There’s a lot more to building a 200 mph Shelby GT500 Mustang than simply bolting in a 5.8-liter supercharged V-8 rated at 662 horsepower and 631 pound-feet of torque. Without aero enhancements, lift at speed is a very real (and very dangerous) problem, and driveline improvement are necessary to ensure the driveshaft doesn’t explode at high rpms. As a flagship Mustang, the Shelby GT500 also has to feel a bit more refined than the rest of the herd, something the old GT500 fell short of (especially in regards to shifting).
To help the new Shelby GT500 achieve its performance potential, Ford engineers gave the car a larger clutch to handle the engine’s torque, then optimized the clutch pedal assembly for better feel. Next came the shift linkage, which was revised for smoother and more positive gear selection.
Underneath, the Shelby GT500 gets a single-piece carbon fiber driveshaft that reduces both vehicle weight and inertial weight. The hollow carbon fiber tube uses splined connectors that are pressed into place, ensure better strength than a joint bonded with adhesives.
Up front, the GT500’s fascia has been revised to reduce drag (permitting higher speeds), but more importantly it’s also been changed to reduce lift at speed. Airflow into the engine is a key factor, too, since keeping under-hood temps where they belong can be a challenge on a race track.
While the GT500 is a strong performer out of the box, owners who track their cars will want to add the Performance Package for its Torsen limited slip rear differential and the Track Package, which includes improved cooling.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
