Automotive

Ford brings the muscle to Detroit with new Shelby GT500 Mustang

Ford brings the muscle to Detroit with new Shelby GT500 Mustang
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 holds several firsts for both Ford and the muscle car arena on the whole
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 holds several firsts for both Ford and the muscle car arena on the whole
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Ford says that the new 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 is the most track-ready, muscular car it's ever made
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Ford says that the new 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 is the most track-ready, muscular car it's ever made
Three new colors will herald in the 2020 model year for the Mustang, with specific striping available for the GT500 model
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Three new colors will herald in the 2020 model year for the Mustang, with specific striping available for the GT500 model
Two added packages, the Handling Package and the Carbon Fiber Track Package, upgrade the powerful GT500 with more performance options like wider rear tires and more carbon fiber
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Two added packages, the Handling Package and the Carbon Fiber Track Package, upgrade the powerful GT500 with more performance options like wider rear tires and more carbon fiber
The 2020 Ford Mustang GT500 carries the new-generation Mustang's fastback design elements
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The 2020 Ford Mustang GT500 carries the new-generation Mustang's fastback design elements
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 holds several firsts for both Ford and the muscle car arena on the whole
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The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 holds several firsts for both Ford and the muscle car arena on the whole
Unique to the Shelby GT500 is a Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which shifts in under 100 milliseconds
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Unique to the Shelby GT500 is a Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which shifts in under 100 milliseconds
The air scoops and intakes on the Mustang Shelby GT500 model are about twice as large as those on the GT350, improving airflow to the engine by over 50 percent
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The air scoops and intakes on the Mustang Shelby GT500 model are about twice as large as those on the GT350, improving airflow to the engine by over 50 percent
From the side, the only clear indications that this Mustang is a GT500 model are its aero wing and larger brakes
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From the side, the only clear indications that this Mustang is a GT500 model are its aero wing and larger brakes
Lightweight coil springs and a MagneRide active suspension are keys to the GT500's performance on pavement
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Lightweight coil springs and a MagneRide active suspension are keys to the GT500's performance on pavement
The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 includes Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires as standard and upgrades to Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with the Carbon Fiber Track Package upgrade
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The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 includes Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires as standard and upgrades to Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires with the Carbon Fiber Track Package upgrade
Available on the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 are Dark Slate Micro suede door panel inserts
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Available on the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 are Dark Slate Micro suede door panel inserts
Paint color options for the 2020 Ford Mustang will include Red Hot, Twister Orange, and Iconic Silver
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Paint color options for the 2020 Ford Mustang will include Red Hot, Twister Orange, and Iconic Silver
Ford's 12-inch full-color LCD driver information and instrument cluster allows full customization of the screen's output
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Ford's 12-inch full-color LCD driver information and instrument cluster allows full customization of the screen's output
Ford Performance includes the Track Apps package with the GT500's infotainment as standard
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Ford Performance includes the Track Apps package with the GT500's infotainment as standard
The Shelby Snake logo is prominent on the Mustang Shelby GT500
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The Shelby Snake logo is prominent on the Mustang Shelby GT500
The new 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is set to enter showrooms in the third quarter of 2019
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The new 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is set to enter showrooms in the third quarter of 2019
Manufacturer's suggested retail pricing and other details for the Shelby GT500 will be forthcoming, Ford says
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Manufacturer's suggested retail pricing and other details for the Shelby GT500 will be forthcoming, Ford says
The large hood vent on the Mustang Shelby GT500 has a removable aluminum catch pan underneath and the entire unit can be removed for improved airflow in performance driving
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The large hood vent on the Mustang Shelby GT500 has a removable aluminum catch pan underneath and the entire unit can be removed for improved airflow in performance driving
At over 700 horsepower, the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the most powerful street-legal production Ford ever made
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At over 700 horsepower, the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the most powerful street-legal production Ford ever made
The hood of the 2020 Shelby GT500 is much more aggressive than that found on other Mustang models
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The hood of the 2020 Shelby GT500 is much more aggressive than that found on other Mustang models
The front fenders are noticeably wider and race-styled, accommodating the wider tire track on the GT500’s 20x11-inch (51cm x 28cm) and 20x11.5-inch (51cm x 29cm) wheels
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The front fenders are noticeably wider and race-styled, accommodating the wider tire track on the GT500’s 20x11-inch (51cm x 28cm) and 20x11.5-inch (51cm x 29cm) wheels
The rear spoiler on the Shelby GT500 is standard and composite materials on the rear diffuser improve thermal management
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The rear spoiler on the Shelby GT500 is standard and composite materials on the rear diffuser improve thermal management
Using the windshear rolling wind tunnel at Ford’s technical center in North Carolina, designers of the Mustang Shelby GT500 worked the aerodynamics of the muscle car
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Using the windshear rolling wind tunnel at Ford’s technical center in North Carolina, designers of the Mustang Shelby GT500 worked the aerodynamics of the muscle car
An electronic power steering unit for the GT500 lightens the load on the engine and improves response for the driver
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An electronic power steering unit for the GT500 lightens the load on the engine and improves response for the driver
The Shelby GT500 has a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine made of aluminum alloy for lighter weight and better heat shedding
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The Shelby GT500 has a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine made of aluminum alloy for lighter weight and better heat shedding
Recaro seating and other upgrades are available in the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
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Recaro seating and other upgrades are available in the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
View gallery - 26 images

What has over 700 horsepower (522 kW) and is the most powerful street-legal Ford ever made? The new 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500. Hitting the streets in the third quarter of 2019, the Shelby GT500 has a supercharged V8 and chassis components from Ford's GT racing programs.

