Traction, you either have it or you don’t. Engineers at Ford Performance have spent many late nights ensuring their latest creation will put 760 horsepower to the ground, so our friend Brooks at DragTimes has tested the 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 in Las Vegas.
You can’t be all things to all people, and drag racing an Independent Rear Suspension can be inviting disaster. Thankfully, Ford showcased the potent hardware by laying the car on its side for all to see. The TREMEC dual-clutch transmission shares most internals with the 2020 C8 Corvette.
Before Ford fans get upset, the 10-speed found in the Raptor and the Silverado was also a joint project between Ford and GM. Moving rearward we see a carbon fiber driveshaft and a massive cast iron differential. It has a dedicated cooling circuit, aluminum lower arms, and massive axles.
To make sure the power reaches the ground, the launch control system is adjustable, so this press car should leap off the line. However, Ford did not allow anyone to use the system or even turn off the traction control system. Brooks has excellent reaction times, but he was not allowed to heat the tires or even foot-brake this press car.
Nevertheless, a factory Mustang capable of 10.6 seconds is very impressive. This is Las Vegas, so Heat Soak can build up quickly. We can barely wait to see what he will run when his GT500 arrives, and perhaps a 9″ swap is in the works. Tell us what you think of the car in the comments below, and stay with us for all your DragTimes footage.
