2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Review, Pricing, and Specs

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Think of the 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 kind of like a rolling theme park. Its monstrous 760-hp supercharged V-8 launches the coupe with eye-watering force, and its immense grip causes sensations of euphoria or nausea or both. All the while its thrilling exhaust note provides the soundtrack, and a rapid-shifting automatic transmission handles gearchanges for the rear-drive-only coupe. The Shelby GT500 isn't just the mightiest Mustang ever, it's also the most powerful road car Ford has ever built. We named it to our 2022 Editors' Choice list, too. Despite the ability to soil people's undergarments on demand, it's still a Mustang at heart, meaning it doubles as a daily driver. Opting for the Carbon Fiber Track Pack optimizes the GT500's performance, but it also costs almost a quarter of the Shelby's base price. For some owners, that money will be better spent on fueling this thirsty beast or paying the inevitable influx of speeding tickets.

With 2022 marking 55 years since the birth of the original Shelby GT500, Ford is offering the current model with a limited-production Heritage Edition. Essentially an appearance package, it consists of a Brittany Blue paint job with the choice of Wimbledon White or Absolute Black twin stripes from stem to stern. The commemorative look costs $2140, but that's with vinyl stripes—the option to have them hand-painted is $10,000. Ford also adds Code Orange to the Shelby's color palette. Want to spend even more money on a GT500? A limited number of GT500KR (for King of the Road) models will also be produced, each offering over 900 horsepower.

The Shelby GT500 isn't only the most powerful Mustang—it's also the most expensive. The Carbon Fiber Track Pack (20-inch carbon-fiber wheels, aerodynamic add-ons, stickier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and other weight-saving measures) costs $18,500, but we're extremely impressed with the GT500 even without the pricey package. So, we'd recommend only a few options. The Handling package allows front suspension adjustments and adds improved aero with splitter wickers and a Gurney flap. The available Recaro front seats don't have power adjustments or heated and cooled cushions, but they better match the car's personality and are comfortable and supportive.

The most powerful engine ever stuffed into a Ford production car lurks behind the Shelby GT500's menacing mug. Aptly called Predator, the motor is a supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 that summons 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. That prodigious power twists the rear wheels through a clairvoyant seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (sorry, the mightiest Mustang isn't offered with a manual transmission). We've tested a GT500 with its standard summer tires as well as the ultra-sticky rubber offered with the Carbon Fiber Track package, which includes 20-inch carbon-fiber wheels. The latter was part of a comparison test with the 650-hp Chevy Camaro ZL1 1LE and 797-hp Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. While during testing the Shelby's base wheel-and-tire setup actually provided better acceleration (hitting 60 mph in 3.4 seconds versus 3.6), the upgraded rolling stock contributed to higher cornering grip (1.13 g versus 0.99) and a shorter stop from 70 mph (142 feet versus 150). Optimized for racetrack duty, the Shelby GT500 proved that modern muscle cars can post quicker lap times than more exotic machines, such as the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4­­ and Lamborghini Huracán Evo, at the most recent running of our annual Lightning Lap event. Even when the ultimate Mustang isn't blasting down drag strips or terrorizing six-figure sports cars at the track, it makes daily driving extra exciting with its soil-your-shorts acceleration and surprisingly agile handling, considering its two-ton curb weight. Despite its racy demeanor, the GT500's standard adaptive dampers provide a merciful ride quality, too.

The Shelby GT500's 760-hp V-8 is the antithesis of fuel efficiency. The government estimates that it'll earn a measly 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway. That's less than the Camaro ZL1 and Challenger SRT Hellcat; they're EPA-rated at 13/21 mpg city/highway and 13/22 mpg city/highway, respectively. The GT500 did average 20 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, part of our extensive testing regimen. For more information about the Shelby GT500's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

The Shelby Mustang's interior is very similar to that of its mainstream counterpart. Although they share a design and have comparable passenger and cargo space, the GT500 offers options such as carbon-fiber instrument panel trim and more-aggressive, Shelby-specific Recaro front buckets along with a roster of desirable standard features. The latter includes a configurable 12.0-inch fully digital gauge cluster, dual-zone climate control, leather-trimmed front seats with heated and cooled cushions, and a six-way power driver's seat. Shoppers who prefer a more supportive pair of front buckets, albeit without the aforementioned functions, can opt for leather-trimmed Recaros. The Shelby's standard aluminum dashboard trim can also be swapped for a piece made of exposed carbon fiber. Those looking to save extra weight can delete the rear seats, but that requires the extremely expensive Carbon Fiber Track package.

The infotainment system in the Shelby GT500 is very similar to what's found in the regular Mustang: an 8.0-inch touchscreen that supports Ford's Sync 3 software. Along with steering-wheel control and voice commands, the stereo's volume and tuning functions can be controlled with physical knobs. Thanks, Ford. Desirable standard connectivity features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. A 12-speaker B&O sound system is available for drivers who want to complement the supercharged V-8's thundering soundtrack with beats of their own.

Unless you count a powerful braking system and launch control as important driver-assistance technology, the mightiest Mustang offers a very short list of assists. For more information about the Shelby's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

Ford's limited and powertrain warranties are the definition of average, but they align with the periods offered by and Dodge and Chevrolet. However, in this group, only the bow-tie brand offers complimentary maintenance.

Specifications

2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

VEHICLE TYPEfront-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe

PRICE AS TESTED$81,565 (base price: $74,095)

ENGINE TYPEsupercharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injectionDisplacement315 in3, 5163 cm3Power760 hp @ 7300 rpmTorque625 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm

TRANSMISSION7-speed dual-clutch automatic

CHASSISSuspension (F/R): struts/multilinkBrakes (F/R): 16.5-in vented disc/14.6-in vented discTires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, F: 305/30R-20 (103Y) R: 315/30R-20 (104Y)

DIMENSIONSWheelbase: 107.1 inLength: 189.5 inWidth: 76.6 inHeight: 54.3 inPassenger volume: 85 ft3Trunk volume: 14 ft3Curb weight: 4171 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS60 mph: 3.4 sec100 mph: 6.9 sec130 mph: 11.0 sec150 mph: 15.1 sec170 mph: 21.7 secRolling start, 5–60 mph: 3.7 secTop gear, 30–50 mph: 1.9 secTop gear, 50–70 mph: 2.2 sec1/4 mile: 11.3 sec @ 132 mphTop speed (mfr's claim): 180 mphBraking, 70–0 mph: 150 ftBraking, 100–0 mph: 299 ftRoadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.99 gStanding-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.

C/D FUEL ECONOMYObserved: 13 mpg75-mph highway driving: 20 mpgHighway range: 320 miles

EPA FUEL ECONOMYCombined/city/highway: 14/12/18 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

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