Ford confirms GT500 output - 760hp and 625lb ft
Most powerful Ford engine ever is also reckoned to be the most power-dense supercharged V8 in the world
Since its Detroit reveal back in January, we've known that Shelby's new GT500 would be the most powerful roadgoing Ford ever produced. Today, though, the company has announced exactly how many horses its new pony car is packing, confirming that the Mustang's 5.2-litre, supercharged V8 produces a mighty 760hp and 625lb ft of torque. This, Ford claims, makes it "the most power- and torque-dense supercharged production V8 in the world."
Not only is that figure nearly 100hp more than the previous GT500's 662hp output, but it eclipses the 707hp of the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and 650hp of Chevrolet's ZL1 Camaro - although that car does boast an extra 25lb ft. And despite its standing within the Ford stable, it's still not the most potent muscle car of modern times, having some way to go to match the 791hp of Dodge's Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye.
No performance figures are available as yet, though it's safe to assume that the GT500's straight line speed will be suitably breathtaking. We'll be looking forward to getting behind the wheel as soon as possible.
ORIGINAL STORY - 14.01.19
For more than 50 years now, 'GT500' has denoted the baddest of the badass Mustangs. In the late 1960s it meant a Ford pony car with a 428 cubic-inch V8; in more recent years it meant a Mustang with as much power as a Ferrari Enzo; and now GT500 means, in Ford's own words, "the most advanced performance Mustang to date."
Naturally, it packs a mighty powertrain. The 5.2-litre V8 found in the GT350 is now supercharged with a 2.65-litre roots-type 'charger, promising more than 700hp - don't forget a Corvette ZR1 is at 755hp - and a quarter-mile time of less than 11 seconds. Helping the GT500 achieve that is the first dual-clutch gearbox seen in a Mustang (or indeed the muscle car segment), a seven-speed Tremec unit which absorbs the lessons learnt from the Ford GT and can deliver shifts in less than 100 milliseconds. Which is probably about the same time it'll take to get a campaign going for the manual option.
Its gigantic output will be transferred to the tarmac via a carbon driveshaft and bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres (stickier Cup 2s will also be available). Given the wheels will be anything up to 11.5-inches wide you can imagine how large the supporting tyres are going to be.
Indeed the GT500 seems only to boast enormous numbers. The front brake discs are 420mm in diameter (or 20 per cent larger than a GT350's), with six-piston Brembo calipers. That outrageous bonnet vent, required to get air out, is 31 inches by 28 (787mm by 711), and the rain tray can be removed for better air extraction and downforce on dry days. Six heat exchangers are also in there to increase cooling pack air flow by 50 per cent.
Tweaks from GT350 to GT500 include next gen MagneRide dampers, new suspension geometry, revised electric power steering and lighter springs. All told Ford is promising "the highest-ever lateral acceleration from a Mustang for greater track performance and driver control." No doubt the more aggressive aero will contribute to that track performance, too, though no specific claims have yet been made about what the spoiler, skirts and splitter dream team are contributing.
For those buyers underwhelmed by a regular GT500 - easy to imagine, right? - Ford will offer two handling packages with this new flagship. The first is called the, er, Handling Package, and features adjustable strut top mounts and a spoiler with Gurney flap. Building on that for the truly committed is a Carbon Fibre Track Package with carbon wheels (wider at the rear than standard, at 11.5-inch), the Cup 2s, a rear wing from the GT4 race car, the rear seats binned and whatever "splitter wickers" are. But they come with an integrated dive plane. Don't be surprised to see the majority of GT500s optioned with the CFTP, especially given these press shots all seem to feature a car so optioned. And look absolutely awesome.
The interior will be familiar to regular Mustang owners, albeit with some GT500 embellishments also on offer: exposed carbon trim and Recaro seats are on the options list. The drive modes as seen in other Mustangs - normal, weather, sport, drag and track - are standard, along with the line lock and launch control Track Apps.
That's it for now, Ford having not yet confirmed a launch date, price or even final power output for the 2020 Mustang GT500. Suffice it to say many (on both sides of the pond) will be extremely excited though, given the promise shown throughout the life of the sixth-generation model. Only now with more than 700 horsepower. God bless America!
Even so it looks like they've managed to get 8-4-2-1 manifolds in there which will be a bigger tuning difference than exactly identical lengths, they've also extended the lengths for C2 and 4 in that picture by curling them back on themselves.
I'm sure this car will be US only.
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