The spanking new 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 is not only the most powerful series production Mustang ever made thanks to its supercharged 5.8-liter V8 engine that delivers 662hp and 631 lb.-ft. (856Nm) of torque, but also the fastest with the Blue Oval promising a top speed in excess of 200mph (320km/h) for the Coupe model.
U.S. car magazine MotorTrend sought to prove FoMoCo’s claims by testing the surprisingly affordable at US$54,200 (equal to €43,300) pony car.
According to the publication, the Shelby GT500’s force-fed eight-cylinder engine produced 583-horses and 590 lb-ft (799Nm) at the rear wheels on the dyno, while the coupe was clocked doing 0-60mph (96km/h) in 3.5 seconds and the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds with an exit speed of 125.7 mph (202.3 km/h).
So, how about Ford’s claimed top speed of 200mph? After the aforementioned tests, pro racer Randy Pobst sat behind the wheel of the 2013 Shelby GT500 at Chrysler’s 5-mile-long Proving Grounds in Kingman, Arizona. To see if Pobst managed to reach the 200mph mark, hop over the break to watch the video.
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