2020 Ford GT500 brings 700+ Horses and Dual-Clutch To Detroit

TopSpeed

By Andrei Nedelea

Published Jan 14, 2019

Yes, that's right, the GT500 is only available with an automatic

Whenever Ford introduces a new Mustang Shelby GT500, the vehicle needs no introduction. The public knows exactly what to expect, but what they really want to know is how much of it Ford has managed to hide under the Mustang’s sleek body - the latest Shelby GT500 just debuted at the 2019 Detroit auto show and it has a lot of everything.

The GT500 nameplate can trace its lineage back to 1967 and the original Mustang. It was used up until the early 1970s and was then revived for the 2007 model year when its firepower came courtesy of a 5.4-liter V8 that pumped out right around 500 horsepower.

This latest GT500, based on the facelifted version of the current Mustang, also runs a supercharged cross-plane crank V8, this time a hand-built aluminum alloy block 5.2-liter that relies on a 2.65-liter Roots type blower in order to make a claimed 700+ horses (unofficially it’s probably around 755 horsepower and its zero to sixty sprint time is 3.5 seconds; if those numbers are accurate, it should be able to crack the quarter-mile in under 11 seconds).

It is therefore by far the most powerful GT500 to date (not including limited models with “Super” and/or “Snake” in their name), but not only that, it’s also supposed to be really good on twisty tarmac. Ford says the new model has a “race-bred chassis,” as well as the biggest front brake rotors ever fitted to an American sports car plus super-sticky Michelin tires.

Yep, that’s right, no manual is available for the new GT500 and if you were to ask Ford about it, they’d probably say the model is all about flat out performance whereas if you want a similar experience but want to row your own, you will have to make do with the GT350 and GT350R models.

Ford says this transmission made by Tremec is able to swap cogs in as little as 100 milliseconds, it comes with selectable modes (normal, weather, sport, drag and track) and it also comes with a line lock and launch control features.

The fact that it also happens to look quite menacing (especially from the front) is more of a byproduct of that, according to the official blurb.

There’s even a removable aluminum tray underneath the massive louvered hood vent which Ford says aids in “better air extraction and increased downforce.”

On the looks front, you won’t confuse the GT500 with any lesser Mustang, even the highly appreciated GT350. It has wider fenders, plenty of aero elements, unique front fascia design with a noticeable redesigned grille that actually lets in 50 percent more air into the engine compartment. It rides on 20-inch carbon fiber wheels (20x11-inch up front and 20x11.5-inch at the back). Unique colors available for it are Red Hot, Twister Orange and Iconic Silver and the iconic white stripes are also on the options list.