Ford boasts that its 5.8-liter supercharged V8 2013 Shelby GT500, producing 650-hp and 600 lb.-ft. of torque, has what it takes to travel at speeds over 200 mph. For driving enthusiasts, the double century benchmark is the holy grail, the automotive equivalent to the summit of Mount Everest where every driver wishes to plant his flag.
However, there's already a selection of currently available sports cars that can perform the feat. Is taking a 650-hp Mustang with a crude live rear axle to 200 mph really such a good idea? Ford chief functioning engineer Kerry Baldori and his team of test drivers seem to think so.
Shipping the Shelby GT500 to the southern boot of Italy, the team takes on the Nardo Ring for a max velocity run. The Nardo Ring is a top speed facility in the shape of a 14 km near perfect circle providing just the right amount of banking to allow performance vehicles to make the bend without losing speed.
"It's a monumental benchmark for any performance vehicle to be able to have that capability to go 200 miles an hour and to say that they can go that fast," commented Baldori.
Kerry Baldori adds, "This car is very stable at 200 miles an hour. The guys that drove at that speed would reinforce it was very easy to drive, no worries. We even did full ABS stops from 200 miles an hour on a banked surface and the car is incredibly stable."
Well, color me impressed. While I still hold reservations regarding the dated suspension hardware, video evidence does reinforce Baldori's claim of the Shelby's stability at speed.
The Shelby GT500 is currently available in showrooms for $54,995, a massive price bargain for a legitimate 200 mph vehicle. Check out the video below and see the GT500 spend a day around the Nardo Ring.
