiber rear wing. The car also appeared to
ride on carbon fiber wheels which were backed by a high-performance braking
system with red calipers.
Following its debut in the Motor City, the 2020
Shelby GT500 will be launched later in 2019.
