Is 720 Horsepower Enough For The Next-Gen Shelby GT500?

It’s been a little quiet on the Shelby GT500 front since Ford teased the car at the North American International Auto Show. However, test cars were recently spotted near Virginia International Raceway, and out of the blue a document purporting to reveal its specs hit the internet.

The data sheet seems a bit sketchy, given some misspellings an such, but it offers a number of data points that seem to be for the forthcoming Shelby GT500. The big one, of course, is the alleged horsepower rating of 720 at 7,500 RPM, with the other being a maximum speed of 190 MPH.

Whether or not this information is accurate or not, it does bring up some interesting questions. At first blush, those numbers aren’t stunning. Let’s face it, in light of the 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon’s whopping 808-horsepower credentials, 720 seems low.

This photo of a computer screen recently hit the internet. Does it reveal the details of the forthcoming GT500? Will the Shelby deliver 720 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque? It could be a troll job, but what if it is real? Would you be impressed?

Moreover, let’s not forget that the 2013-2014 Shelby GT500 set the bar for the top-tier halo Mustang pretty high. It produced 662 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque and carried a top speed over 200 MPH. If the leaked info is to be believed, the next GT500 will carry 58 more horsepower, 20 more lb-ft of torque, and a top speed that is 12 MPH lower? It will also be much heavier, and just barely lighter than the big, burly Dodge?

Shelby GT500 test mules have been spotted in Asheville, North Carolina, and engineers have likely been verifying their performance at VIR. What will that performance level truly be?

Now, it’s way too early to judge this car based solely these unconfirmed numbers. Besides, Ford engineers have a nice habit of beating the legit initial power ratings when the outputs are finalized. At first, the 2013 model was projected to produce 650 horsepower before rising to 662 when the numbers were locked.

So, the question remains, what’s the magic number that the supercharged Predator 5.2-liter engine needs to produce in order to impress its fans and strike fear into its rivals? Will 720 be enough or does this special stallion need more? We think we know your answer, because it is probably the same as ours: more is better.

About the author

Steve Turner

Steve Turner brings decades of passion and knowledge in the world of Ford performance, having covered it for over 20 years. From the swan song of the Fox Mustang to the birth of the Coyote, Steve had a front-row seat.
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