Track-only Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Code Red revealed

Apparently discontent with letting Dodge hog the muscle car spotlight at the moment, the Blue Oval has just revealed the 2023 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Code Red – one of the most viscous and aggressive Shelby products in recent memory.

The Code Red’s reveal comes just weeks before the world debut of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang on September 14 and during the rollout of the limited-run ‘Last Call’ Dodge Challenger and Chargers, all of which would probably cower in the shadows if they saw the Shelby’s power outputs.

Based on the latest GT500, the Code Red engine upgrade package swaps out the standard car’s supercharger and replaces it with a pair of turbochargers backed by new fuel and engine management systems to develop more than 1000hp (745kW) and 1058Nm when run on 93-octane fuel.

That matches the mammoth power output (but not the torque peak) of the wild 745kW/1288Nm supercharged 7.0-litre ‘Hellephant’ crate engine released in 2019 by Mopar, which charged $US30,000 for the privilege.

But give it a tank full of E85 and the outputs of the 5.2-litre V8, which costs a huge $US209,995 on top of the GT500, jump to no less than 1300hp (969kW) and 1355Nm respectively.

No acceleration figures have been announced, but the extensive upgrades void Ford’s factory warranty and make the Shelby V8 non-street-legal in the US. Ford says only that the new Code Red edition is “truly a horse of a different color than the Shelby Super Snake and Shelby GT500KR”.

Ford makes no mention of the 2018 Mustang Cobra Jet, another track-only drag special that was claimed to complete the quarter-mile (0-400m) in around 8.5 seconds, making it even quicker than the Dodge Demon, which was billed as the world’s fastest rear-drive V8 production car in 2018.

For the record, the 626kW/1000Nm Dodge Demon – a number of which were imported and converted to right-hand drive in Australia, as per the Shelby GT500 – claimed a 9.65sec standing quarter (and 0-100km/h in just 2.3sec with drag tyres).

Thankfully all of the Code Red’s rear-drive fury is supported by uprated suspension, wheel, tyre and brake components, as well as the obligatory cosmetic upgrades which include a carbon-fibre bonnet, wide-body kit, bespoke badging and interior trim.

“All of the massive horsepower and torque we develop with the new Code Red car required us to focus on optimising traction,” Shelby American operations vice-president and R&D boss Vince LaViolette said.

“That is why Code Red is more of a straight-line performer than a road course warrior.

“While not street legal, it's very capable at moderate speeds in most any curve. But when the turbos spool up, the car is best enjoyed moving straight ahead.”

Just 30 examples of the Code Red upgrade packs will be made as part of the official production run (10 for each of the GT500’s 2020, 2021 and 2022 model years), but Shelby American president Gary Patterson let slip that a few preliminary units were quietly constructed for “insiders who asked”.

“Code Red is designed to be the pinnacle of Shelby Mustangs,” he said.

“The current generation Shelby GT500 is so robust and spectacular that many of the issues we encountered 14 years ago no longer exist … it’s so perfect for Code Red transformation.

“Though we did not initially intend to offer a formal edition, demand was so strong that we elected to build a very small number of them.”

It’s safe to say the Code Red will not be offered here by Ford Australia – like every other left-hand drive Shelby Mustang – but there’s nothing to say one or two examples won’t be imported by some Aussie drag enthusiasts… provided they’re not sold out already.

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