Ford has stayed tight-lipped with regard to the true performance of the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500, but the automaker has now dropped some figures that indicate how quick it truly is.
Thanks to its 760 horsepower 5.2-litre supercharged V8, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and massive carbon-ceramic brakes, the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 will accelerate from zero to 160 km/h and brake back to zero again in around 10.6s, Ford says. It didn't provide a 0–160 km/h time or a 0–100 km/h time, but we're expecting those numbers to drop sometime soon as well.
The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is major contributor to the Mustang GT500's overall performance. Ford partnered with Tremec to design the unique paddle shift automatic, which can change gears in as little as 80 milliseconds, and says it offers "maximum driver control," when on the road course and "stunningly fast" shifts on the drag strip. Stunningly fast may be an understatement – it takes 300-400 milliseconds to blink your eye.
“In many ways, (the Tremec seven-speed) is like having two transmissions in one,” said Ford Performance powertrain manager Pat Morgan. “On one hand, it enables performance at the outer reaches of straight-line quickness with minimal torque interruption, yet provides an incredible amount of finesse and control in track environments for maximum stability and predictability at the limits of lateral acceleration.”
The transmission's characteristics are defined by the standard drive mode select system. It will operate as smooth and efficiently as possible in normal mode, but will shave shift times by around 20 milliseconds in sport. In drag and track mode, it will execute "over-torque" shifts that bang the gears into place as quickly as possible. Track mode also tells the transmission to execute smoother shifts when the vehicle is turning so as not to upset the balance of the car mid-corner.
Other performance-enhancing tech standard on the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 includes an rpm-selectable launch control system and electronic line lock, otherwise known as burnout mode. Both of these are particularly helpful on the drag strip, where getting a good launch and putting the power to the ground is paramount.
The 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 will go on sale later this year. Canadian pricing has not been officially announced as of this writing.
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