2020 Ford Shelby GT500

At a distance, the 2020 Shelby GT500 looks like a Mustang that's been rushed through a speed shop with bad taste and unrestricted access to hastily made CAD files. But look closer and you'll see that the wide fenders, enormous grille and rear wing spoiler have a real purpose: to harness the speed generated by the latest über-Mustang's 760 horsepower.

The expansive fenders contain wider wheels and tires to better stick the car to the road, while the front grille sized like a New York City sidewalk grate helps cool the hard-working supercharged V8 engine. The rear spoiler and assorted lower and side winglets also aid in directing airflow to press the car to the ground.

When you're the top horse in the stable, expectations are high. And nothing short of world-beating performance is expected of the new Mustang Shelby GT500. Since Ford ended production of the previous-generation GT500 after the 2014 model year, Dodge has normalized pony-car extremes with its Challenger Hellcat variations and Chevrolet has set new records on the crucible of test tracks, Germany's Nürburgring, with its Camaro ZL1.

The GT500 is well-equipped to reassert itself. Ford and Tremec developed a new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission specifically for this engine and fitted huge 16.5-inch-diameter front brake rotors clamped upon with six-piston calipers. The adaptive suspension can adjust to various modes, including settings for track-day heroics or drag-race showdowns.

This Ford is clearly a purpose-built car that won't be content with the daily commute. Not that you couldn't use it for that, however. Inside you'll find striking two-tone leather sport seats, microsuede door panel inserts, a 12-inch LCD gauge cluster, the Sync 3 touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system. Vanquishing world-class performance-car competitors need not come at the cost of comfort and convenience.

The GT500 does come at a cost, however. Add just a few options and you're looking at a Mustang with an MSRP of more than $100,000. Yet that money buys such staggering performance, and results in such little compromise in comfort, that it's pretty easy to say it's worth every penny.

What's it like to live with the GT500?

Having 760 hp is cool, but can you actually enjoy it every day? Edmunds' editorial team purchased a 2020 Ford Shelby GT500 to find out. We're driving it for a year and 20,000 miles. We passed on the somewhat extreme Carbon Fiber Track package and went with the more practical base model and opted for the Technology package. Check out our Shelby GT500 long-term test to learn even more about this super Mustang.