Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 2024 Redesign, Engine, Release Date – If you’re a Mustang lover, the GT500 is one of those vehicles you’ve eagerly awaited. If not, and you only remember the GT500 as an overpowered sports car with erratic handling and an unjustified pop-culture following, thanks to films like Gone in 60 Seconds, the Shelby GT500 could alter your entire perception of the Mustang. The Shelby GT500 is still a mighty beast, powered by a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 with 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque, but it now knows how to use all that power. Whereas the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 established itself as the best-handling pony car, the Shelby GT500 blurs the distinction between straight-line performance and handling proficiency. To make it as fast as feasible, it is equipped with an all-new Tremec dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission, which allows the 0-60 mph race to be completed in less than 3.5 seconds.
Ford has produced a new Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition this year that pays homage to the 1967 Shelby GT500. Outside the Heritage, Edition is a traditional Brittany Blue, and it is available with either painted over-the-top stripes or vinyl over-the-top racing stripes. The only other modification concerns the color scheme. Ford has added Code Orange, which is exclusive to this model, and Grabber Blue and Eruption Green.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 2024 Redesign
With its swooping, angular lines, bulging vented hood, and abundance of winglets, it will be impossible to confuse the Ford GT500 for any other vehicle. The front incorporates splitter wickers and an aggressive fascia that eschews subtlety, making it clear that downforce and air channeling are the primary design objectives. At the rear, a diffuser adds presence, but the most striking element is the enormous wing, which is available in two sizes. LED daytime running lights and the signature Shelby Cobra emblem is included, while 20-inch carbon fiber wheels are housed in broad fenders.
The GT500 shares a 107.1-inch wheelbase with the standard Mustang GT and a significant portion of its basic architecture. However, its body is longer at 189.5 inches, thanks to splitters and spoilers. The standard height is 54.3 inches, but the Carbon Fiber Track Package reduces the size to 53.7 inches. The standard GT’s 75.4-inch width is increased to 76.6 inches to accommodate wider tires in the more giant arches. Due to a heavier engine and a more extensive body, the curb weight goes up to 4,183 pounds. However, the optional carbon fiber parts and removal of the back seats should bring this number down a bit.
On the Shelby GT500, you are spoiled for choice regarding paint options: 14 variants are offered, along with a black-painted roof option for $695. This year, eight new hues, including the GT500-exclusive Code Orange, have been released. Brittany Blue (which needs the Heritage Edition Package), Grabber Blue, Eruption Green, Dark Matter Gray, Cyber Orange ($695), Atlas Blue, and Mischievous Purple are additional new hues for 2018. All of them are metallics. In addition to Shadow Black, Oxford White, Iconic Silver Metallic, Race Red, and Rapid Red Metallic ($495), there are now Carbon Gray Metallic and Shadow Black.
Interior
The inside of the Shelby Mustang is remarkably similar to that of the standard Mustang. Although they share a design and have comparable passenger and baggage space, the GT500 includes carbon-fiber instrument panel trim, more aggressive, Shelby-specific Recaro front buckets, and an extensive list of desirable standard extras. The latter features a configurable 12.0-inch fully digital instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, leather-upholstered front seats with heated and cooled cushions, and a six-way power driver’s seat. Customers desiring a more supportive pair of front buckets, albeit without the functionalities above, may get Recaros with leather upholstery. The Shelby’s stock aluminum dashboard trim can be replaced with a carbon fiber trim piece. Those desiring to conserve weight can eliminate the rear seats, necessitating the extremely costly Carbon Fiber Track option.
The Shelby GT500 has a similar infotainment system to the regular Mustang. It has an 8.0-inch touchscreen that works with Ford’s Sync 3 software. In addition to steering-wheel controls and voice commands, physical knobs can be used to manage the stereo’s volume and tuning features. A 12-speaker B&O sound system is offered for drivers who like to add their beats to the supercharged V-8’s rumbling soundtrack. Thank you, Ford Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot that requires a paid subscription are all basic connectivity features that people want.
Engine
Although many have criticized the decision to equip the GT500 with a seven-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission, those who have driven the vehicle have nearly uniformly agreed that it was the correct choice. It’s easy to conclude that the GT500 employs an enhanced version of the GT350’s distinctive flat-plane-crank engine, given that the components are virtually identical: 5.2 liters, a V8, and a supercharger. This is the fundamental formula for 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque. This Predator engine, however, employs a more conventional cross-plane layout. If it seems like sending all that power to the back wheels is a bit of a hassle, you’re probably right. This would explain why Ford recommends keeping both hands on the round part in front of you. When it needs to, the transmission shifts with lightning-fast speed, but if you want, it can be smooth on your daily commute.
With a 2.65-liter supercharger, nearly double the capacity of most city car engines, the GT500 is a less-than-viable alternative if you wish to impress a Prius-driving environmentalist. Official EPA numbers indicate that it returned 12/18/14 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles; hence, you must pay a gas-guzzler tax upon purchase and spend money on petrol instead of dining for two. Comparatively, the Camaro ZL1 is considerably more efficient, earning 13/21/16 mpg on the same cycles. On the bright side, life is about appreciating the present moment as much as it is about experiencing a surge of adrenaline. With the GT500’s 16-gallon gas tank, you’ll enjoy the present moment approximately every 224 miles.
The GT500’s Predator V8 engine is its crowning achievement. It would have been a good engine with a capacity of 5.2 liters, but it wasn’t enough. To increase output, a 2.65-liter Eaton supercharger was fitted. A seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmits 760 horsepower to the rear wheels, and the vehicle features a line-lock mode to facilitate tire warmups and burnouts. When the vehicle’s launch control is active, Ford claims 0-60 mph times of about 3.3 seconds, which is faster than the Camaro ZL1’s 3.5 seconds. This astounding acceleration allows the GT500 to complete the quarter-mile in under 11 seconds. If the road is long enough, the GT500 can reach up to 180 mph speeds. However, Ford’s engineers and public relations personnel were convinced that the GT500 would be more than just a dragster.
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 2024 Release Date and Price
In the United States, the 2024 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 should come out in the summer of 2024. It is only offered in a single finish, so that’s it, right? No. The official list price of the 2024 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is now an outrageous $77,155, including the gas guzzler tax of $2,600; nevertheless, you must still add $1,195 for destination and delivery. If you want the fastest GT500, you’ll have to pay an additional $18,500 for the Carbon Fiber Track Package. It is easy to push the price of the Ford Shelby GT500 beyond $105,000 by adding navigation, blind-spot monitoring, a better sound system, and an expensive paint job and stripes.