DRIVEN: Shelby GT500 Charges Ahead

The 662 horsepower lights them up in this remarkable package of pure exhilaration, although this cobra will bite the unwary.

Bob Golfen | Posted January 22, 2013 Phoenix, AZ

The aggressive styling of the Shelby GT500 leaves no doubt about its performance mission. (Photo: Bob Golfen)

Everybody sat up and took notice when Ford announced that the SVT performance division was wringing 662 horsepower from its latest supercharged progeny, the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.

That’s 112 more than the previous GT500 and lands the Shelby in supercar territory. Ford quickly proclaimed the supercharged 5.8-liter, dual-overhead-cam engine the most-powerful V8 ever put in a production car. It roundly trumps those in the Chevy Camaro ZL1 and Dodge Charger SRT8.

So who needs that much power? Who doesn’t want it?

Blacked-out alloy wheels look bold and purposeful. (Photo: Bob Golfen)

As expected, the latest Shelby GT500 is a rough-and-tumble muscle car, shockingly fast and in your face. The latest automotive transgression from the mighty Shelby establishment, it’s a car that can very quickly get you into serious trouble. Seriously.

Sixty comes up insanely fast, in first gear yet, accompanied by the urgent whine of the monster-size supercharger. The back end wants to step out in the lower gears with all that torque, which peaks at 631 pound-feet, although traction control steps in to save you from a garish spin.

But just barely. The traction control is hard-pressed to keep the rubber on the road. It’s all too ready to break loose, especially when the tires are cold, before the electronics slap you back in line. The traction-control light flashes on just about every time the throttle is poked. Yes, there’s still a solid axle back there.

With traction control and other electronic helpmates switched off, smoky doughnuts are shamefully easy to accomplish. The Shelby has a bunch of driver-adjustable electronic settings to moderate the influence of those drivability controls. The most extreme, everything-turned-off setting advises: “Track Use Only.” I concur.

The 5.8-liter supercharged engine churns 662 horsepower and 631 pound-feet of torque, the most power ever in a production V8, Ford says. (Photo: Ford)

The new V8 is basically a bored out version of the previous GT500’s 5.4 liters, with the compression ratio upped to 9:1 from 8.4:1 and the necessary cooling, oiling and strengthening enhancements made. The Eaton supercharger and its intercooler have also grown bigger.

Top speed is 200 mph, Ford says. No, I didn’t get it up there, but triple digits are pretty much a walk. The Shelby hits 60 in just about three-and-a half seconds. There’s a 220-mph speedometer, and the tachometer puts the engine redline at 7,000 rpm.

Despite all that, the GT500 manages to avoid a gas guzzler tax, with an EPA estimated 15 city, 24 highway and 18 overall. A good part of the highway-mileage gain is via the Shelby’s extra-tall gearing, which allows the engine to idle along at 75 mph in sixth gear at 1,500 rpm. At 100, it’s turning only about 2,000.

The slick Tremec six-speed transmission, with its golf-ball-sized shifter knob, has a satisfyingly macho temperament as you grab each gear by the handful. An effective launch-control system helps you make the best off-the-line showing. Giant Brembo brakes with six pistons on each side up front effectively shut it down.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob Golfen

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