Specs: The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500’s Horsepower and V8 Up Close

Closer look at the horsepower and performance specs of Ford's most powerful street-legal machine to date.

Piloting the new 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 through the gloriously windy roads of the Angeles Canyon just outside L.A. was perhaps the best way to put this redesigned beast’s horsepower, torque, and handling abilities to the test.

Read our full 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 review here.

2020 ford mustang shelby gt500
2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Photo: Amee Reehal

Unleashing 760 horses and 625 lb-ft of torque took a split second, while the Shelby literally jumped up and fired forward like a missile at the slightest pressing of the accelerator pedal. Thanks to the V8 5.2-litre supercharged engine, power is – as we would expect from anything Shelby – grotesque.

Mustang Shelby GT500’s Power Vs. Other Mustangs

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 rear taillights
2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Photo: Amee Reehal

For no real reason but to confirm just how powerful this V8-powered Mustang is, here’s how it compares to the other 2020 Mustangs in the lineup:

Mustang EcoBoost310 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Mustang 2.3L High Performance Package330 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Mustang GT460 hp @ 7,500 rpm
Mustang Mach 1480 hp
Mustang Shelby GT500760 hp @ 7,300 rpm

Drive Impressions: Take the 760 Horsepower Mustang Shelby GT500 to the Road

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 review
2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Photo: Amee Reehal

The first thing that hit us when pressing the ignition button on the GT500 is the growl – a judgment day-like growl. Being parked along with a dozen other GT500s in an L.A. underground parking garage at the starting point of the drive just exponentially amplified the feeling.

But what characterizes the experience with the new GT500 is that the wait, or pedal lag, is almost non-existent, thanks to the Tremec 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. This box replaced a good ‘ol 6-speed unit that was available on the previous GT500.

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 interior seats
2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Photo: Amee Reehal

If tackling the tight roads of the Angeles Canyon was a ludicrous challenge that required diapers and Gravol on board an S197-chassis GT500, the new iteration makes for a more straightforward endeavour. And that 7-Speed Tremec, although leaving us a little skeptical at first, turned out to be in the right gear every time we heavily tossed the ‘Stang in and out of corners.

With a new model-specific suspension that recalibrates dampening according to the several drive modes available (like Normal, Sport and Track), the new Mustang Shelby GT500 joyfully pairs high performance and bottom-end torque with precision handling. An experience virtually devoid of body roll when tossing around the 4,225 pounds that it inevitably has to carry around.

Once a raw, bystander-injuring instrument, this top of the line Mustang has been precisely sharpened to compete with other 100k price bracket competitors, packing enough power to put them all on notice.

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Specs and Images

  • Horsepower: 760 hp @ 7,300 rpm
  • Torque: 625 ft-lbs. @ 5,000 rpm
  • Redline: 7,500 rpm
  • Top speed: 180 mph (electronically limited)
  • Engine: DOHC Ti-VCT port fuel injection V8
  • Transmission: Tremec TR-9070 7-speed dual clutch transmission
  • Exhaust: Dual catalyst, 2.75-in. stainless with X-pipe and fully active dual mu¦ers and quad polished stainless tips
  • Brakes: Four-wheel power disc brakes with four-sensor, four-channel antilock braking system and AdvanceTrac electronic stability control
  • Wheels – front: 20 in. x 11 in. flow formed aluminum alloy
  • Tires – front: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 305/30R20
  • Wheels – rear: 20 in. x 11 in. flow formed aluminum alloy
  • Tires – rear: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S 315/30R20

Photos by Amee Reehal

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Bringing the latest news including release dates, pricing announcements, product updates. With some glossy concepts and special edition rides in the mix.