Ford Shelby GT500

Although the Shelby isn’t particularly sophisticated or revolutionary, it has unbelievable road presence. The styling is imposing, while the rumbling V8 delivers intoxicating performance. A flawed cabin, spongy ride and lifeless steering let it down, though, and it struggles to transmit the power to the road. Nevertheless, the GT500 remains the ultimate Mustang package.

For fans of American muscle cars, the mere mention of Shelby is enough to weaken the knees. But when it’s combined with the names of Ford and Mustang GT, things get even better. Shelby-tuned Mustang GTs have trad­itionally been among the fastest Fords available, and the latest incarnation maintains that trend.

The all-new Shelby GT500 delivers 500bhp – enough to outperform the Porsche 911 Turbo in the power stakes. And if that doesn’t grab the attention, then the brash Le Mans stripes and cobra badging certainly will.

Its styling is undeniably aggressive. A gaping grille and long bonnet create an imposing nose, while the stubby rear end and distinctive lights pay homage to the 1969 Mus­tang design.

Sadly, however, the fantastic looks aren’t carried over into the cabin. With average plastics dominating the dashboard, much of which is borrowed from the US variant of Ford’s Mondeo, the interior lacks a sense of occasion. But turn the ignition key, and those bland surroundings are quickly forgotten.

The V8’s fantastic burbling exhaust note is bettered only by the supercharger whine during acceleration. As all the power from the front-mounted engine is fed to the rear wheels, the Shelby needs its standard traction control, yet it is all too easy to leave black stripes on the tarmac. Although there are no official performance figures, the 0-60mph sprint takes about 4.5 seconds on the way to a limited 155mph.

Acceleration is potent – as long as you stay in a straight line. Despite the work of Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT), which included testing at race tracks across the US, the GT500 wanders when pushed hard, and loses com­posure when cornering at speed. The suspension is soft and wallowy, and any quick change in direction will leave it struggling for grip as you try to rein in 1.8 tonnes of Mustang.

Excessive levels of body roll mean twisty roads are an unpleasant experience in the GT500, and the steering is overly light and unres­ponsive, devoid of any feedback. The heavy throw of the six-speed gearbox doesn’t make for a relaxing drive, either.

Ford says the Shelby won’t be available in UK showrooms, so buyers will have to import their own. However, General Motors’ recent announcement that it is to start production of an all-new Camaro, which will be sold here, may change the blue oval’s mind. For now, though, the GT500 is supreme among modern muscle machines.