DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 revealed

Ford has declared the 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 the fastest road-legal pony car ever built.

Claimed also to be the most powerful Ford road car in its 115 years of car-making, the Shelby Mustang GT500 was unveiled to much fanfare at the Detroit motor show overnight.

Fitted with a developed version of the Mustang GT350's supercharged 5.2-litre V8, power has been wound up from 392kW to 'more than' 522kW. That figure, coincidentally, is twice as much as the original 1967 Ford Mustang GT500 from which the latest Shelby GT500 borrows its name.

Like every other Mustang, power is channelled to the rear wheels, except this time Ford has developed a lightweight carbon-fibre prop-shaft for the next-gen Shelby GT500.

Combined with a new Tremec-sourced seven-speed dual-clutch transmission claimed to have been inspired by the 'box in the Ford GT supercar, the 2019 GT500 is purportedly capable of a 'mid-three seconds' sprint to 60mph (97km/h), and can cover the quarter mile in less than 11 seconds.

As well as more power, engineers have refined the Mustang GT350 suspension set-up further, revising the geometry and introducing lighter front and rear springs that are combined with the car-maker's MagneRide adaptive dampers.

There's even a new electronic power steering unit to save yet more kilos.

Up front, the GT500 runs enormous 420mm wide two-piece brake discs that are claimed to be the largest fitted to any US-made coupe. These are clamped down by large six-piston Brembo calipers.

Externally, there's also some significant bodywork changes.

The GT500 features a huge front grille and louvered bonnet vents to force an extra 50 per cent air for added cooling and to ensure the big Ford produces more downforce that any factory produced Mustang.

As standard, the Shelby GT500 sits on bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres especially developed in cooperation with Ford Performance.

For those who enjoy the odd track day, Ford has announced it will offer a track pack that adds grippier-still Pilot Sport Cup 2s. The track-suited goodies also introduce 20-inch carbon-fibre wheels, an adjustable rear wing and rear seat delete option to reduce weight.

Inside, the GT500 uses carbon-fibre for the dash while Recaro sport seats and a race-spec safety harness remain options.

Instead of completely stripping out the interior, the Shelby Mustang comes with the same 12-inch virtual cockpit dash and an 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system as the Mustang GT350 and a high-end 12-speaker premium sound system.

Helping tune the wild GT500's handling to drivers of differing skills, the most powerful Ford ever gets a number of drive modes, including normal, weather, sport, drag and track.

There's also a burn-out-friendly line-lock option and a launch control setting -- both are available through a Track App.

On sale in the US later this year, the GT500 is claimed to be a direct replacement for the current GT350.

Right-hand drive production has yet to be announced for the Shelby GT500, which could ultimately scupper plans of the fastest-ever Mustang venturing Down Under.