Introducing the supercharged 627-hp 2015 Shelby GT: The Mustang gets even more ridiculous

   Photo by Shelby

There's also a 700-plus hp performance pack available if you want to live extra dangerously

    The new Mustang is good. The Shelby GT350R is probably even better. The just-unveiled Shelby GT? We might be going out on a limb here, but we're predicting that it's going to be totally insane. As in, 627 supercharged horses channeled to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission insane. Lot of useable horsepower there, we're sure.

    Like previous Shelbys, this monster boosts performance by bolting on a blower. The base engine here is the Mustang GT's 5.0-liter Coyote V8, not the 5.2-liter flat-plane crank powerplant in the GT350 and GT350R.

    True to Shelby heritage, it's not all about straight-line open-road performance; the new Mustang's independent rear suspension should help keep the car planted, but the GT also gets Wilwood front brakes, a Ford Racing handling pack that includes upgraded shocks, springs and sway bars and a Ford Racing short-throw shifter. Shelby American claims the beast is street-drivable. Perhaps.

   Visually, this car is somehow both more restrained and more over-the-top than the bewinged GT350R, which seemed to have sourced its spoiler from a 1993 Supra. Carbon fiber abounds, with the hood, front splitter, rockers, rear diffuser, deck lid, spoiler and more being made out of the lightweight material. Naturally, there are "SHELBY" badges, stickers and stripes everywhere -- if you want 'em. We suspect most will, but you could also go the sleeper route, painting over the carbon fiber and forgoing the decals.

    Beyond painted carbon fiber, options include a rear brake upgrade, a custom interior and something called the "Shelby Extreme Cooling system." Brrrr! There's also a 700-plus hp "performance upgrade" available if 627 hp isn't enough for you, as well as a track delivery package so you can stuff your new toy into a wall moments after getting the keys.

    So what's the difference between the Shelby GT350 and the Shelby GT that's just been unveiled -- besides outrageous horsepower and a supercharged motor? The nomenclature here can be a bit confusing (and it only gets more confusing when you add the Ford GT supercar into the mix): While the GT is actually built by Shelby American in Las Vegas, those GT350s are rolling out of Ford's factory ready to hit the track; they wear they Shelby name under a licensing agreement.

    Even so, you can still order up a Shelby GT from your local Ford dealership. The cost is $39,995 to start, plus the price of a new Ford Mustang GT. So you're looking at a starting price of $72,920, and the sky's the limit from there.