You can catch our own impressions of the car in our extensive first drive report by clicking here.
However, we weren’t the only ones fortunate enough to hop behind the wheel of the 662-horsepower Shelby GT500.
Television host and comedian Jay Leno recently tested the car for his online series Jay Leno’s Garage and as you may have guessed came away very impressed with it.
Before setting out on the road, Leno received some info from Ford SVT chief engineer Jamal Hameedi, who also brought along a 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 for the show. After finally taking the Shelby for a spin, Leno quickly realizes the car is faster than his Ford GT plus many other models in his collection.
The source of the epic performance of the 2013 Shelby GT500, the last one created under the watchful eye of automotive icon Carroll Shelby, is a supercharged 5.8-liter V-8 engine that delivers 662 horsepower and 631 pound-feet of torque. This is enough to rocket the car from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and see it reach a top speed in excess of 200 mph.
Despite the performance, the latest Shelby GT500 starts at just $54,200. The GT500 Convertible starts at $5,000 more. Note, Ford also offers two packages for the car. Available as part of the optional Performance Package, SVT-designed Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers are accessed on the dash with a simple push of a button, which allow between comfort and sport modes. A Torsen limited-slip differential also comes with this Performance Package.
Customers can also upgrade their Performance Package with an additional Track Package. The option comes with an external engine oil cooler, rear differential cooler and transmission cooler for further durability.
