MSRP: $42,925
As tested: $43,170
5.4 liter supercharged V-8
500 hp
15 city / 21 highway
Click for more info
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Pony car enthusiasts have been salivating at the thought of the long-awaited Shelby Mustang. Ford had arguably the best looking of the retro inspired new rides to come out over the last few years with the redesigned Mustang, so how do you make it better? In a word: horsepower. Ford added 200 horses to the already powerful GT and beefed up the exterior so you wouldn't mistake it for the base Mustang when it blows by on a straight stretch of highway. Paying homage to the original Shelby Mustangs of yesteryear, the GT500 gets the signature racing stripes. The black honeycombed grill, scooped hood oxygen intakes and the classic Cobra insignia make for a menacing first impression.
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Ford carries the retro theme inside with a comfortable, no-frills cabin suited for stop-and-go traffic as much as any NASCAR-style naughtiness. While the interior materials are not luxurious, they are perfectly acceptable, considering the car's staggering performance at a bargain-basement price. You would be hard-pressed to find a true four-passenger, 500-horsepower car at any price -- let alone for under 43 grand.
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The 5.4 liter supercharged V-8 is, simply, a monster. It churns out a pavement-scarring 500 horsepower and 480 foot-pounds of torque. While the Shelby is heavier than its 500-hp brethren the Dodge Viper and Z06 Corvette, you barely feel that weight when behind the wheel. The Shelby tears off a 0-60 time of 4.4 seconds and clocks the quarter-mile at 114 miles per hour. While the stock GT feels almost elastic in everything from its clutch delivery to power band, the GT500 is very deliberate. A stiff short-throw six-speed manual is a blast to steer, and a heavy right foot is enough to get the car going. We would argue that the Shelby is the best value on the sports car market.
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What girl doesn't like all-American muscle?
-- Chad Doering |
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