Ford is currently torturing the petrolhead community with several previews of the Shelby Mustang GT350R, the most track-capable Mustang ever built.

Automobile magazine got the chance for a shotgun ride in the hottest Mustang around Grattan Raceway outside Grand Rapids Michigan. Featuring Ford’s first ever flat-plane crank V8, the Shelby Mustang GT350R sounds apocalyptic and barely legal on full-chat.

Redlining at 8250rpm, the 5.2-litre V8 makes 526hp at 7500rpm and 428lb ft of torque (581Nm) at 4750rpm, making it the most powerful naturally aspirated road-legal engine Ford has ever made, paired exclusively to a Tremec TR-3160 six-speed manual gearbox.

Most anticipated performance hero of the year? YES.

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