2020 Shelby GT500 Debuts in Detroit Looking Ravenous for Hellcats

Ford’s all-new snake doesn’t bother hiding its intentions with aggressive styling & incredible stats.

We’ve known about the all-new 2020 Shelby GT500 for some time now. But now, (finally!), we’re getting to see what Ford promises is the quickest-accelerating production Mustang in history, in the flesh. Ford officially pulled the wraps off its ZL1- and Hellcat-killer at the Detroit Auto Show, revealing all the juicy details we’ve been dying to hear for months now. Well, almost.

For starters, Ford didn’t bother going the discretionary route when it came to designing the 2020 Shelby GT500. From the huge, gaping front end to the massive (optional) carbon fiber wing out back, nobody’s going to mistake this thing for any “average” Mustang.

But you can do that when you’re packing a 700-plus horsepower, supercharged, aluminum-block 5.2-liter V8 under the hood. Unlike the GT350, this version packs a cross-plane crank, not a flat-plane. And yes, we said 700-plus hp, because Ford still isn’t giving us an exact number yet.

They do, however, promise epic performance numbers. How about a sub 11-second quarter-mile and mid 3-second 0-60 time? Of course, those numbers are achieved with the car’s brand new, lightning-quick (under 100 milliseconds per shift) 7-speed Tremec dual-clutch transmission. Sadly, at least for now, there is no manual option in the 2020 Shelby GT500.

Of course, Ford didn’t just design the new GT500 to be fast in a straight line. Specially-tuned MagneRide dampers and lightweight coil springs are standard. Stepping up to the Carbon Fiber Track Pack nabs you that massive rear spoiler and carbon fiber 20-inch wheels wrapped in Pilot Sport 4S tires. Brakes are massive 16.5-inch Brembos that nearly fill the entire inside portion of the wheels.

Even without knowing the exact output of the 2020 Shelby GT500, there’s no denying the fact that it’s going to be the new muscle car to beat. And we can’t wait to see what this thing can do – both at the strip and at the track.

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.