Shelby will offer the “King of the Road” for 2022, as well as an upgrade for 2020-2021 model-year GT500s.
Shelby American teased that a Mustang-sized announcement would be made on December 15. It’s here, and it’s something very special. The King of the Road Mustang returns to the Mustang Shelby GT500KR. It’s more than an attractive package. It is also very rare and expensive, but it’s not only limited to the model year 2022, which we’ll talk about in a bit.
Let’s start with the statistics. The KR-specific carbon-fiber hood houses a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 that gains a twin-screw Whipple supercharger. This supercharger displaces 3.8 liters. The GT500KR produces at least 900 horsepower (671kilowatts) and has other upgrades like a larger throttle body. We use at most as Shelby currently lists the power rating at 900+, so it is possible that there are a few more ponies.
Shelby also upgrades the GT500KR’s height-adjustable front springs and rear springs. It also gets upgraded sway bars and recalibrated MagneRide suspension. Naturally, the GT500KR rides on Shelby-specific 20 inch wheels. Shelby does not have performance statistics for the new KR. However, the Shelby GT500 is capable of running quarter-miles in the mid-tenths of a second.
It should be able to handle a road course. Shelby also adds a rear diffuser, front splitter and Gurney flaps made of carbon fiber. There are also dress-up items such as billet engine caps and hood pins. A Shelby GT500KR is complete without the lower rocker stripes. Shelby leather seats and embroidered floor mats are available inside. Some cars will also receive special 60th anniversary badges to commemorate Shelby’s 1962 launch.
Shelby will not limit KR builds to 2022-model-year cars, so we say “selected cars”. Only 225 cars will be produced for 2022. 180 will be dedicated to the US market. All of them will be 60th anniversary models. Existing GT500 owners can still get in on the KR fun and send their cars to Shelby for a KR upgrade. They won’t be able to get the 60th Anniversary badge, but they will be more rare than usual as only 60 of them will be available.
Shelby lists the 2020-2021 upgrade at $54,995. Prices start at $127.895 if you are interested in one of the 225 KRs 2022. This price is for an entry-level GT500. However, if you go all out and get more Shelby options, it could be quite expensive. Production will begin in the first quarter 2022.