2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 gets 566kW

It's official, the new Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will outgun the 527kW Dodge Hellcat with the news the flagship Blue Oval muscle car will produce an incredible 566kW.

As well as the towering peak power figure, Ford Performance has revealed the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500's hand built supercharged 5.2-litre V8, that gets forged con-rods and a new water-to-air intercooler help churn out a muscular 847Nm of torque.

This, says the US car-maker, makes the Shelby GT500's motor both the torquiest and most powerful supercharged V8 currently in production.

Channelling all its might to the road is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that's claimed to be capable of shifting gears in less than 100 milliseconds.

The Shelby remains rear-wheel drive but has a series of driving modes that help manage all that torque using a more advanced traction and stability control.

Those modes are road, track and drag strip modes, revealing how Ford thinks most owners will use the fastest-ever 'Stang.

Despite revealing power and torque, Ford says the GT500 is limited to a top speed of 290km/h and can reach the quarter mile mark in less than 11 seconds but still hasn't actually publicised how fast from standstill it will hit the 100km/h benchmark, but it's expected to take less than three seconds.

Improving on-road performance the GT500 has received a thorough chassis tune that has involved ultra-lightweight coil springs, active dampers, and rethought suspension geometry over the GT350 it's based.

Reigning in the power, special six-piston Brembo brakes have been added while traction is boosted by a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.

For use on the drag strip, a line-lock system is standard, allowing drivers to superheat their rear tyres for the perfect start.

If that's not enough, two handling packages are also offered as an option, one adds adjustable suspension and a fixed rear spoiler for fast road use, while a more hardcore track-biased pack introduces further 20-inch Australian-sourced carbon-fibre rims, a functional front splitter that adds front canards and an adjustable wing off a real GT4 car that's claimed to generate up to 227kg of downforce.

Owners also have the option of deleting the rear bench seat for weight-saving or to help accommodate a full-size roll-cage.

Inside the cabin there's other changes over the regular GT350, the more powerful Shelby model coming with a digital instrument panel, an eight-inch infotainment system, Recaro race seats (with harnesses) and a 12-speaker premium sound system.

Pricing has yet to be announced but unfortunately the GT500 isn't destined for Australia as it is rumoured to be left-hand drive only.

Despite its heroic 566kW max power, the fast Ford is still overshadowed by the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye launched in the US 12 months ago.

Running a detuned version of the limited Demon's supercharged 6.2-litre V8, the Redeye produces a colossal 594kW and a barely believable 959Nm torque peak.

Ford might still have the last laugh at the drag strip though.

Dodge claims the heavyweight Redeye can hit 100km/h from rest in just 3.4 seconds – a figure the lighter Mustang GT500 is tipped to beat by up to half a second.