Ford Mustangs aren’t as common a sight on British roads as they are in the United States. Their rarity there adds a bit of interest whenever a source from the UK decides to test the American pony car. In this case, Carwow evaluates a Shelby GT500 against a highly tuned Mustang GT.
The GT500 is the more familiar machine in this challenge. It has a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 pumping out 760 horsepower (567 kilowatts) and 625 pound-feet (847 Newton-meters) of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox sends the power to the rear wheels.
77 Photos
Ford doesn’t import the GT500 into the UK, and it’s rather pricey to get one there. The asking price is £125,000 ($167,818 at current exchange rates), according to the video.
The GT500 is going up against the CS850GT Mustang from the UK tuner and importer Clive Sutton. It has a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 making 847 hp (632 kW), according to Sutton’s site, but this video rounds the figure to 850 hp (634 kW). Rather than the GT500’s dual-clutch gearbox, this one has a six-speed manual.
The CS850GT starts at £115,000 ($154,392). The one in this video has some optional upgrades like additional carbon fiber that takes the price to £135,000 ($181,243).
The comparison starts with a drag race. The CS850GT takes an initial lead, but the manual gearbox lets it down. The GT500’s dual-clutch gearbox shifts practically seamlessly, so the powertrain can keep putting down power while the CS850GT has to balance the clutch and throttle.
The Shelby completes the quarter-mile in 11.8 seconds. The CS850GT needs 12.2 seconds to cover the distance.
Next, they race from a roll. The cars are side by side for a while until the CS850GT needs to shift gears. After that, the GT500 takes the lead.
Finally, there is a braking test. The GT500 wins. Its nose is even with the back of the CS850GT’s nose, so the finish is close.
