mustang gt
Bruce Newton17 Jan 2018
NEWS

DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Ford confirms 520kW GT500 Mustang

Most powerful Ford production car ever launches in 2019

Ford will unleash its most powerful production model of all time in 2019 when the 520kW-plus (700hp-plus) Mustang Shelby GT500 goes on sale.

Plans for the supercharged V8 were revealed at the Detroit motor show late on Monday -- 24 hours after the limited-edition Mustang Bullitt was unveiled on Sunday.

Confirmation came in the form of one-minute teaser video that was short on substantive detail, except confirmation that the new GT500 is going to outdo both its previous generation predecessor and the limited-run GT supercar for power.

However, it still won’t surpass the gob-smacking 626kW Dodge Demon and will be lineball with the 707hp Hellcat engine fitted to the Dodge Challenger and Charger. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is left in the shade with ‘only’ 485kW.

US media reports indicate the GT500’s V8 will be a 5.2-litre that may be codenamed Predator and will likely share its block with the 369kW naturally-aspirated GT350.

And while the standard Mustang GT V8 is sold in Australia, where the facelifted version arrives this year, there’s no indication whether we will get the GT500. If the GT350 is any guide we will miss out because that is left-hand drive only.

Certainly, there were no hints about detail like that in few paragraphs of press info issued with the teaser video.

“Arriving in 2019, the all-new Mustang Shelby GT500 will be the pinnacle of Mustang performance and highlights the innovation, ingenuity and passion of Ford Performance,” said Ford.

“With more than 700 horsepower projected, the all-new Shelby GT500 fast-back coupe will be twice as powerful as the original 1967 Mustang performance model.

“Loaded with the most venom ever, the all-new Mustang Shelby GT500 with its 700-plus horsepower supercharged V8 will be the most powerful street-legal production Ford ever.

“Embodying Ford Performance team’s motorsport expertise, this new Mustang is engineered to stand apart on roadways and race tracks, thanks to its new innovative track technologies, performance hardware, plus aggressive and functional track-tuned styling.”

The last Mustang Shelby GT500 was unveiled late in 2012 and featured a 494kW supercharged 5.8-litre V8.

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