Ford has officially revealed the 2013 Shelby GT500 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the legendary muscle car arrives with performance figures that push it firmly into supercar territory. Power comes from a brand-new supercharged 5.8-liter V8 producing an astonishing 650 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque.
That output gives the GT500 more power than several world-class performance cars, including the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and even the Ferrari 458 Italia. It also earns the title of the most powerful production V8 engine in the world at the time of its debut.
But the new GT500 is more than just a horsepower monster. Ford’s SVT engineering team extensively upgraded nearly every major system on the car, including the suspension, drivetrain, aerodynamics, brakes, and gearing to ensure the performance matches the raw output.
The new aluminum-block V8 features a revised supercharger, updated camshafts, a cross-drilled engine block and cylinder heads, a carbon-fiber driveshaft, and strengthened drivetrain components. Despite the huge power increase, the car maintains a relatively light curb weight of around 3,850 pounds and even avoids the federal gas-guzzler tax.
Ford claims the 2013 GT500 is capable of exceeding 200 mph, though official acceleration numbers were not released at the unveiling.
Handling and braking also receive major improvements. The car rides on forged aluminum wheels measuring 19 inches in front and 20 inches in the rear, wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperCar G:2 tires. Behind them sits a powerful Brembo braking system with six-piston front calipers and upgraded performance pads.
A major focus for SVT engineers was improving drivability. More than 35 gearing combinations were reportedly tested before settling on the final setup, designed to better manage the massive torque output while still maintaining fuel efficiency goals. The six-speed manual transmission was also reinforced with upgraded internals, while the dual-disc clutch was redesigned to handle the added power.
Ford will also offer several performance-focused option packages. The available Performance Package adds electronically adjustable Bilstein dampers with selectable comfort and sport modes, along with a Torsen limited-slip differential. Buyers looking for even more track capability can upgrade to the Track Package, which includes additional cooling systems for the engine oil, transmission, and rear differential.
The 2013 Shelby GT500 is expected to arrive in dealerships the following summer, raising the bar once again in the modern muscle car wars.
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