Shelby, the renowned American tuning company, has revealed its newest enhancement kit for the Ford Mustang GT500. It is considered to be the most potent upgrade ever made on the classic muscle car. The Code Red package can only be installed on the Shelby GT500 in the United States. This kit is designed to transform the Mustang into an exclusively track-focused 969kW/1356Nm powerhouse. Due to its significant modifications, the GT500 is no longer legal on public roads, according to Shelby.
Shelby’s latest creation, the Code Red, boasts some impressive upgrades including twin turbochargers which replace the original supercharger of the 5.2-liter engine in the donor Mustang GT500. Almost every part of the engine has been modified to produce over 746 kW and 1058 Nm of torque with 93 octane fuel, equivalent to 98 octane in Australia. However, the power output can be increased up to a whopping 969 kW/1356 Nm when using E85 fuel, which is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% unleaded petrol. This makes the Code Red 404 kW more powerful than the standard GT500 model.
The Shelby GT500 has a unique seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that delivers power to the rear wheels. According to Shelby R&D chief Vince LaViolette, the Code Red GT500 is better suited for straight-line situations despite having several handling improvements. LaViolette stated that because of the massive horsepower and torque of the new Code Red car, they had to focus on optimizing traction, making it more of a straight-line performer than a road course warrior. Although it is not street legal, the Code Red is still capable of handling moderate speeds around corners. However, LaViolette advises that the best way to enjoy the car is to let the turbos kick in and enjoy its powerful performance in a straight line.
The Shelby GT500 Code Red comes with height-adjustable springs on all four corners as well as stiffer front and rear anti-roll bars. The car’s ‘MagnaRide’ adaptive damping system has been revised to enhance its performance. The exterior of the Shelby GT500 Code Red also features several upgrades such as a carbon fiber front splitter, hood, rear diffuser, rear spoiler, and wide body kit. It also comes equipped with Shelby’s 20-inch forged aluminum wheels, measuring 11 inches wide at the front and 13 inches wide at the rear, wrapped in 305/30 and 345/30 tires respectively. The interior boasts a pair of black and red leather front seats with “Code Red” logos while the rear seats have been replaced with a roll cage. It should be noted that only 30 units of the Shelby GT500 Code Red will be produced, priced at $US209,995 ($AU304,500) excluding the donor car’s $US79,420 ($AU115,150) before tax. It is important to mention that getting the package voids Ford’s new car warranties.
The Australian market has never officially received the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 from the American automaker. However, there have been a few instances where the vehicle has been imported and modified to have right-hand drive capabilities. Check out the video for more information.
