In 2007, Ford,->ke31 Carroll Shelby and Ford Racing teamed up to create a new muscle car->ke507 that would slot between the Mustang GT and the bonkers Shelby GT500. The result was the Shelby GT, which featured a 4.6-liter, V-8 engine tuned to generate 319 horsepower. Visual differences include a rear-spoiler delete, a retro Shelby hood scoop, and silver stripes. First available only as a coupe,->ke141 the GT received a convertible->ke144 version in 2008. Vista Blue, the color that would become the signature hue of the nameplate, was added the same year. Axed before 2009, the Shelby GT returned for the 2014 model year with 430 horsepower in base form and 624 ponies as the GT/SC. Now that the 2015 Mustang is already upon us, Shelby revised the GT for the second time with updated looks, an upgraded engine and a host of Ford Performance Parts.

Equipped with carbon-fiber body parts, a supercharged V-8 that cranks out 627 horses, three more when compared with the previous, range-topping GT/SC, this new Shelby GT is the most powerful Mustang wearing a Shelby badge as of 2015. Yes, it is more powerful than the 2016 GT350, although the GT is the kind of muscle car best tuned for running in a straight line rather than on a twisty track like the GT350. Keep reading to find out more about Shelby American's latest muscle car.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Shelby GT.

Exterior

The GT may be devoid of the GT350's fast-looking body kit, but it's menacing to look at nonetheless. Sure, the GT350 is arguably the meanest sixth-generation Mustang around, but the added Shelby parts enable the GT to stand out in a pack of regular Ford Mustangs. Modification are most visible up front, where the Mustang's standard grille has been replaced by a Shelby piece made out of billet aluminum. The lower apron also received a larger splitter, while the bulged hood with functional vents signals there's a mean supercharger in the engine compartment.

Around back, the Mustang GT received a unique trunk-lid spoiler, a two-piece diffuser with body-colored fins and chrome exhaust tips in order to become a Shelby. When viewed from the side, the Shelby GT boasts WELD Racing wheels wrapped in Michelin tires and Shelby decals right above the side skirts.

Customers can also select to have their carbon-fiber parts painted or the chrome exhaust tips replaced by carbon-fiber outlets.

Interior

Interior modifications are less extensive, but they do help set the Shelby GT apart from the standard Mustang GT. Add-ons include Shelby-branded headrests and floor mats, Shelby GT door sill plates, a CSM dash plaque, and a carbon-fiber dash pod with three gauges. All told, the Shelby GT's cabin features 95-percent of the Mustang GT's interior.

Shelby American mentions the availability of a "custom interior on both stock and Recaro seats" as an option, but no actual details are given.

Drivetrain

Granted, here's where the big news lies. The Shelby GT might not feature Ford's brand-new, 5.2-liter, flat-plane-crank V-8, but the supercharger strapped to the tried-and-true 5.0-liter, Coyote V-8 whines to the tune of 627 horsepower. And that's just the base figure, as an optional performance upgrade will take the output beyond 700 horsepower. Not just powerful, the Shelby GT sounds incredible too, mainly thanks to its Borla exhaust system.

Keeping all those ponies on their best behavior are Ford Racing half-shafts, upgraded shocks, springs and sway bars, and performance Wilwood front brakes. Further upgrades are found on the options list, which includes performance rear brakes, an updated front-brake cooling system, a Shelby Extreme cooling system, and an adjustable track suspension package.

There are no performance figures available as of January 2015, but I expect the Shelby GT to storm from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds, with either the six-speed manual or the automatic transmission.

Prices

Shelby American is taking orders for the GT muscle car starting January 2015, with deliveries to begin in the second quarter of the year. Pricing starts from $39,995, not including the base Ford Mustang GT. The latter starts from $32,300 for the 2015 model year, meaning the Shelby GT fetches a whopping $72,295 before options.

Competition

Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

Although it's only a few months old as of January 2015, the Challenger Hellcat SRT has many credentials to its name. Firstly, the Hellcat is the most powerful production muscle car thanks to its 707-horsepower, supercharged, 6.2-liter, HEMI V-8. Secondly, it needs only 3.5 seconds to sprint from 0 to 60 mph and just 11.2 seconds to run the quarter-mile. Once the regular tires are replaced by drag radials, that benchmark drops to an incredible 10.8 seconds.

What's more, the coupe begins from only $60,990, providing the best horsepower-for-the-buck ratio in today's market, beating anything both Ford and General Motors have to offer. Granted, the Hellcat is arguably superior to the GT in many aspects, but Ford fans will find it difficult to say no to a Shelby emblem. And they can't have it on a Hellcat...

Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 SC652 by Callaway Cars

When it comes to supercharged muscle cars wearing a GM badge, the Chevy Camaro ZL1 is the only factory option. But even though it comes in an enticing package that boasts 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque, the ZL1 is no match for the Shelby GT. Killing the latter will require a trip to Callaway Cars, which took Chevy's naturally aspirated Camaro Z/28 and turned it into a force-fed beast that cranks out 652 ponies and 620 pound-feet. That's an extra 147 horses and 139 pound-feet, which is enough to lower the Z/28's 0-to-60 sprint to 3.7 seconds and quarter-mile time to 11.5 seconds.

As exciting as it may sound, the Callaway's Z/28 comes with one major problem. It's a lot more expensive than its rivals at $94,994 including the base car and it's quite rare to find, as Callaway built it in only 10 examples. Good luck chasing one.

Conclusion

The arrival of the Shelby GT is great news for two reasons. Firstly, Ford finally has a Mustang to give the Challenger Hellcat a run for its money. Secondly, the GT signals that Shelby is not yet willing to give up on the heritage of its fifth-gen Mustangs and I wouldn't be surprised to see a brand-new GT500, as well as a Super Snake upgrade arrive in the near future. If a beefed-up Mustang with more than 850 ponies at its disposal isn't exciting enough, I don't know what is.