Ford Revs up Mustang Shelby GT500

Ford Motor Co.’s upcoming Mustang Shelby GT500 will generate 760 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque, which the carmaker says makes it the most powerful street-legal model in the company’s history.

Powered by a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 engine, the Shelby GT500 outguns the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (650 hp), Dodge Challenger Hellcat (707 hp) Ferrari F8 Tributo (710 hp) and Lamborghini Aventador SVJ (759 hp). But it falls short of Dodge’s Challenger Hellcat Redeye (797 hp) and SRT Demon (840 hp) variants.

The GT500’s engine is a variant of the 5.2-liter mill used in the outgoing Shelby GT350. Ford boasts that the revised powerplant is the most power- and torque-dense supercharged V-8 in the world.

The engine is mated with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that is capable of shifting gears in less than 100 milliseconds, according to the carmaker. The combination is expected to propel the GT500 from zero to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds and enable it to cover a quarter mile in under 11 seconds.

The GT500 also will feature an advanced aerodynamics system with a large rear wing that is said to generate more than 500 lbs of downforce at 189 mph. Other goodies include carbon fiber wheels, improved cooling system and four exhaust tone modes.

Sales of the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 will start later this year. Pricing hasn't been announced.