The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is aptly described as “Goliath” on wheels. Ford’s most powerful street-legal car to date, this beast packs a staggering 760 horsepower. While the raw power and thunderous V8 roar are expected from a modern Mustang, and its straight-line speed and track handling are undeniably impressive, the GT500’s most surprising trait is its surprisingly refined street manners. It’s a true dual-personality muscle car ready for anything you throw at it.
Beneath the aggressive exterior, the 2020 GT500 retains the core Mustang DNA. You’ll find comfortable Recaro seats, standard rear seats for practicality, and effective air conditioning. The interior layout and materials are familiar Mustang, offering a blend of performance-focused design and everyday usability. And yes, the trunk remains generously sized, capable of handling daily cargo or even track day equipment.
Having previously experienced the more modest power of a 2014 3.7-liter Mustang, stepping into the 2020 Shelby GT500 with over double the horsepower was a thrilling prospect. The previous GT500, produced in 2014, boasted a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 with 662 horsepower. The 2020 model remarkably extracts nearly 100 additional horsepower from a smaller displacement engine, showcasing Ford’s engineering prowess.
2020 Ford Shelby GT500: Key Specifications
The heart of the 2020 GT500 is a 5.2-liter cross-plane crank V8 engine, force-fed by an inverted 2.65-liter Roots-type supercharger, complete with an air-to-liquid intercooler. This potent combination allows Ford to confidently claim 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque. The engine’s impressive 7,500 rpm redline is particularly notable for a supercharged application, highlighting its race-bred engineering. Power is channeled to the rear wheels through a rapid-shifting seven-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission.
Performance figures are nothing short of breathtaking. Ford states a top speed limited to 180 mph. The 2020 GT500 achieves 0-60 mph in a blistering 3.3 seconds and conquers the quarter-mile in just 10.7 seconds. Even more impressive is its 0-100-0 mph time of 10.6 seconds, demonstrating phenomenal acceleration and braking capabilities.
Driving the 2020 Shelby GT500: Street, Drag, and Track
The driving experience of the 2020 Ford Shelby Gt500 is multifaceted, adapting to various environments with surprising ease.
Street Manners: Surprisingly Civilized Power
Initial impressions on public roads reveal a car that, while undeniably powerful, is also surprisingly docile when needed. Despite its aggressive styling and performance pedigree, the GT500 can settle into comfortable cruising. During a press drive on Nevada highways, the GT500 effortlessly maintained 65-70 mph at a relaxed sub-2,000 RPM engine speed.
Personal driving preferences leaned towards Sport+ mode for spirited driving, with steering and exhaust set to Sport. While these settings offer a more aggressive character, the convenience of “Quiet Mode” for the exhaust is appreciated for maintaining neighborly relations or when encountering law enforcement. However, even in a subdued silver-gray paint, the GT500’s imposing front fascia and prominent rear wing ensure it never truly blends in.
For everyday driving, the GT500 is remarkably compliant. The gearing is well-suited for maintaining engagement even at lower speeds. Yet, the underlying potential is always palpable. Switching to Sport or Track mode unleashes the beast within. The transmission eagerly downshifts, and the car transforms into a snarling powerhouse the moment you apply throttle.
While some might miss a manual transmission in such a performance-oriented car, the Tremec dual-clutch proves its worth. Its responsiveness and efficiency in selecting the desired gear at precisely the right moment are truly exceptional.
Despite its size, the GT500 feels surprisingly manageable on the road. While it carries the inherent heft of a large car, the prominent hood scoop aids in lane positioning, enhancing driver confidence. The sheer power on tap, combined with vibrant color options, demands responsible driving habits and awareness of the throttle. Maintaining posted speed limits, especially on lower speed roads, can be a genuine challenge given the car’s eagerness to accelerate.
Drag Strip Domination: Launch Control and Line Lock
To truly explore the GT500’s performance limits, a quarter-mile drag strip provided the perfect venue. Ford’s claim of a 10.7-second quarter-mile proved to be within reach, even under less-than-ideal conditions. The drag strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, with an elevation of around 2,000 feet and hot weather, presented a realistic challenge. Moreover, the test cars had already endured numerous runs by other journalists.
Despite limited drag racing experience and unfamiliarity with the track’s timing system and the car’s drag strip mode and line-lock features, impressive results were achieved. Progressive runs yielded times of 11.8, 11.6, and finally, a best of 11.23 seconds at 130 mph. This performance is a testament to the GT500’s inherent drag racing capabilities, even in the hands of a novice.
Drag mode simplifies launching with launch control. Applying the brake with the left foot and flooring the accelerator engages the system. Releasing the brake initiates a brief pause before unleashing ferocious acceleration, delivering intense G-forces akin to a jet takeoff.
Ford instructors encouraged the use of the line-lock feature before each run. Activating line-lock, which locks the front brakes to allow rear wheel spin for tire warm-up, is straightforward. Engaging drag strip mode, straightening the steering wheel, accessing “Track Apps” via the Shelby snake button on the steering wheel, and selecting “Line Lock” initiates the process. Following on-screen prompts allows for controlled burnouts, safely warming the rear tires for optimal launch grip. Even after multiple drag runs with burnouts, the GT500 showed no signs of performance degradation, highlighting its robust engineering and thermal management.
Track Prowess: Cornering and Handling
Beyond straight-line speed, the 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 demonstrates remarkable track capabilities, dispelling any notions of Mustangs being solely drag-oriented machines. Track-prepared GT500s, equipped with roll bars/harness bars and six-point harnesses, were available for testing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway’s challenging road course.
On track, the GT500’s power is addictive, accompanied by an intoxicating exhaust note. Massive brake calipers and 16-inch front rotors inspire confidence to brake later into corners, managing weight transfer effectively. While the weight of the V8 and supercharger over the front axle is perceptible in corners, the car remains surprisingly agile and responsive.
The Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires provide exceptional grip, generating lateral forces that firmly hold occupants in place, even with secure harnesses. To further assess track handling, a passenger ride with Ford Performance Vehicle Dynamics Engineer Steve Thompson provided valuable insight. Thompson expertly navigated the track, showcasing the GT500’s cornering prowess. The car exhibited otherworldly grip, maintaining balance at the edge of adhesion through fast corners.
Even drifting, while not its primary focus, is possible, albeit with some electronic intervention. The GT500’s track performance is genuinely impressive, especially considering its dual-purpose nature.
GT500 vs. GT350: Choosing the Right Mustang
When considering the 2020 Mustang lineup, the question of GT500 versus GT350 often arises. While both are high-performance Mustangs, they cater to different preferences. The GT350 is an analog sports car emphasizing driver engagement with its high-revving flat-plane V8, six-speed manual transmission, and finely tuned suspension and aerodynamics. The GT500, while also track-capable, leans towards all-around performance dominance, excelling in drag racing and offering a broader spectrum of capabilities.
Conclusion
The 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 stands as a testament to Ford’s engineering achievements. It is a truly versatile performance machine, equally adept at comfortable street cruising, blistering drag strip runs, and confident track handling. Its blend of raw power and surprising refinement makes it a compelling choice for enthusiasts seeking a Mustang that can conquer any driving scenario.
For those who find the GT500’s price point or fuel economy (EPA estimated 12 mpg city/18 mpg highway) less appealing, the EcoBoost High-Performance Pack Mustang offers a more accessible entry point to Mustang performance, delivering a taste of the GT500 experience in a more economical package.
The 2020 GT500 leaves a lasting impression as a ferocious, loud, and exhilarating machine, solidifying its place as a benchmark in American performance cars.
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Photography by Nicole Ellan James
