The wildest production Ford Mustang in history is so brutal that it does not have a warranty or can be driven on the street

If we tell you that in the United States they have other customs, we will not discover anything new. Going to assess whether they are better or worse than ours is up to each one.

While in Europe we do not stop talking about restrictions on mobility and electrification, even in the world of supercars, on the other side of the pond such beastly models as the new Shelby Mustang GT500 Code Red are allowed to be created.

A madness of 1,300 hp

Granted, not even American muscle cars are going to get rid of electrification, just look at the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept, but in the meantime, V8s still have a lot of life ahead of them . At least in the country of stars and stripes.

Even the wildest hypercars in the United States resort to this type of engine that has been animating the so-called muscle car for decades. And what we've learned over the years is that V8s can always be taken to another level.

Shelby and his multiple preparations have a lot to do with it, although they always manage to surprise us again. This time, the American manufacturer has done it with the Shelby Mustang GT500 Code Red, a special edition that tightens the nuts of the Ford Shelby GT500 that we tested in 2020 to make it even wilder.

What Shelby has done with this beast is take one of his many experimental ideas into production . Since the launch of the Shelby GT500 in 1967, the company founded by Carroll Shelby has used dozens of Mustangs as a test bed to develop new technologies that have found their way into production Shelbys.

The Shelby Mustang GT500 Code Red is one of those models used as a test bed, but it has been given the green light to go on sale. Its production is limited to 30 units , 10 for each year of production of the Ford Shelby GT500 (2020, 2021 and 2022).

"The unique nature of this new model forced us to incorporate lessons learned from extreme vehicles such as the 2008 Code Red, Shelby 1000 and 2020 Shelby GT500 Dragon Snake concept," said Vince LaViolette, vice president of operations and chief Shelby American R&D.

According to Shelby, the Code Red is the pinnacle of Shelby Mustangs. The idea is that its customers could buy the Code Red that was presented as a prototype in 2008, but updated to the current generation of the Mustang.

It should be remembered that the Ford Shelby GT500 is one of the most beastly production cars we've seen in recent years, but the Code Red is much more animal, whichever way you look at it. Shelby has modified the exterior, the interior, and of course the engine.

On the outside, what is most striking is the new fixed rear spoiler that looks like a racing one. It also debuts 20-inch forged wheels, details painted in red, such as the Shelby logo on the front grill.

Carbon fiber parts are also missing, such as the front splitter and the rear diffuser. Model year 2022 additionally sport a commemorative Shelby 60th anniversary plaque.

Inside, red and black are also the protagonists. Modifications include new leather upholstery, limited-edition nameplates, custom floor mats such as door sill trims, and a roll cage where the rear seats would have gone, which are gone.

But the most important thing is hidden under the long hood of this Mustang. The Ford Shelby Mustang GT500's 5.2-litre V8 engine delivers 761 hp and 847 Nm of torque in its stock configuration. With such muscle, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and reaches 288 km/h.

Ethanol to push your V8 engine to the limit

It's not bad, but it's nothing compared to what the Shelby Mustang GT500 Code Red offers. With 93 octane gasoline (in Spain we don't have that type), the Code Red V8 develops 1,000 hp and 1,507 Nm of torque . With E85 fuel (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) it reaches 1,300 hp and 1,355 Nm of torque.

Shelby has completely modified the engine. It is the first time a production Shelby has featured two turbochargers. In addition to the changes carried out in the V8 block, the cooling system and the transmission have been reinforced to withstand all the power.

The bad thing is that almost all the improvements affect the mechanics and hardly change its set-up, beyond the readjustments made to Ford's MagneRide suspension and more powerful brakes.

The result is old-fashioned muscle. What does this mean? That it is very fast in a straight line (Shelby has not disclosed benefits), but it does not perform as well when the curves arrive. At least that's what Vince LaViolette says.

"All the power and torque we developed with the new Code Red required us to focus on optimizing traction. For that reason it's more of a straight-line car than a track car . Either way, it's very capable at moderate speeds in most corners, but when the turbos come into play, you enjoy the car better in a straight line," admits LaViolette.

Where surely you will not be able to take advantage of the full potential of this Shelby is in a mountain section. Not because of its limitations with the curves, but because it is not approved to circulate on the street ; can only be used on circuit.

Without a doubt, that is the great drawback of this savagery Made in the USA that offers the power of a hypercar for much less money. Not that it's cheap because it costs $209,995, which is added to the price of the original Ford Shelby GT500 (at the time it cost the equivalent of about 110,000 euros).

In total, there are more than 300,000 dollars for a car that can only be driven on a circuit and according to its creators, it does not perform very well in curves. Also, the Shelby upgrades void the original Ford warranty. In return, it is the most beastly – and exclusive – production Shelby ever created, offering the power of a true hypercar.