The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is a 760-hp beast

Jeff Glucker

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The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is WILD …yet easy to drive? It’s a 760-horsepower American muscle machine that can corner. There’s tremendous noise, wicked speed, and, well, a ton of swears. Seriously, if you’re offended by swears, you might want to skip this one…

Yes, it’s okay to be upset that you can’t get the GT500 with a manual transmission. But be aware that the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic Ford employs here is excellent. It’s on par with Porsche’s PDK. It truly is that good. Couple that gearbox with the always eager engine, magnetic suspension, intelligent traction control, and you have a hefty boy that is eager to rip down the drag strip and around a road course or canyon road.

The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is a monster. But it’s also remarkably easy to drive. It has far better road and road course manners than anything from the Hellcat family. All it’s missing is a bit more supercharger whine, which is something the Hellcat nails.

[Disclaimer: Ford tossed us the keys to the 2020 GT500 and included a tank of fuel. We filled up the tank three more times over the course of one week.]

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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12 responses to “The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is a 760-hp beast”

  1. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    Jeff, I sincerely mean no offense by this (because I’m sure your comments are entirely justified), but I’m tired of people praising the quality of automatics when someone wishes instead for a manual. These days, no one chooses a manual transmission for performance, because automatics are generally superior in that regard. No, the manual is for driver involvement, and that’s an itch that the automatic simply cannot scratch. Telling the manual-seeker that the automatic is fantastic is like giving someone a glass of the most exquisite merlot when they really just wanted a solid IPA.

    That said, the video is entertaining and informative, as usual. That thing sounds sick. Not a fan of the aero or the grille, though– looks too boy-racer. Or maybe I’m just getting old. That price doesn’t surprise me, which… surprises me. $80k seems reasonable for that level of performance, and I’d prefer this over a Vette or a Hellcat.

    Reply
    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      I get it. I like sticks still too. I think, as I’ve gotten older, I don’t mind that some cars are auto only anymore though. And in some cases, I’d choose the auto over the stick (Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator or Genesis G70, for examples).

      Yeah, the higher-trim wing is even MORE boy racer, which is why I like this one over the other.

      I’d spec one of these like the car in the video, minus the stripes and in Ford Performance Blue. Need to black out that Snake badge though

      Reply
      1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
        Jeff Glucker

        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6b9ec2a916e8d8aab3e05e03a768dd2f91dec909134019803dbd898109869f75.png

        Reply
        1. Zentropy Avatar
          Zentropy

          That’s a good color scheme. The thing with silver is that it never looks bad, but also never looks great.

          Reply
          1. Intelligent Human Avatar
            Intelligent Human

            I don’t agree. I prefer silver on classic German racing-derived machines. For historic reasons.

          2. Zentropy Avatar
            Zentropy

            Yeah, I like turquoise and white two-tones on mid-50s American cars “for historic reasons”, but I wouldn’t want to see such a scheme on a Mustang Cobra. To each his/her own opinions on silver, but I find it a pretty generic choice for modern vehicles. Yes, it looks good on old Auto Union race cars, although that’s probably because one rarely sees them in anything other than traditional German livery.

          3. Intelligent Human Avatar
            Intelligent Human

            Exactly! I knew you would know the Auto Union reference… Thanks.

  2. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    If they are going to make the car almost as heavy as the Challenger Redeye, with similar pricing and slightly fewer ponies in the Ford ponycar, I would pick the Mopar for the ability to carry more than two adults.

    I wonder how much licensing the Shelby name adds to the price tag?

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      So if one could get 500 hp under the hood of a Toyota 86 for less than $25k (along with other requisite upgrades), it should be comparable to this beast in performance and value, without all of that heft.

      Reply
    2. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      That’s interesting, specs say 4225lb vs 4450 for the Redeye, and 3800 for the GT350. That’s a big increase, even heavier than the last of the blown Falcons that basically had the same engine. I wonder if the DCT box is particularly heavy?

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        I believe the DCT is about 120 lbs heavier than the TR-3160 (dry weight), plus an additional 9 lbs of fluid. I would guess the blower adds maybe 40 lbs, tops. That doesn’t even bring it up to two tons. Not sure where the additional ~250 lbs is coming from, unless it’s just beefier suspension, rear diff, and structural rigidity components in general.

        Reply
        1. outback_ute Avatar
          outback_ute

          There’s also the cooling circuit and heat exchanger for the intercooler, engine oil, trans and diff coolers, bigger brakes, strut brace, body kit including belly pan, wheels and tires, I’d even expect the engine weighs more too, eg pistons and rods

          Reply