The new Shelby holds several firsts for both Ford and the muscle car arena on the whole. From the engine to the transmission to the chassis, the Mustang GT500 is a culmination of Ford's experience with the GT350 Mustang both on and off the race track.

The Shelby GT500 has a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine made of aluminum alloy for lighter weight and better heat shedding. Intake air is cooled by an inverted 2.65-liter roots-type supercharger with an intercooler tucked into the valley between the engine's heads. The engine block's design comes from the Shelby GT350, with its wire-arc cylinder liners and high-flow aluminum cylinder heads. Larger connecting rods and improved lubrication and cooling passages also make for better performance. A baffled oil pan below the engine holds oil in place, reducing slosh in heavy cornering.

Paint color options for the 2020 Ford Mustang will include Red Hot, Twister Orange, and Iconic Silver
Paint color options for the 2020 Ford Mustang will include Red Hot, Twister Orange, and Iconic Silver

Unique to the Shelby GT500 is a Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which shifts in under 100 milliseconds. This is a first for both Ford and the muscle car segment. Also a first is the carbon fiber driveshaft attached to the transmission. This weight-saving, torque-channeling driveshaft powers the rear wheels of the Mustang Shelby GT500 and reduces the amount of inertial losses associated with a heavier unit.

Ford looked to its Ford GT and Mustang GT4 race cars for answers to the question of how all of the muscle from the GT500 would meet the road without spinning out of control. The Ford Performance arm added Brembo brakes, Michelin track-ready tires, and active chassis technology from its race programs to tune the chassis of the Shelby GT500 for controlled performance.

Lightweight coil springs in the front and rear of the car start the business and hold a next-generation active MagneRide suspension on revised suspension geometry. This translates to better downforce to keep the tires pressed into the pavement as the suspension reacts to the road surface, and to the physics of the car's dynamics. An electronic power steering unit lightens the load on the engine and improves response for the driver.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires are Ford's choice for the new Shelby GT500. The Brembo braking system is a 16.5-inch (420-mm) two-piece rotor on each wheel, while larger six-piston calipers provide the stopping and maneuvering power the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 requires.

Driver controls in the cockpit of the Mustang Shelby GT500 include modes for everyday driving, inclement weather, sport, and drag/track driving. Ford's Track Apps in the GT500's infotainment includes options for line-lock launching and launch control. Optional handling packages from Ford can increase the Mustang Shelby GT500's performance further by enhancing exterior components to match performance expectations.

At over 700 horsepower, the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the most powerful street-legal production Ford ever made
At over 700 horsepower, the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the most powerful street-legal production Ford ever made

The standard Handling Package adds adjustable strut-top mounts and a Gurney flap spoiler for performance tuning. A Carbon Fiber Track Package adds 20-inch carbon fiber wheels, 0.5-inch (1.3-cm) wider rear wheels, Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires, adjustable carbon fiber GT4 track wing and splitter wickers, and a rear seat delete.

All of the performance changes to the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 meant that exterior changes for the new muscle car were needed. "A double front grille opening and 50 percent more cooling pack airflow versus the Shelby GT350, along with the most advanced aero components and downforce we've ever offered, every millimeter of the Shelby GT500's fastback design is aimed at improving performance," says Melvin Betancourt, Ford design manager.

The hood of the 2020 Shelby GT500 is much more aggressive than that found on other Mustang models, with a set of large, angular grille openings in front and a bulky feel to accentuate the muscle underneath. The front fenders are noticeably wider and race-styled, accommodating the wider tire track on the GT500's 20 x 11-inch (51 x 28cm) and 20 x 11.5-inch (51 x 29cm) wheels. The rear spoiler on the Shelby GT500 is standard and composite materials on the rear diffuser improve thermal management.

Using the windshear rolling wind tunnel at Ford's technical center in North Carolina, designers of the Mustang Shelby GT500 worked the aerodynamics of the muscle car. Front fascia openings are more than double the intake capability of the GT350, and six heat exchangers increase cooling pack airflow by over 50 percent. The hood vent measures 31 x 28 inches (79 x 71cm) with a removable aluminum rain tray improves air extraction and increases the downforce in the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500.

Inside, the GT500 can include an exposed carbon fiber instrument panel applique, Dark Slate Miko suede door panel inserts, Recaro racing seats, and other options. The Shelby GT500 includes a 12-inch full-color LCD instrument cluster, introduced in 2019 Mustang models, and a high-performance 12-speaker B and O Play audio system. An 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment touchscreen is also standard in the GT500.

Ford will offer new colors and paint stripe options for the new Mustang as well, including Red Hot, Twister Orange, and Iconic Silver.

The new 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will enter production later this year for market launch in the third quarter of 2019. Pricing and more specifications will be released as the launch date approaches.

Source: Ford

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3 comments
3 comments
guzmanchinky
Cool car, but where's the electric Tesla beater?
Fairly Reasoner
Why the Dodge face?
Troublesh00ter
Just. Plain. GORGEOUS.
Wish I could afford one.