The First Factory Mustang With Over 1,000 Horsepower in a Long Time

We recently covered a custom 1,300-horsepower, S197 Mustang Shelby GT500, but to see one that packs that kind of power from the factory is a completely different story. Moreover, the S550 platform is superior, compared to the one it replaced, and we have already seen Veyron power levels out of a Mustang. Unlike the 2018 Mustang Shelby 1000, which upgrades over the standard GT500, the “Code Red” is a complete car out of the box.

Bringing Back the "Code Red" Moniker

Shelby’s connection to Ford seems to be inseparable, which is why, to commemorate its 60th anniversary, Shelby plans to unveil the twin-turbocharged Mustang GT500 at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit. This isn’t the first Mustang GT500 to wear the ‘Code Red” moniker, but it will be the first one to enter production. Ford put the “Code Red” name on a one-off, experimental, 2008 Shelby GT500, which never entered production.

The 2.65-liter Eaton supercharger has been replaced with two turbochargers, which allows the 5.2-liter “Predator” V-8 to produce 1,300 horsepower on pump gas. Even more insane is that the mighty Mustang will be able to run on E85 out of the box, allowing for even more ponies to be squeezed out of the DOHC, V-8 engine.

There’s already a King of the Road package bumping power to 900 ponies (662 kilowatts) and some weight reduction thanks to a more extensive use of carbon fiber. And let’s not mention the countless supercharger and twin-turbo kits that are available. Regardless, the Shelby GT500 “Code Red” manages to make the standard GT500 look like a commuter car, and even if they had decided to name it “DEFCON Alpha” it still would have been an understatement. All we can say is “Happy 60th anniversary” to Shelby American.