Ford is working on a new Shelby GT500! In January, the automaker confirmed that this beloved nameplate would return for the most powerful Mustang ever, a 700-plus-hp monster. Official details on the upcoming GT500 are thin, but we’ve got a decent idea of what to expect.
Ford says the Shelby GT500 will arrive next year, and we expect a launch in January at the Detroit Auto Show. That means it’ll likely share the stage in Detroit with another long-awaited revival, the 2020 Ford Bronco.
The GT500 is Ford’s answer to the 650-hp Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the 707-hp Dodge Challenger Hellcat, so everyone is predicting it’ll get a powerful V8. A twin-turbo V8 was rumored as a possibility, but a supercharged mill like the last GT500 seems way more likely.
Motor Trend obtained a picture of a Shelby GT350 with a supercharged engine, claiming that what’s shown is a GT500 prototype, but that’s unconfirmed. This could be a prototype for a factory supercharger kit for the Shelby GT350, not necessarily a GT500.
It Might Look Like The Pre-Facelift Mustang
The Mustang was face-lifted for 2018, but the Shelby GT350’s looks were unchanged. Based on the teaser image at the top of this post, and other spy shots we’ve seen, it looks like the GT500 will look more similar to the GT350 than other Mutangs. Just check out the old-style headlights in the teaser.
Ford Is Benchmarking It Against Serious Competition
Ford is testing the GT500 against some stiff competition too. Motor Trend spotted a GT500 testing in Arizona with a Camaro ZL1, which seems like an obvious target. After all, the previous-gen Mustang GT500 and Camaro ZL1, both supercharged brutes, squared off back in 2012.
A less obvious rival for the GT500 is the Porsche 911 GT3, but interestingly, Mustang6G.com has photos of Ford benchmarking one near its Michigan headquarters. This doesn’t mean that Ford is trying to build a GT3-rival though. Automakers often benchmark other cars just to study one or two particular elements.