9 Cool Features of the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500
Slideshow: The 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 has been unveiled, with 700+ horsepower nonetheless. Lets dive into some of the other features that will ensure its spot in the history books.
More to it Than Just an Engine
Our good friends over at Jalopnik have pointed out some interesting features found on the new Ford Mustang GT 500. The new Shelby will come with over 700 horses from the 5.2-liter supercharged V8 Voodo engine. This is the same V8 found in the GT350, only with a cross-plane crank and a giant 2.6-liter Eaton supercharger bolted on top. Since Ford won’t let us see the engine yet, let's dive into some of the other things that will make this car the best Mustang to come out of Detroit.
Photos: Ford
Magnesium Paddle Shifters
Magnesium is up there with the coolest metals to be used on a car, there’s just no arguing that. With no manual transmission being offered on the Shelby GT500, the paddle shifters are the drivers' direct connection to the car. Reaching your finger out for the next gear and slapping a cold piece of metal with a solid *click* with each gear you grab almost makes up for the fact that there is no manual option. Almost. Magnesium having the highest strength-to-weight ratio of the structural metals, it makes sense to use it for such a crucial, and interactive part.
Photo: Kristen Lee (Jalopnik)
>>Join the conversation about the new GT500 right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Giant Race Inspired Wing
That big rear wing isn’t just there to serve dinner to your Dodge and Chevy friends as you pass them, it’s a crucial part of the aerodynamic treatment of the car. Based on the wing designed for the GT4 Mustang race car, the adjustable wing puts down more downforce than the Ford GT, according to Ford. Left in exposed carbon fiber, this takes form and function and puts them both to good use.
>>Join the conversation about the new GT500 right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Rear-Seat Delete
Weight is a race cars worst enemy. What’s the easiest way to lose weight? Get rid of the pesky backseats. When the Shelby GT500 is equipped with the Carbon Fiber Track Package, the rear seat is deleted. Sorry dads, you can’t bring your six-year-old to the track if you want the big wing. Priorities.
Photo: Kristen Lee (Jalopnik)
>>Join the conversation about the new GT500 right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Hood Pins
When’s the last time you saw standard hood pins from the factory? Can’t remember? Precisely. Are they needed for this? Probably not, but do they look good? Hell yeah! Perhaps they serve more function than acting as the fourth, possibly fifth, hood latch. However, for that, we will have to wait until Ford “pops the hood”.
>>Join the conversation about the new GT500 right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Carbon Fiber Wheels
Oh, baby. If there was one thing to make this world go ‘round (pun intended), it would be carbon fiber wheels. Lighter, stronger, and better looking than any other wheel construction, there really isn’t any legitimate reason to not use carbon fiber wheels anymore. Other than maybe financial reasons, but hey, that's what curb feelers are for.
>>Join the conversation about the new GT500 right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Hood Vent
The GT500 has a giant square cut out of the hood with louvers slatted throughout. This helps with heat dissipation and aerodynamic lift created from the high-pressure area under the hood from the front grills with roughly the same square footage as the Great Lakes. More importantly, obviously, is that Ford integrated a removable rain tray under the vent for any of the elements that decide they want a peek at the engine bay.
>>Join the conversation about the new GT500 right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Big Tail Pipes
Big exhaust may have hit a low point some years ago, but this thing has brought it back in style. Five-inch quad exhaust tips poke out the back, that’s 78.54 square inches of exhaust exit. For big power like this, giant exhaust tips can be justified.
>>Join the conversation about the new GT500 right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Heat-Resistant Carbon Fiber
A car with this much power being pushed to the limits is going to put off some heat. The rear diffuser has heat-resistant carbon fiber built in around those giant exhausts to help protect against the car consuming itself.
>>Join the conversation about the new GT500 right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Pre-Facelift Headlights
The headlights on the 2020 Shelby GT500 are actually pre-facelift ‘15-’17 headlamps. The GT500 uses custom grill openings and radiator support structures from the GT350, which are not compatible with the current model headlights. In my book, a carbon fiber front end outweighs (again with these puns) current model headlights any.
>>Join the conversation about the new GT500 right here in The Mustang Source forum.
Edge Of My Seat
These features are all great fun and all, but in reality, I will be waiting on the edge of my seat for more details regarding that engine and the overall performance of this Mustang. There is large competition, including from its baby sister, the GT350, along with the Camaro ZL1, Dodge Challenger Hellcat, and European counterparts as well, including big hitters like Porsche. This car will bring Ford up on the next ladder rung and prove that it is indeed, the best time ever to be a car nerd.
>>Join the conversation about the new GT500 right here in The Mustang Source forum.
And, for information on maintenance and repairs for your Mustang, head on over to our How-Tos at MustangForums.com!