It isn’t like the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is an old car. But in recent months, the all-new, mid-engine 2020 Corvette C8 has somewhat stolen the spotlight from the latest and greatest Ford Mustang. Granted, these two cars aren’t exactly direct competitors, but they are competitors nonetheless, and that means that folks will continue lining them up against each other. And that’s exactly what Texas tuner Hennessey Performance did before tearing into both cars and modifying them, as usual.
On paper, these cars represent two very different approaches to achieving speed. The Corvette is powered by a naturally-aspirated, single-cammed 6.2L LT2 V8 rated at 495 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque (with the optional factory performance exhaust). The Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, on the other hand, utilizes the dual-overhead cam, supercharged 5.2L Predator V8 rated at 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. Both cars run newly-designed, quick-shifting dual-clutch transmissions.
Given the vast power discrepancy, one might think that the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has a clear advantage, but there are two things working against the GT500 – weight and weight distribution. The Corvette’s mid-engine design places more weight over the rear wheels, which helps traction. And it’s way lighter than the Mustang overall – tipping the scales at nearly 600 pounds less.
Those advantages show up in the first race, which starts from a dig. The Corvette leaps ahead at first as it’s able to better put the power to the ground. But the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 reels in the C8 as the two approach the finish line, putting its horsepower advantage to good use on the top end.
So for the next run, Hennessey pits the two against each other in a 40 mile-per-hour roll race. This eliminates the Corvette’s advantages completely, and the GT500 easily pulls away from the shiny new C8 without breaking a sweat.
Thus, the only real surprise here is just how well the new Corvette hooks from a standstill. But that’s what superior weight distribution will do for a car. It’s also worth noting that the Corvette seen here is the base Stingray model, and there will be a bevy of higher-performance C8 variants down the road.
Now, if we could only convince Ford to build us a mid-engine Mustang, or at least a less expensive/more accessible mid-engine car than the Ford GT, we’d be in business.
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Comments
We’ve seen at least 5 gt500 vs c8 corvette, and the answer is always the same: First On Race Day
To your point of these competitors not being in the same category…I agree…so why not pit the Ford GT against Chevy’s C8? Price not withstanding…and that’s what the Chevy people will point to…Ford has had much more experience with mid-engine layouts than GM…and let’s see how the C8 does on the track when compared to the GT…ya want to keep it category specific? Let’s end this once and for all!
For the record the proper race for the C8 Corvette with its past tense styling and decade old 6.2 engine would be wait for it the FORD GT, Ferrari , Lamborghini , and Porsche no matter the price put it in the class GM built it for “ Rear Engine Sport Cars” . As for the Shelby GT500 being SuperChargered with a smaller 5.2 it to has room to grow if FORD do the right thing built a 900hp 5.2 SuperChargered Shelby GT500KR for the ZR1 and a new top model 1300hp King Cobra EV. Chevrolet lucky Am not over FORD Performance Division I would put the Fear of God and the end of any GM Corvette facing off with Mustangs top models