2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Words: Mike Ryan. Photos: Ford
The new Mustang Shelby GT500 made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this past January and, in a country where SUVs and pickups dominate, the Shelby drew more attention than just about anything else on show.
Ford are boldly calling the new GT 500, which will be released in the US later this year as a 2020 model, the “most powerful street-legal Ford in history” and a triple threat that’ll dominate on the drag strip and race track, as well as the street.
For the drag strip, the Shelby GT500 combines a – projected – 700+hp (520+kW) engine with a first-in-class dual-clutch transmission for 0-100km/h acceleration in the 3.5-second range and claimed quarter mile times under 11 seconds.
At the track, the Shelby’s race-bred chassis, custom Michelin tyres and what’s claimed to be the largest front brake rotors ever available on an American sports coupe come into play.
Finally, on the street, the GT500’s bold, aerodynamic design – Ford calls it “swagger” - and Ford Performance driver control technologies deliver what Ford says is an “exhilarating” time behind the wheel.
“Carroll was always working on the next faster Shelby, I think he would love this Mustang more than any other,” said Jim Farley, Ford president, global markets. “A takedown artist, the new Shelby GT500 will surprise supercar owners with its Ford Performance racing tech, supercharged engine and visceral swagger.”
Supercar Performance
While still very much in the Pony car stable in terms of size and style, the Shelby GT500 now offers a supercar-level drivetrain, according to Ford.
“The all-new Shelby GT500 takes the sixth-generation Mustang to a performance level once reserved only for exotics,” said Hermann Salenbauch, global director, Ford Performance vehicle programs.
“As a Mustang, it has to be attainable and punch above its weight. To that end, we’ve set a new standard among American performance cars with our most powerful street-legal V8 engine to date, plus the quickest-shifting transmission ever in a Mustang for all-out precision and speed.”
The Shelby GT500 is built around a supercharged 5.2-litre aluminium alloy V8, with each unit assembled by hand.
To keep the intake air cooler and deliver a lower centre of gravity, the team at Ford Performance came up with a clever solution - inverting a Roots-type 2.65-litre supercharger (which are actually supplied by Eaton) so the air-to-liquid intercooler is tucked neatly into the valley of the V8 engine.
Like the Shelby GT350, the aluminium alloy engine block in the GT500 features weight-saving wire-arc cylinder liners, high-flow aluminium cylinder heads, larger forged connecting rods and improved lubrication and cooling passages.
At the bottom end, the sump is structural, so it adds strength and reduces vibration, while a patented active baffle system keeps the oil where it’s needed.
Another weight-saving measure on the GT500 is its carbon fibre driveshaft. To channel power and torque to this, Ford Performance say they applied what they learned when tuning the Ford GT supercar’s transmission.
For the transmission itself, a Tremec 7-speed dual-clutch unit was selected. This is standard fitment and – for now, at least – no manual transmission will be offered in the GT500.
An auto in a high-performance RWD Mustang like this may seem anathema to fans of the breed, but according to Ford, this dual-clutch auto can shift smoothly in less than 100 milliseconds – markedly faster than any manual gearbox. But, for those who want some measure of control, paddle shifters are fitted.
The transmission is designed to work with a number of selectable drive modes, including Normal, Slippery, Sport, Drag and Track, and also features a line-lock and rpm-selectable launch control through selectable Track Apps.
Designed to Dominate
All the power in the world is useless if the chassis can’t handle it. Understanding this - and especially understanding that cars claiming to be track-capable need to be able to HANDLE - Ford has incorporated what they say are cutting-edge active chassis technologies.
Developed in part from the Ford GT supercar, as well as Ford’s Mustang GT4 race programme, the new Shelby GT500 features revised suspension geometry, a new electronic power steering unit and lighter-weight coil springs.
Next-generation active MagneRide magnetic suspension is standard, along with the latest in advanced drive mode technologies from Ford Performance. The result is what’s claimed to be the highest-ever lateral acceleration from a Mustang for greater track performance and driver control.
