2020 Ford Shelby GT500 Review

　　

2020 Ford Shelby GT500 Review

byDan FrioReviews Editor

　　Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to zzdcar, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.

　　At a distance, the 2020 Shelby GT500 looks like a Mustang that's been rushed through a speed shop with bad taste and unrestricted access to hastily made CAD files. But look closer and you'll see that the wide fenders, enormous grille and rear wing spoiler have a real purpose: to harness the speed generated by the latest über-Mustang's 760 horsepower.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 2dr Coupe (5.2L 8cyl S/C 7AM) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$321/mo  for Shelby GT500 Base

　　Shelby GT500 Base

　　2dr Coupe (5.2L 8cyl S/C 7AM) (Most Popular) - $70,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　The expansive fenders contain wider wheels and tires to better stick the car to the road, while the front grille sized like a New York City sidewalk grate helps cool the hard-working supercharged V8 engine. The rear spoiler and assorted lower and side winglets also aid in directing airflow to press the car to the ground.

　　When you're the top horse in the stable, expectations are high. And nothing short of world-beating performance is expected of the new Mustang Shelby GT500. Since Ford ended production of the previous-generation GT500 after the 2014 model year, Dodge has normalized pony-car extremes with its Challenger Hellcat variations and Chevrolet has set new records on the crucible of test tracks, Germany's Nürburgring, with its Camaro ZL1.

　　The GT500 is well-equipped to reassert itself. Ford and Tremec developed a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission specifically for this engine and fitted huge 16.5-inch-diameter front brake rotors clamped upon with six-piston calipers. The adaptive suspension can adjust to various modes, including settings for track-day heroics or drag-race showdowns.

　　This Ford is clearly a purpose-built car that won't be content with the daily commute. Not that you couldn't use it for that, however. Inside you'll find striking two-tone leather sport seats, microsuede door panel inserts, a 12-inch LCD gauge cluster, the Sync 3 touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system. Vanquishing world-class performance-car competitors need not come at the cost of comfort and convenience.

　　The GT500 does come at a cost, however. Add just a few options and you're looking at a Mustang with an MSRP of more than $100,000. Yet that money buys such staggering performance, and results in such little compromise in comfort, that it's pretty easy to say it's worth every penny.

　　

What's it like to live with the GT500?

Having 760 hp is cool, but can you actually enjoy it every day? zzdcar' editorial team purchased a 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 to find out. We're driving it for a year and 20,000 miles. We passed on the somewhat extreme Carbon Fiber Track package and went with the more practical base model and opted for the Technology package. Check out our Shelby GT500 long-term test to learn even more about this super Mustang.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

9.5/10

　　How does the Shelby GT500 drive? Monstrous. That's the easiest way to sum up the capabilities of the GT500. Straight-line performance is nothing short of shocking. Our test car ripped from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and through the quarter-mile in only 11.3 seconds at a staggering 130.7 mph. Braking from 60 mph was also impressive with a recorded distance of only 98 feet; that's close to some supercars. Handling numbers were also highly impressive and the Shelby pulled 1.17g on our skidpad. Again, near some supercars.

　　The somewhat numb steering earns a minor demerit as does the Shelby's overly wide turning circle. You can expect to make plenty of three-point turns in this car. But the smoothness and quickness of the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic deserve special mention. The transmission is adaptive and responsive to the driver's input, making stop-and-go traffic or hot-lapping a total breeze.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Shelby GT500? The GT500 is impressively comfortable considering how capable it is. Other than the considerable levels of road and exhaust noise — and they're really not out of step for this class of car — there's little to complain about. You can adjust the trick MagneRide suspension to allow for a relatively comfortable ride on the highway or switch to the Sport or Track setting for more enthusiastic driving.

　　The GT500's climate control system is also a strong point. It provides good temperature regulation and has plenty of vents with excellent adjustability. Some larger drivers might dislike the aggressive bolstering on the optional Recaro seats, but they do an excellent job of holding you in during quick driving.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The interior of the GT500 is fairly standard Mustang stuff. While that means it's instantly recognizable to most modern Ford owners, it also means the GT500 has the same strengths and weaknesses as any other Mustang. Buttons abound, especially on the steering wheel, and it's all too easy to press the wrong one.

　　Getting into the driver's seat, unless you're exceptionally tall, will probably mean having to squeeze between the bottom of the steering wheel and the thick thigh bolsters on the seat, assuming you have chosen the optional Recaro seats. Rear seats may or may not exist (the Carbon Fiber Track Pack removes the seats). In either case, the space is as cramped as in a typical Mustang.

