The latest Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has been pitted against various vehicles in straight-line battles ever since its debut for the 2020 model year. It has gone head-to-head with formidable opponents such as the C8 Corvette, BMW M8, C7 Corvette ZR1, McLaren 720S, and a lineup of muscular machines in MotorTrend’s “World’s Greatest Drag Race.” Recently, in response to the launch of the all-new Dodge Challenger Black Ghost, Edmunds decided to organize an intriguing showdown once again, involving the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
The Dodge Challenger Black Ghost is a limited edition model with only 300 units produced, paying homage to the famed vintage street racer bearing the same nickname. Equipped with a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine, it churns out a powerful 807 horsepower and 707 pound-feet of torque. However, its substantial curb weight of 4,476 pounds results in a power-to-weight ratio of 5.55 pounds per horsepower. On the other side of the competition, the GT500 comes with a supercharged Ford 5.2L V8 Predator engine, delivering 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque, with a slightly more favorable power-to-weight ratio of 5.48 pounds per horsepower due to its curb weight of 4,168 pounds.
Edmunds arranged a U-Drag race, where both cars engaged in a traditional straight-line drag race, followed by a turnaround and a race back to the starting line, bringing braking and handling into play alongside raw power and traction. Despite the Challenger Black Ghost’s powerful performance, the GT500 took an early lead and maintained its advantage throughout the race, securing an effortless victory as the heavy Challenger struggled with the turn.
In the second race, the Mustang encountered a less than perfect start, but it swiftly caught up to the Challenger and secured yet another straightforward win. Analyzing the numbers, the GT500 accomplished the 0-60 sprint in 3.8 seconds compared to the Black Ghost’s 4.8 seconds, with the quarter-mile passing in 11.7 seconds versus 12.6 seconds for the Challenger. Ultimately, the GT500 emerged as the winner of the U-Drag with a best time of 33.2 seconds against the Challenger’s 35.2 seconds. This once again demonstrated that, despite being older and less powerful, the Shelby GT500 remains the undisputed king of this figurative hill.
