Steeda's Carbon Fiber Track Package 2020 Shelby GT500

2020 Shelby GT500 Front

Here at Steeda, we are more than ecstatic to have our hands on a Shadow Black 2020 Shelby GT500 equipped with the $18,500 Carbon Fiber Track Package. Adding this package onto the base GT500 allows the owner truly tap into the potential of this car on the road course.

Don't get us wrong, the base GT500 is an incredibly capable track vehicle, and does impressingly well at the dragstrip. Ford Performance actually reported that if you intend on using your GT500 primarily for dragstrip use, then the base GT500 is the choice for you. On the other hand, if you plan on using your GT500 to its absolute full potential on the road course, then the Carbon Fiber Track Package (CFTP) adds carbon fiber wheels to cut down on rotating mass, a massive carbon fiber GT4 wing for additional downforce over the rear wheels and much more.

The owner of this GT500 has graciously thrown us the keys to use this vehicle for R&D and give it theSteeda treatment. We have big plans for this GT500 as it will get our full suspension package and potentially some power upgrades as well! With that said, follow along as we put this GT500 through a slew of tests in stock form and track the changes as upgrades are made!

If you're curious, we've also pitted the 2020 Shelby GT500 against the Shelby GT350R, Ford Performance's other Mustang halo car.

2020 GT500: 1/4 Mile Drag Time

We had the opportunity to take our 2020 GT500 to South Georgia Motorsports Park to run down the dragstrip in bone stock form. It's incredibly impressive what these cars are capable of right off the showroom floor!

Even with all the additional aerodynamic add-ons you get with the Carbon Fiber Track Package, we were able to run a 10.73 at 132.9 MPH! With the density altitude at nearly 1000 ft over sea level, were pretty happy with that kind of ET and MPH. Not to mention, we managed a 1.74 60-foot on bone-stock Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2tires!

2020 GT500: Interior

One thing about a Mustang of this caliber (and price point) is that the interior needs to live up to its name: the GT500. And it certainly does. The 2020 Shelby GT500 just feels special when you first sit down in the driver's seat. The first thing you notice is how those unique black and white striped Recaro seats embrace you whether you're sitting still or experiencing 1.3+ G's around a high-speed corner.

Glancing up, you'll see the 12-inch LCD Digital Gauge Cluster that is standard across all Shelby GT500s. The alcantara steering wheel features white stitching, a white sight line and a unique cobra logo in place of the running pony found on regular Mustang GTs.

Aside from the cool cobra logos and more plush feeling interior, you'll look down at the center console to find no gear lever. No shifter at all, really. Derived from the Fusion and other Ford models, you'll see a turn dial to select your gear. This is to accommodate the dual-clutch transmission (which is incredible, by the way). Albeit, it's non-conventional on a muscle car, we were able to look past it for the incredible performance this car offers!

2020 Shelby GT500 Interior

2020 GT500: Exterior

We could quite possibly go on for days about the exterior about this GT500. There was one thing the Ford designers needed to nail when bringing back the Shelby GT500 after a six year hiatus -- it had to look like a GT500. It had to look like the 'king of the road' that it the GT500 had historically held in the past.

The Ford team nailed it. They started with the Shelby GT350 and took off from there. With massive openings in the front fascia to let substantially more air in the engine bay to keep that 760 HP powerhouse cool, theFord Performance team found a way to make it look good, real good.

Following the lines down the car, there are other dead giveaways that this isn't your average run-of-the-millMustang. The wider fenders, revised rocker panels, aggressive (and aerodynamic) rear valance, 5-inch exhaust tips, and massive carbon fiber GT4 rear wing on the CFTP all scream cool.

And, if that wasn't enough for you - the carbon fiber wheels available with the CFTP will cut down on 60pounds of unsprung weight! That means more horsepower will make it to the ground through the rear wheels,and your steering response will be greatly improved over the base wheels - just to name a couple benefits.

