2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Review: The Cobra's Got Venom!

If you're a Mustang fan, the GT500 is one of those cars that you've been waiting for with bated breath. If you're not, and only remember the GT500 as an overpowered sports car with wayward handling and an unwarranted pop-culture following courtesy of films like Gone in 60 Seconds, the Shelby GT500 could very well change your opinion of the Mustang entirely. Powered by a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 with a whopping 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque, the Shelby GT500 is still an insanely powerful beast, only now it knows what to do with all that grunt. Whereas the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 had asserted itself as the best-handling pony car on sale, the Shelby GT500 now blurs the lines between straight-line ability and handling prowess. In order to make it as fast as possible, it is equipped exclusively with an all-new Tremec seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which allows the 0-60-mph sprint to drop below 3.5 seconds.

What's the Price of the 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500?

The official list price of the 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is now a steep $77,155 including the gas guzzler tax of $2,600, but you still have to add another $1,195 for destination and delivery. It's only available in a single trim, so that's it, right? No. If you want the fastest GT500, you're gonna have to splash out on the Carbon Fiber Track Package for another $18,500. Along with some other add-ons to make the car more hospitable for daily use (navigation, blind-spot monitoring, a better sound system), along with some pricey paint and stripes, it's easy to make the GT500 clock over $105,000.

Handling and Driving Impressions

If you're expecting this to be the section where the Mustang is described to be its typical crowd-crunching, sidewalk-scraping self, you may be disappointed. The GT500 has been thoroughly developed and rehoned to be a magnificently capable vehicle that can stick it with the best of them. While its weight plays a part in making it feel like it's not quite as fast as it could be, that same heft does give one a sense of being solidly planted. All the winglets and spoilers, along with the wide and super-sticky Michelin rubber, plus the Torsen limited-slip diff and adaptive dampers work hand-in-hand to elevate the handling of the Shelby GT500 and make for a car that can go around a corner blindingly fast.

The grip is just phenomenal, and thanks to a slight laziness lower down in the rev range, as well as a very good ESP system, the GT500 won't punish you for burying your right foot - even when you're at full lock. This is a car that keeps on soaking up all the abuse you can throw at it. Everything about the car just instills confidence to go faster and faster, and when you have to rein things back in, the magnificent Brembo brakes - with six-pot calipers and 16.5-inch discs in front - are fade-free and extremely responsive. You can feel the negative G-forces when you jump on the left pedal. Despite this, you can use this car on the road. Just set the steering to Comfort for a lighter turn-in action, set the suspension similarly for impressive compliance, and quieten the exhaust to sneak up on jaywalkers. This car is an absolute masterpiece of pony-car excellence, but despite its breathtaking abilities, the Snake will bite if you don't respect it. Maybe it is possible to maintain that Cars & Coffee rep in the GT500 too.

Verdict: Is the 2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 A Good sports car?

Looking at the safety and comfort features of the Shelby GT500, the answer to the above question is a resounding no - it's not a good car. There's almost nothing to prevent you from drifting into oncoming traffic or taking out someone in your blind spot. However, if the question is rephrased with the designers' and engineers' vision in mind, the answer is a resounding yes. The 2022 Shelby GT500 is a technical marvel. Despite its relative simplicity, it has the power as well as the grip to be an absolute titan in the sports-coupe segment. This car will, without a doubt, be a collector's item one day, much like the GT350; but, unlike that car, you don't have to be an obsessive wannabe racer to appreciate what it can do. The GT500 allows for dim-witted driving so long as you don't take too many chances, and for the keen driver who knows how to deal with such bombastic power, it's just as rewarding - even without a DIY transmission. A future icon? Probably. A performance pièce de résistance for all drivers? Definitely.

What Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Model Should I Buy?

In terms of getting the most aggressive and focused performance out of the GT500, there's no question that the Carbon Fiber Track Package with its weight savings and more aerodynamic body addendums is top of the list for making your GT500 the ultimate street-legal daily-drivable Mustang. However, it's a very expensive package for an already pricey car, so if the budget does not stretch that far, the Handling Package offers most of what you'll need at almost half the price. It's the one to go for. We'd stick with the original seats with their heating and ventilation, and rather spend a bit of extra cash on the Technology Package, adding navigation, blind-spot monitoring, and an audio upgrade. In this form, the car would remain as comfortable as possible, without compromising much in the way of outright performance.

2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Comparisons

2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 vs Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Coupe

When comparing lesser versions of these two pony cars, the Camaro is almost always the one that comes out on top as the better handling and less compromised of the two. With the introduction of the GT500, that perception is likely to change. Despite having a bigger, 6.2-liter supercharged V8, the ZL1 produces 110 hp less than the GT500. It also has a smaller trunk, and is, therefore, less practical than the 'Stang. However, not all specs favor the Mustang. The Camaro costs over $10,000 less, can be had with either a six-speed manual or a ten-speed auto, and gets better fuel economy. It also has a bigger gas tank and can be had in convertible form. Overall, it's going to be a tough choice between the two, and you'd have to take both for a test drive to see which suits you better, but based on the way the GT500 manages to be both track-ready and road-friendly, we're slightly biased towards the Mustang.

2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 vs Ford Mustang GT Coupe

In terms of in-house competition, there seems to be nothing that can touch a Shelby GT500 in terms of excitement, and if you're a hardcore racer, nothing less will do. However, if you're not, Ford offers an intriguing alternative in the shape of the normal GT Coupe with its 450-horsepower naturally aspirated Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine. It might not be as powerful and the 0-60-mph sprint is worse, but 4.3 seconds is hardly tardy. On top of that, you can have a manual. Dial the GT up to maximum with the $6,700 Performance Package and you get goodies such as sports suspension, special handling-enhancing bracing, a heavy-duty radiator, and upgraded brakes. It's a Shelby GT500 Lite, but outfitted like this, it costs around $45,000 with everything included. Oh, and did we mention you can have it in a manual? We'd be very tempted. The Shelby GT500 is still the better, hardcore choice, but if you opt for the GT with the Performance Pack, you won't feel short-changed and your wallet will breathe a sigh of relief.