Legendary American tuner Shelby has unveiled its latest upgrade package for the Ford Mustang GT500 , believed to be the most powerful ever fitted to the iconic muscle car.
Available for the Mustang Shelby GT500 in the US, the Code Red package turns Ford’s muscle car into a track-only 969kW/1356Nm weapon, with the tuning company claiming the GT500 is no longer road legal due to its modifications.
The Code Red’s improvements are highlighted by a pair of turbochargers that replace the supercharger fitted to the donor car’s 5.2-litre petrol engine.
According to Shelby, almost every component of the Mustang GT500 engine has been updated so that the Code Red produces more than 746 kW and 1058 Nm when using 93 octane unleaded gasoline (equivalent to more than 98 octane in Australia).
However, when running on E85 (a blend of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent unleaded petrol), Shelby claims the GT500 Code Red can produce up to 969 kW/1356 Nm, making it 404 kW more powerful than the standard Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission unique to the Shelby GT500.
Shelby R&D chief Vince LaViolette says the Code Red GT500 is better suited to straight-line situations, despite a number of handling-focused improvements.
“All of the huge horsepower and torque we developed with the new Code Red car forced us to focus on optimizing traction,” Shelby R&D chief Vince LaViolette said in a news release.
“That’s why Code Red is more of a straight-line performer than a road course warrior. While it’s not street legal, it’s very capable at moderate speeds around almost any corner.
“But when the turbos kick in, the best thing is to enjoy the car going in a straight line.”
Height-adjustable springs are found at all four corners of the Shelby GT500 Code Red, combined with stiffer front and rear anti-roll bars, plus revised tuning for the car’s ‘MagnaRide’ adaptive damping system.
The Shelby GT500 Code Red is also equipped with a handful of exterior upgrades compared to the donor vehicle, such as a carbon fiber front splitter, hood, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, and wide body kit.
The wider wheel arches are filled with Shelby’s 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, measuring 11 inches wide at the front and 13 inches wide at the rear, wrapped in 305/30 and 345/30 tires, respectively.
Interior tweaks include a pair of black and red leather front seats with “Code Red” logos, while the rear seats have been removed to make room for a roll cage.
Limited to 30 examples, the Shelby GT500 Code Red package is priced at $US209,995 ($AU304,500), excluding the donor car’s $US79,420 ($AU115,150) before tax.
It’s also worth noting that the Shelby GT500 Code Red package voids Ford’s new car warranties.
The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has never been sold through the American car giant in Australia, although some examples have been imported and converted to right-hand drive.
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