New Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Has A 180mph Top Speed Because Do You Really Need To Go Faster?

Ford has capped the top speed of its mega Mustang to 180mph, because its ability on the track is more important than bragging rights about speeds you'll never reach anyway
New Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Has A 180mph Top Speed Because Do You Really Need To Go Faster?

There are still a lot of specifics we don’t really know about the new Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Other than the fact it’ll be the most powerful production Ford ever, “more than 700 horsepower” is as much as we’ve got so far.

However, Ford has released a bunch of new, juicy tidbits to tired us over, and hidden among it all is one particularly juicy nugget - the GT500 will have a limited top speed.

Now, at 180mph it isn’t exactly slow, but it’s interesting to note because manufacturers like to use top speed for bragging rights. For reference, the Dodge Challenger Hellcat can scoot past 200mph.

New Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Has A 180mph Top Speed Because Do You Really Need To Go Faster?

Jalopnik got in touch with Ford to ask why the top speed was limited. Here’s what they were told:

“Our Ford Performance engineers and professional drivers were given a goal of making the all-new Shelby GT500 as fast as possible at both road courses and the drag strip, all while remaining comfortable and engaging on the open road.

“The GT500 also had to flatter the novice while rewarding the most skilled drivers. The top speed of the GT500 supports the best drivers at every track the vehicle was tested at, in both physical and virtual form, without compromising the other attributes of the car.”

New Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Has A 180mph Top Speed Because Do You Really Need To Go Faster?

The spokesperson also told them 180mph was a higher speed than their professional drivers managed to achieve at any of the tracks or drag strips they tested at, either in the real world or in simulations.

Simply put, Ford was more concerned with making it incredibly capable on track than giving owners top speed bragging rights, and a bunch of new details demonstrate how they achieved that.

The simple answer is a huge focus on downforce and cooling. Ford says it spent most of its time optimising cooling at the front of the car, working through more than 500 3D models to constantly optimise airflow.

New Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Has A 180mph Top Speed Because Do You Really Need To Go Faster?

At the rear, a Mustang GT4 racer-inspired wing is available as part of the Track Package to help offer the most downforce ever seen on a street-legal ‘Stang.

So while it might not outrun its rivals on an infinite salt plain, it looks like Ford’s pretty confident it’ll blitz their lap times on any given race track.

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Comments

RWB Dude

I mean I guess it makes sense but if I want to do 200+mph I should be able to

03/15/2019 - 15:08 |
84 | 0

It probably can go faster than 180mph they probably put an electric speed limter or something like that.

03/15/2019 - 15:14 |
8 | 2

Then you’d better order another car. It’s like wanting it to achieve 50mpg, even if you’d like to, it’s not the purpose of this particular car

03/15/2019 - 15:21 |
4 | 2

But why would you want to? I know what you mean but where and why would you want to go 200?

03/15/2019 - 18:20 |
0 | 0

Then buy a different car.

03/18/2019 - 21:28 |
0 | 0
Robert Gracie

I guess any Ford Dealer will be like “We can remove that limiter for an additional……….$1 if you wish”

03/15/2019 - 15:54 |
46 | 2
ARNOLD MEDA

Focusing on performance output rather than “Bragging rights”. Smart move Ford.

03/15/2019 - 16:01 |
30 | 0

Ikr

03/15/2019 - 16:50 |
0 | 0
CannedRex24

I Yee haw raise my cowboy hat to you ford…..

03/15/2019 - 17:41 |
2 | 2
PorscheBoi996

High Top Speed numbers only appeal to 12 year olds who argue at the school cafeteria. 180 mph on a car with that much focus on aero its more than enough.

03/15/2019 - 20:15 |
2 | 0
My Name is Joel

Wasn’t pushing the 2013 GT500 to 200 MPH a big deal for Ford. Interesting to see them throwing that challenge out the window for the next generation, especially since all it would require would be a proper transmission. They could even make it an option.

03/15/2019 - 20:34 |
6 | 0
ShadowHuayra (HemiPower)

If it’s electronically limited, remove the limiter. If it’s the gearing, change the rear gear

03/15/2019 - 21:34 |
6 | 0
......

yes
make it 200 please

who am i kidding ive never been over 180kmh anyway

03/16/2019 - 00:14 |
4 | 2
ᴶᵘˢᵗᴬᴿᵃⁿᵈᵒá

I think with 700 horses it can do 200 easy… Still, not bad I guess

03/16/2019 - 02:51 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

Since when is it important to have sportscars with morals?

03/16/2019 - 09:08 |
0 | 6