The 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 Packs More Than 700 Horsepower

After months of speculation, Ford has finally let the pony out of the bag, unveiling the all-new 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 at the Detroit Auto Show. And based on the specs, it should pack quite a punch, with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 producing “more than 700 horsepower,” capable of a mid-three second 0-60 time and a quarter-mile time in the sub-11 second range.

Needless to say, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Dodge Hellcat owners should be very afraid if they see that giant snake emblem staring them down in their rear view.

The Shelby GT500 is engineered to attack on all fronts. At the drag strip, it’s set to produce a projected 700-plus horsepower via its first-in-class dual-clutch transmission. At the track, performance improves even more thanks to its race-bred chassis, custom Michelin tires and the largest front brake rotors ever offered on an American sports coupe. On the street, its menacing aerodynamic design and Ford Performance driver control technologies make every moment behind the wheel even more exhilarating.

While many purists weren’t too happy about Ford’s decision to go with a Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch transmission over a traditional manual, there’s no question that a DCT is better suited given the amount of power on tap; the transmission is also capable of shifts in under 100 milliseconds, markedly faster than any manual gearbox. The dual-clutch transmission offers a number of drive modes, including normal, weather, sport, drag and track, and activates features like line-lock and launch control.

Cutting-edge active chassis technology, custom track-bred Michelin tires (Michelin Pilot Sport 4S or Michelin Pilot Sport Cup) and massive two-piece rotors with Brembo six-piston calipers help to harness the power and torque of the most powerful street-legal Ford ever.

If that’s not enough to satisfy your need for speed, there are two handling packages offered on the all-new Shelby GT500. An available Handling Package includes adjustable strut top mounts and spoiler with Gurney flap. And for the truly hardcore, an available Carbon Fiber Track Package features exposed 20-inch carbon fiber wheels with 0.5-inch-wider rear wheels, custom Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, an adjustable exposed carbon fiber GT4 track wing and splitter wickers with integrated dive plane. The rear seat is deleted to reduce weight.

“With its supercar-level powertrain, the all-new Shelby GT500 takes the sixth-gen Mustang to a performance level once reserved only for exotics. 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,” said Hermann Salenbauch, global director of Ford Performance vehicle programs.

So what is the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 going to cost? Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but given the fact that the Shelby GT350 starts at nearly $60,000, it’s a safe bet that the car will start at around $70K. That’s right in line with the Camaro ZL1 1LE and Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye, its two main competitors.

The all-new Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 arrives in dealerships this fall, where it’ll share the showroom with its Shelby GT350 stablemate. But if you want to get your hands on one, you had better act fast, because these definitely won’t last long.