2013 Ford Shelby GT500 officially has 662 of horsepower

Consumer Reports News: April 27, 2012 01:08 PM

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There is always a risk in announcing estimated horsepower or fuel economy figures before final certification has been completed. Miss the mark and the car's reputation is tainted at launch, potentially turning off consumers. Of course, sometimes a manufacturer low-balls the estimate, such as the case with the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500. Originally announced to be 650 tire-shredding horsepower, the official figure is now 662.

The Ford Mustang defined the small coupe, V8 engine formula that begat the so-called pony cars when it was introduced in April 1964. Chevrolet joined in the fray with the 1967 Camaro, and the two companies have been drag, street, and bench racing ever since. With this announcement, Camaro enthusiasts may shed a tear.

The ageless competition had Chevrolet throwing down the gauntlet at the last LA Auto Show with the unveiling of the long-rumored Camaro ZL1 boasting a 580-hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 and a full compliment of track-inspired performance enhancements. This was the greatest factory Camaro ever offered—quite a statement given the car's storied history.

Ford answered the challenge immediately; the very same day Ford declared its updated 2013 Shelby GT500 would host 650 horsepower—"making it the most powerful production V8 engine in the world." And, it wouldn't be subject to the gas-guzzler tax, like the ZL1. Oh, snap.

Fast forward to today, and the GT500 has taken another victory before the cars are on the street.

The reality is this competition may fuel enthusiast passions, but the companies are racing to extremes. Both coupes, and soon convertibles, represent the height of the American muscle car. It is hard to imagine where they go from here, but I recall having a similar thought back when these models produced half that power.

For typical performance-minded drivers, both lines offer enticing, far more affordable variations. And in the end, driving that awareness may well justify pushing the boundaries on the exclusive models. Each offers an entertaining V6 with over 300 horsepower and a compelling base V8 model with more than 400 horsepower. On the street, that is more than enough.

We have driven these on our test track and others, and truly, there is generous power available to challenge even the most capable drivers. But, if you demand even more, there is always the 950-hp Shelby 1000. Yes, really.

Check out our Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang Road Tests for our detailed insights, as well as our Dodge Challenger tests, should your passions lean to Mopar. And check out our Camaro vs. Mustang face-off in the video below for a taste of the excitement modern muscle cars offer.