Shelby’s GT500 Code Red packs a Fathouse Performance twin-turbo setup, extracting 1,300 hp from the 5.2-liter V8 on E85 ethanol fuel.
If you are a Ford Mustang enthusiast, here is some good news — Shelby American has realized one of its EXP or experimental cars concept to give us a hypercar-level Mustang, now known as the Shelby GT500 Code Red.
“The enormous demand for a CODE RED edition is an opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities, as well as the enormous potential of Ford Motor Company’s marvelous Shelby GT500 as a dedicated straight-line performer,” said Joe Conway, CEO of Shelby American.
The new power package termed ‘Code Red’ not only brings powertrain upgrades but also features a widebody package and adds new wheels, tires, axles, suspension tuning, interior, badges, carbon-fiber hood, and more.
If the name Code Red sounds familiar, it’s because, in 2008, Shelby was expected to release the experimental version with Nelson’s Racing Engines. Unfortunately, the global financial crisis and high product pricing ensured that it never saw the light of day.
For experimentation purposes, Shelby America played with four cars in its 60-year history and termed them “test beds for innovation.” These include the 1968 Green Hornet, the 1967 Super Snake, the 1967 Little Red, and the latest GT500 Code Red. Being the only experimental car to make it to production, the GT500 Code Red carries special value for the company.
Fast forward to 2022, Shelby replaced Nelson Racing with Fathouse Performance to bless us with a hand-built twin-turbocharged V8. The tuned engine pumps a whopping 1,000 hp (746 kilowatts) and 780 lb-ft (1,058 Newton-meters) of torque when burning 93 octane fuel. However, pour some (a lot actually) E85 ethanol into the tank, and you can vanish with 1,300-hp (969 kW) and 1,000 lb-ft (1,356 Nm) of torque.
Fathouse Performance achieved these numbers with an intercooled premium twin-turbo system, a new fuel system, and an upgraded engine management system. Moreover, it rides on performance spec tires measuring 305/30R20 front, and 345/30R20 rear, wrapped around SHELBY forged aluminum wheels.
Meanwhile, Advanced Traction Control with nine modes ensures high lateral grip and better acceleration out of a corner. In addition, the Flex Fuel 93/E85 System adjusts power according to the availability of ethanol.
Making a car go faster means stripping off unnecessary weight and replacing it with carbon fiber. As a result, the GT500 Code Red’s hood, splitter, rear diffuser, pedestal wing, and rocker wings all enjoy carbon fiber accents. Inside, Shelby adorned the seats with leather recovers, added embroidered floor mats, and ditched the rear seats for a harness bar.
To get hold of this wild thing, you’ll need to bring your own Mustang and then pay an additional $209,995 for the package!
The Shelby GT500 Code Red will be a limited production model with ten models from each of the 2020-2022 production years and 30 total. So, hurry up!
Gallery: Shelby GT500 Code Red
Get your Code Red package at Shelby’s website