Ensuring all this tech is put to the ground, Ford Performance-spec Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres are standard and more aggressive Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres optional as part of an optional track package. Both tyres were especially developed for the Shelby GT500 and feature unique compounds and tread.
To provide track-ready stopping power, the front rotors are massive 420mm two-piece units, which Ford are claiming as the largest ever fitted to a US-market sports coupe. These jumbo-sized discs are matched to larger, stiffer Brembo six-piston calipers for 20 per cent more swept area than the Shelby GT350. Rear disc size and caliper spec had not been released at time of writing.
While it looks fast just standing still, a lot of the exterior styling and design of the new Shelby GT500 is functional. The designers collaborated closely with Ford Performance engineers and motorsport partners to ensure the looks didn’t compromise the car’s performance capabilities.
Ford’s motorsports technical centre in North Carolina and Windshear, a rolling wind tunnel where top-tier racing teams test, were utilised to perfect the design of the body and its aero package.
“With 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 millimetre of Shelby GT500’s fastback design is aimed at improving performance,” said Melvin Betancourt, Ford design manager.
The main ‘double front’ grille opening gives the GT500 almost an Audi look, while the front fascia openings alongside are more than double the size of the Shelby GT350. Six heat exchangers are stuffed in to increase cooling pack airflow by more than 50 percent.
The grille may look a bit ‘Audi’, but the bonnet is all muscle car, with pushbutton-style bonnet pins and a large – 31 x 28-inch (787mm x 711mm) - louvered section that not only extracts heat, but also increases downforce.
With its wide air intakes and forward-thrusting leading edge, Ford says the aerodynamic front-end design was inspired by modern fighter jet aircraft.
Also wider are the front guards that allow for the Shelby GT500-specific 20x11-inch wheels and are also designed to proportionally align with the rear quarters that house 20x11-inch wheels as standard, but can take 20x11.5-inch rims as part of an optional track package.
At the back end, the rear spoiler is new, while updated composite materials have been incorporated into the rear diffuser for better thermal management.
Want More?
To take the Shelby GT500’s track capabilities even further, two upgrade packages will be offered as extra-cost options when the car is released to the North American market in Q3 of this year.
The ‘Handling Package’ includes adjustable strut top mounts and spoiler with Gurney flap, while the ‘Carbon Fibre Track Package’ features exposed 20-inch carbon fibre wheels with 0.5-inch-wider rear wheels (11.5-inch), custom Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, an adjustable exposed carbon fibre GT4 track wing and front splitters with integrated dive plane
This hardcore option package also deletes the rear seat – in the same vein as Dodge’s Challenger Demon - to reduce weight.
Tech Centre
Not a hell of a lot of information was released about the new Shelby GT500 interior at Detroit, but we do know that the cockpit features what Ford calls “race-inspired premium materials and unique finishes worthy of its world-class power”.
Leather seats and soft-touch surfaces throughout the cabin are standard, but optional to this will be Recaro racing seats with more prominent side bolsters and provisions for multi-point racing harnesses. There’s also exposed carbon fibre appliqué for the instrument panel and new door panel inserts in Dark Slate Miko suede with contrast stitching.
At the other end of the scale, for those who are after more comfort, power-adjustable front seats with Miko suede inserts will be optional, too.
A 12-inch full-colour LCD instrument display is standard, as is an 8-inch SYNC 3 centre console touch screen featuring SiriusXM satellite radio and FordPass Connect connectivity. A high-performance custom-tuned 12-speaker B&O Play premium audio system is optional.
Ford aren’t building Shelby ‘Stangs in RHD, so local Shelby enthusiasts will need to turn to the Mustang Motorsport to get a GT500 - email: [email protected] for details.
To have your Australian-delivered Mustang upgraded to Shelby levels of performance, see the Mustang Motorsport website - mustangmotorsport.com.au – for the range of cosmetic and performance upgrade parts currently available. Shelby Super Snake and Shelby GT Mustangs are currently available, exclusive to Mustang Motorsport.
