Fans of hardcore Mustangs knew that the real prize would be the
all-new GT500 version, which is here to push the limits of what is street legal
with a 5.2-liter V8 that happens to have a giant supercharger bolted to it. Ford didn’t reveal however all
the details of the new GT500, saying it produces “over 700hp”, making it
capable of 0-60mph in mid-three seconds and a quarter mile score of under 11
seconds.
The supercharged 5.2-liter V8 uses the same block
with the GT350 but unlike previous reports, it won’t be a flat-plane crank
unit. The supercharger attached to it is simply massive, at 2.65 liters of
capacity. That’s bigger than the ones found in the Hellcat and Camaro ZL1 and
slightly smaller than the one in the Demon.
It’s no wonder then why Ford is claiming “the
quickest street-legal acceleration and most high-performance technology to date
ever offered in a Ford Mustang”. Ford Performance opted for a Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
transmission, which sends power to the rear through a unique carbon fiber
driveshaft. The gearbox itself can manage shifts in under 100 milliseconds,
according to Ford, and comes with a number of modes; these include normal,
sport, drag and track. Customer-favorite features like line-lock and launch
control are also present.
To successfully harness the colossal power, the
chassis of the new Mustang GT500 comes with revised suspension geometry,
lighter coil springs, next-gen MagneRide dampers and a new electronic power
steering unit. A set of massive 420mm two-piece rotors up front with six-pot
Brembo calipers provide the necessary braking power.
Ford will offer the new Mustang GT500 with a choice
of two handling packs: the first, simply called the Handling Package, includes
adjustable strut top mounts and a spoiler with Gurney flap. The most hardcore
choice is the so-called Carbon Fiber Track Package, which includes 20-inch
carbon wheels that are half-an-inch wider at the back (11.5 inches), custom
Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber, an adjustable GT4 wing and splitter wickers
with dive planes made out of carbon fiber and no rear seat.
The Ford Shelby Mustang GT500’s angry bodywork was
created in collaboration with Ford Performance’s engineers, allowing the front
end to suck 50 percent more air when compared to the GT350.
The interior gets its own special touches, including
the exposed carbon fiber instrument panel appliqué and new door panel inserts
in dark suede with accent stitching. A set of Recaro racing seats is optional
while Ford is also offering a more comfortable set of power-adjustable seats
with suede inserts. Sales of the new 2020 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 will begin this fall,
with Ford to reveal the final figures in the coming months.