2020 Shelby GT500 CFTP Front Wheel

2020 GT500: Engine & Performance

This is where the Shelby GT500 shines. It was quite clear that this GT500 was created with no compromises in terms of all-out performance. The first thing to note would likely be the transmission. Many hardcore,long-time enthusiasts have not been shy to point out that the new GT500 does not come in a manual transmission. This is the first time in the GT500's history that this has occurred. This time around, it is for good reason - that Tremec TR-9070 Dual-Clutch Transmission is amazing.

Let me explain - it certainly doesn't give you the feeling of rowing your own gears like most traditional driver's cars. But this isn't only a driver's car, it's a performance car. Ford Performance made it very clear that this GT500 was made with the intention of winning and beating out competition that comes in at double and triple its MSRP. The fact of the matter is quite simple; there's no physically possible way that you shift gears faster than this dual-clutch transmission.

Sure, it'd be nice if there was a manual transmission offered in this iteration of the Ford Mustang, but it would simply be to go slower than your competition - you wouldn't want that, would you?

Now that the transmission is out of the way, we can talk about that massive 2.65L Eaton Supercharger sitting on top of the 5.2L cross-plane crankshaft V8. Wow! This beast hauls all the way to its 7,500 RPM rev limiter. Given these power levels, the carbon fiber wheels, and how well balanced this car is in the corners, it certainly doesn't feel like a 4,000+ pound vehicle. Especially with how it puts power down onexit!

2020 Shelby GT500 Drag Racing

2020 Shelby GT500: Tech Specs

Vehicle Specification	2020 Shelby GT500, CFTP
Drivetrain Layout	Front-engine, RWD
Engine	Supercharged 90-deg V-8, alum block/heads
Valvetrain	Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC), 4 valves/cyl
Displacement	5.2L / 315.1 cu in / 5,163 cc
Compression Ratio	9.5:1
Horsepower	760 hp @ 7,300 rpm
Torque	625 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm
Redline	7,500 RPM
Weight To Power	5.3 lb/hp
Transmission	TREMEC TR-9070 DCT, 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
Rear Axle Ratio	3.73:1/2.09:1
Front Suspension Configuration	Struts, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar
Rear Suspension Configuration	multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar
Steering Ratio	16.0:1
Turns, Lock-To-Lock	2.3
Brakes, Front/Rear	16.5-in 2-pc vented disc / 14.6-in 2-pc vented disc, ABS
Wheels, Front/Rear	20” x 11” / 20” x 11.5”, carbon fiber composite
Tires, Front/Rear	305/30R20 103Y / 315/30R20 104Y, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2

2020 Shelby GT500: Dimensions

Vehicle Dimensions	2020 Shelby GT500, CFTP
Wheelbase	107.1 in
Track, Front/Rear	63.8 in / 64.4 in
Length x Width x Height	189.5 in x 76.6 in x 53.7 in
Turning Circle	44.1 ft
Curb Weight	4,006 lb *
Weight Distribution, Front/Rear	56% / 44%
Seating Capacity	2
Headroom, Front/Rear	37.6/— in
Legroom, Front/Rear	45.1/— in
Shoulder Room, Front/Rear	56.3/— in
Cargo Volume	13.5 cu ft

*Steeda measurement, 1 gallon of fuel.

2020 Shelby GT500: Performance Specs

Performance Stats	2020 Shelby GT500, CFTP
0-60 MPH	3.6 sec
0-100 MPH	7.0 sec
0-100-0 MPH	10.7 sec
Quarter Mile, ET/MPH	10.73 @ 133 MPH **
Braking, 60-0 MPH	94 feet
Lateral Acceleration	1.05 g (avg)
MotorTrend Figure Eight	23.5 sec @ 0.89 g (avg)
3.3-mi Road Course Lap (VIR Full Course)	1:56.30 sec
Top-Gear Revs @ 60 MPH	1,550 rpm

**Tested by Steeda at South Georgia Motorsports Park, 1/18/2020
Source: MotorTrend

2020 GT500: Steeda's Future Plans

If you think we're done with this GT500, then think again! We plan to give this Shelby the full treatment, so stay tuned and check back for more updates as we give this Shelby GT500 our special combination of proven parts to take it to the next level! Follow us on the Steeda social channels and check back here for updates going forward!