Performance Review: Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - [2006]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Ford Mustang Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2006. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2007 Caparo T1 3.5l V8 and the 2006 Caparo T1 2.4 V8.This particular Ford Mustang has a 5409cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V8's includes the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Mustang shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Mustang's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1778 kgs (3919 lbs) this makes the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 in the same weight category as the 2023 Lamborghini Revuelto 6.5 V12 Petrol Hybrid or the give or take 50kg.

The Ford Mustang shares the same bhp with the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (500 bhp)

In terms of power the 5409cc 32V V8 engine produces 500 bhp (372 kW) @ 6000 rpm similar to the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (500 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Boxster Spyder RS 4.0 982 (493 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V8 throws out 480 lb-ft (650.7 Nm) @ 4500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (470 lb-ft) or the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 (460 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Ford Mustang you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2013 Vauxhall-Opel VXR8 GTS 6.2 V8 (306.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Ford Mustang.

The Ford Mustang has a Power to weight ratio of 281.2 bhp per ton and 269.9 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2006 Mustang competing with the 2013 Vauxhall-Opel VXR8 GTS 6.2 V8 (306.2 bhp per ton) or the 1996 TVR Cerbera 4.2 (305.8 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Ford Mustang generating around 269.9 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 1999 Ariel Atom 300 Supercharged (294.5 lb-ft per ton) or the 2015 Aston-Martin Vantage GT3 5.9 V12 (294.5 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.1 secs, this made the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 as fast as the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (4.00 secs) the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged Auto (4.00 secs) the 2021 Audi e-tron GT Quattro (4.00 secs) the or the 2020 Lotus Evora GT410 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.00 secs). This Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is also faster than the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (4.10 secs) the 2022 BMW XM 4.4 V8 Twin Turbo G09 (4.10 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 (4.10 secs) the and the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.10 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Mustang and the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Golf R 4Motion DSG 2.0 Turbo

When talking about the performance of the Ford Mustang on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.44 secs @ 110.0 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2017 Volkswagen-VW Golf R 4Motion DSG 2.0 Turbo (12.38 secs), the 2016 Jaguar F-Pace 3.0 V6 Supercharged (12.38 secs), and the 2013 Porsche Panamera GTS 4.8 V8 (12.39 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2006 version of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has a maximum speed of 170mph.

Top Speed of the 2006 Mustang equals the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 (181 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2006 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 then how about the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 (181 mph), the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo 992 (181 mph), or the 2019 Aston-Martin DBX 4.0 V8 Turbo (181 mph).

Related Links:

2006 Mustang Rivals List.

A Brief History of Ford

Car Comparison