Clive Sutton’s 847 HP Mustang CS85R Is UK’s Antidote To The Shelby GT500

Ford is not offering the Shelby GT500 in the UK, but luxury car dealer Clive Sutton is offering a noteworthy alternative. The UK-tuned right-hand-drive CS850GT was unveiled in 2021, with the new similarly-specced CS850R track-focused CS85R following this year. Both models come with 847 hp (632 kW / 859 PS) from the supercharged V8, a tweaked chassis and an aggressive carbon-fibre bodykit, unlocking supercar-levels of performance from the muscle car.

The CS850R is improving the CS850GT recipe following customer feedback and is more suitable for track driving. The “R” gets a new Ford Performance T2-R Torsen differential with a shorter final drive gear ratio (3.37 from 3.55) and a new suspension system with Pro Active shocks, linear springs and upgraded anti-roll bars replacing the stock MagneRide unit.

See Also: Hertz Will Rent A 900 HP Mustang Shelby GT500-H For $399 A Day

Under the bonnet lies a heavily reworked 5.0-litre V8 with the addition of a Whipple supercharger, intercooler and a Quad Active XFORCE exhaust. The power output has almost doubled to an impressive 847 hp (632 kW / 859 PS), with a monstrous 902 Nm (665 lb-ft) of torque transmitted to the rear axle through a six-speed manual gearbox. Note that the Shelby GT500 makes 760 hp (567 kW / 770 PS) and 847 Nm (625 lb-ft) of torque from its supercharged 5.2-litre Predator V8.

The redesigned bodykit made of carbon fiber is inspired by the GT500 but looks even more aggressive. It consists of a new front bumper with larger intakes, a vented bonnet, side inlets on the front fenders, side sill extensions, an optional rear wing, a more prominent rear diffuser housing the quad exhaust pipes, and a set of 20-inch wheels by Vossen. The Mustang also gets LED lighting units, including color-adjustable tri-bar headlights. Finally, it can be personalized with dual racing stripes and Race Red brake calipers matching with the red accents inside the re-upholstered cabin that features Nappa leather and Alcantara.

See Also: The Ford Shelby Mustang GT500KR Returns With Over 900 HP And Carbon Fiber Kit

The CS850R starts from £121,000 ($147,939) in the UK, although this number can get even higher if you choose some of the optional extras. Still, there are not many right-hand-drive vehicles offering this kind of power in that price range.

Browsing through Clive Sutton’s inventory we found an imported Shelby GT500 listed for £125,000 ($152,857) and a CS850GT listed for £115,000 ($140,628). If you were in the UK, would you opt for the more powerful tuned RHD Mustang or settle with a stock LHD Shelby?

CS850R

CS850GT