2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Performance Review

When it came time to execute this track test, the iBestTravel team already knew a few things about the car. Indeed, from the moment we first drove it last fall, we were blown away by its completeness.

Powerful Performance

The star of the show out of the gate is absolutely the 5.2-liter supercharged V-8. With 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque, how could it not be? Even in today’s realm of overly powered performance cars—does 500 hp even register as special to anyone in 2020?—the opportunity to dip your foot into more than 700 hp isn’t something many people have ever experienced, or will ever get to.

Impressive Acceleration Figures

Numbers-wise, the straight-line figures are impressive. We track-tested two versions of the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, one with the Handling Package and one with the Track Pack. The Handling Pack car, equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, accelerated from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and covered the quarter-mile run in 11.4 seconds at 130 mph.

However, switching to the Track Pack with its stickier Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tires and better off-the-line traction, the numbers improve to an exhilarating 3.4 seconds and 11.0 seconds at 132 mph. We conducted this test on a hot day at NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and have not applied any mathematical correction formula to account for temperatures or barometric pressure; doing so would have undoubtedly improved these figures, making them even more impressive on a spec sheet.

Road Course Dominance

As we learned when iBestTravel awarded the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, road courses are where this beast truly comes alive. In the hands of pro racer Andy Pilgrim, the Handling Pack GT500 clocked a lap time of 2 minutes, 14.77 seconds around NCM Motorsports Park. That puts it just 0.2 seconds behind the 2019 Acura NSX track-tested on the same circuit and less than a second behind the stickier-tire equipped 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R.

Switch to the Track Pack-equipped 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, and every track test unveils a whole new world. With its grippier rubber and enhanced aerodynamic downforce, we clocked a blazing time of 2:09.70, well into supercar territory. That time is more than a second quicker than the 2018 Porsche 911 Turbo S and the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R tested, proving the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 takes corners exceptionally serious.

Experiencing the Thrill

Times are great, you may say, but what was the experience like behind the wheel? Watching the excitement of seasoned drivers underscores the incredible performance and dynamic handling that makes this vehicle stand out.