　　

Technology

6.0/10

　　How’s the tech? It's with some surprise that Ford has been so stingy with seemingly basic technology in the GT500. Navigation and a decent audio system are bundled in the optional Technology package. You'll need that package to get driver aids such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. A free lap timer and g-meter don't come close to making up for that.

　　Thankfully Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard and function very well, even allowing you to keep smartphone navigation up while listening to terrestrial or satellite radio. Though well sorted, the GT500's performance driver aids don't hold a candle to what's available in the Camaro ZL1.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Shelby GT500 maintains all the usability of a standard Mustang, making it an actual candidate to be a 760-horsepower daily driver. Though the trunk opening is less than ideal, it makes the most of its capacity to hold golf bags or suitcases with ease.

　　The optional Carbon Fiber Track Pack is both good and bad for cargo capacity. It eliminates the rear seats and the ability to fold them to carry longer objects, but you get a second trunk of sorts with the space they used to occupy. Interior storage space is also identical to a standard Mustang's. You'll find enough room for sunglasses, a phone and drinks, and everything stays secure during spirited driving.

　　

Fuel Economy

5.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? It's highly unlikely most owners of the GT500 will keep a close eye on their fuel bills, but they should brace for the extra expense this 760-horsepower Mustang will bring. The EPA rates the GT500 at 14 mpg combined (12 city/18 highway). In our time with the GT500, we managed to match the EPA's estimate and achieved 15.1 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route. But we also had numerous tanks in the single digits. Of course, cars of this type rarely get stellar fuel economy, but the GT500 trails everything else in the class.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Shelby GT500 a good value? The price tag can easily be left out of casual conversation because it's so easy to geek out over the GT500's capability. But with our test car's as-tested price of just over $94,000, the value of all that performance suddenly comes into question. Sure, you can build out a BMW M4 to a similar price, but if outright performance is your game, the Camaro ZL1 1LE is more than $20,000 less expensive, as is a well-equipped C8 Corvette.

　　Even Ford aficionados might balk at the fairly standard Mustang interior and the lack of standard navigation, blind-spot monitoring or a decent audio system. But performance like this can blind potential buyers to any minor faults. Just make sure you get a gas card with some rewards points.

　　

Wildcard

10.0/10

　　Previous iterations of the GT500 always left a little something to be desired. They had power, sure, but they lacked refinement and credibility on anything but a long, straight road. But the 2020 GT500 leaves all of that behind, somehow managing to be part drag-strip star and part road racer. It really does feel like the GT350's older, and much bigger, brother.

　　The Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye may have more power, and the hyperfocused Camaro ZL1 1LE might have more stick and cut a faster lap time, but the GT500 does nearly everything just as well and manages to provide occupants with a fairly comfortable ride and decent practicality.

　　

Which Shelby GT500 does zzdcar recommend?

Start with the standard Shelby GT500 first and see if that doesn't satisfy your lust for bending the laws of physics. If not, you can add the Handling package for improved aerodynamics or go even harder with the Carbon Fiber Track package that upgrades the wheels, tires and suspension. These packages aren't available together, so you'll need to choose one or the other.

　　

2020 Ford Shelby GT500 models

The 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 is a high-performance version of the Mustang coupe available in a single trim level. Essentially, a track-ready, street-legal Mustang, it has many performance features not available on the standard-issue car.

　　Standard equipment starts with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 (760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque) paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and rear-wheel drive. Other key performance features include three powertrain coolers (oil, differential and transmission), adaptive dampers, a Torsen rear differential (with 3.73 gearing), race-grade Brembo brakes, and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

　　Hardcore performance doesn't limit comfort, however. Inside, the GT500 offers leather-wrapped front seats with simulated-suede inserts, a digital gauge cluster display, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

　　Serious enthusiasts may want to add the optional Handling or Carbon Fiber Track package. The former adds a Gurney flap to the rear spoiler for improved aerodynamic performance. The latter, meanwhile, equips the GT500 with 20-inch carbon-fiber wheels, upgraded tires and adjustable strut top mounts for fine-tuning alignment, Recaro front seats, and carbon-fiber interior trim. The Carbon Fiber Track package also removes the rear seat for weight savings.

　　If lap times aren't an obsession, consider the Technology package instead. It adds an upgraded Bang & Olufsen sound system, a navigation system blind-spot monitoring and driver-seat memory settings.

　　

2020 Shelby GT500 Highlights

　　

Base MSRP	$70,300
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	14 MPG
Cost to Drive	$321/month
Seating	4 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles