2019 Detroit Auto Show: 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 revealed

The Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 has been revealed, but this time via the official channels.

And what its reveal confirms is that most of the information divulged by forums and leaked documents stacks up to be true.

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Ford officially says the Supercharged 5.2-litre V8 in the GT500 will produce “more than 700hp”, or over 522kW, and will be married to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission borrowed from the Ford GT.

“Carroll was always working on the next faster Shelby, I think he would love this Mustang more than any other,” says Ford global markets president Jim Farley.

“A takedown artist, the new Shelby GT500 will surprise supercar owners with its Ford Performance racing tech, supercharged engine and visceral swagger.”

Want to know more about the GT500? We’ve got the details

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and Cup 2 Tyres that were rumoured are confirmed, as well as the Magneride, braking system, and carbon fibre aspects of the GT500.

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Ford also adds that it’s been tweaked to feature more than twice as much ‘front fascia opening’ versus the GT350 it will replace, and that its cooling system has been dramatically improved with “six heat exchangers stuffed in.”

“With its supercar-level powertrain, the all-new Shelby GT500 takes the sixth-generation Mustang to a performance level once reserved only for exotics,” says Ford Performance vehicle programs global director Hermann Salenbauch.

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“As a Mustang, it has to be attainable and punch above its weight. To that end, we’ve set a new standard among American performance cars with our most powerful street-legal V8 engine to date, plus the quickest-shifting transmission ever in a Mustang for all-out precision and speed.”

All in all, we haven’t learned much about the GT500 we didn’t already know or suspect, but at least we can call it official.

UPDATE #1 (15th Jan 2019): Locally, Ford Australia has confirmed there are no plans to officially bring the car here through dealerships in RHD form.

“There are no plans for a right-hand-drive GT500, which limits our opportunity here," says product communications manager Damion Smy.

"We’ve seen the appetite for Mustang, which continued as Australia’s favourite sports car in 2018 for the third year in a row, as well as special editions such as the Mustang BULLITT, which resonated strongly, and will continue to explore opportunities for Australian customers as the Ford Performance and Mustang story develops in this country through Supercars and other activities.”

UPDATE #2 (25th June 2019) : Ford has confirmed that the GT500's 5.2-litre supercharged V8 will produce 567kW and 847NM of torque, and claims that the GT500 will be the most powerful Ford road car ever.

With a specific output of 109kW per litre, the GT500 outguns the Dodge Challenger Demon's 626kW engine of 101kW per litre.