New 2020 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 to produce 760bhp

The new Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will arrive on the American market in 2020 with a host of chassis and aerodynamic upgrades, as well as a new engine that will be the most powerful Ford has ever built.

The GT500’s unit is a hand-built all-aluminium, supercharged 5.2-litre V8 fitted with forged con-rods, a new structural engine sump and a water-to-air intercooler system. It produces 760bhp and 847Nm of torque, which Ford claims makes it the world’s most power-dense supercharged production V8 engine.

• Ford Mustang in-depth review

It feeds its power to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, through a carbon fibre propshaft to the rear wheels. The transmission is capable of shifting gear in under 100 milliseconds and has a series of drive modes tailored towards road, track and drag strip driving.

33

Ford is yet to disclose full performance specifications for the Mustang GT500, which is set to rival the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, but the American brand has revealed its latest flagship muscle car will have a 0–62mph time of around three seconds and will cover the quarter-mile in under 11 seconds.

Chassis upgrades include new lightweight coil springs, active dampers, revised suspension geometry, Brembo six-piston calipers and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. The GT500 will also be fitted with line-lock: a system which holds the car’s front brakes when stationary, allowing the driver to do smokey burnouts without wearing the rear pads.

To better harness the GT500’s power, Ford offers two handling packages. The less extreme version offers adjustable suspension top-mounts and a fixed rear lip-spoiler. A hardcore pack adds wider 20-inch carbon fibre wheels, an adjustable GT4 wing, a functional splitter with canards and a deleted rear bench.

Inside, the new GT500 boasts a digital gauge cluster and an eight-inch touchscreen. Optional extras include a carbon fibre dash, Recaro racing seats, race harnesses, a 12-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system and suede door cards.

Pricing information for the latest Mustang GT500 is yet to be announced, but Ford has announced that the new model will not be sold in the UK.

Now read our review of the standard Ford Mustang. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below…