Is instant electric torque able to defeat massive internal-combustion horsepower?
You now know everything about the Mustang Shelby GT500. The Mustang Mach–E GT Performance is also well-known. Each car has Mustang badges but represents a different approach to performance. What happens in a real-world battle? We are about to find out.
This Mustang matchup is from Edmunds. The Ford range-topping performance Mustangs were on display. They also had the opportunity to line them up. These two segments are distinct, and the top-of-the-line vehicles at Ford represent the best of each segment.
The Shelby GT500 is a clear winner on paper. It has 760 horsepower (567kilowatts) and a supercharged V8 of 5.2-liters. This is far more than the Mach-E GT Performance’s 480hp (358kW). The electric ‘Stang is lighter than the GT500, but it still packs a lot of power. It is slightly more powerful than the GT500, with 634 pound-feet (860 Newton meters) versus 625lb-feet (847 Nm). This torque comes instantly.
Mach-E also sends power all four wheels, allowing it to reach 60 mph within 3.5 seconds. If the GT500 has rear-wheel drive, it can reach 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. As we discovered in our GT500 drag racing experience, getting traction isn’t easy. A drag race is not just about a sprint to 60 miles per hour. The Mach-E GT’s electric motor can only keep its maximum power for five seconds. Each vehicle has its advantages and disadvantages.
This is evident in the first race at a stop, when the Mach-E GT Performance completely destroys the GT500. The Mach-E leads by several car lengths, even before the Shelby gains traction. The advantage shifts back to Supercharged V8 with its 280-hp advantage. This closes the gap with jaw-dropping speeds before the Mach-E crosses the finish line.
There are two more races, one dig race and one roll race. To conserve the five second power boost, Mach-E tried a different start technique but it was unsuccessful. The crossover cannot win from a rolling start without an all-wheel-drive starting line advantage.
Shelby fans, take your time. The Mustang’s internal combustion engine still reigns supreme. When the Shelby Mach-E arrives, will that change? We will only know when it arrives.