2022 Ford Mustang Mach 1
MSRP: $56,270In 1969 the Mach 1 began its reign as one of the most well-known performance Mustangs, offering impressive performance until the mid to late 1970s, with the name appearing again for a short time in the early 2000s. A Mach 1 badge had not adorned a Mustang in 17 years, although last year this label finally returned, appearing on a track-ready Mustang sporting a powerful 5.0-liter V8 engine. The Mustang Mach 1 eclipses the rest of the Mustang lineup with a unique front fascia and grille that mimic the original Mach 1, as well as improved cooling for the big V8 that offers superior performance. The hood and bodyside stripes — as well as the larger rear spoiler — also pay homage to the original.
The Mustang Mach 1 gets a specially tuned version of Ford’s 5.0-liter V8 engine to produce 480 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, teamed with the Tremec 6-speed manual gearbox found in the Shelby GT350. Other standout features include the latest MagneRide calibration; a stiffer steering I-shaft; stiffer sway bars and front springs; a brake booster from the Mustang GT Performance Pack Level 2; and a rear subframe with stiffer bushings, as well as a rear toe-link from the Shelby GT500. A special interior treatment further differentiates the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 as something unique from the rest of the Mustang line. The dashboard gets trimmed in a Dark Spindrift with aluminum accents, and an exclusive Mach 1 badge placed in front of the passenger displays the vehicle’s chassis number.
2022 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Base MSRP: $79,420The Shelby name has been associated with Mustang performance since 1965 when — at the behest of Ford — Carroll Shelby built a competition Mustang and the Shelby GT350 was born. Now Ford Performance creates the most capable production car to bear the Shelby name to date: the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. According to Ford, the Shelby GT500 will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and complete the quarter mile in 10.7 seconds — impressive numbers for a Mustang. Aero and cooling are both important for such a vehicle, so much of the design is functional including a louvered hood as well as an integrated rear spoiler. The double grille opening improves airflow for better cooling and contributes more downforce as well.
This powerful Mustang sports a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that produces 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque. Surprisingly, Ford does not offer the GT500 with a manual gearbox; the big V8 gets teamed with a TREMEC 7-speed dual-clutch transmission capable of shifting gears in less than 100 milliseconds. With extreme power comes extreme acceleration — the GT500 will sprint to 60 mph in a mere 3.3 seconds, passing the quarter-mile mark in 10.7 seconds. To manage all that power, the Shelby GT500 is equipped with Ford Performance-spec Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. For 2022 Ford pays homage to the original 1967 Shelby GT500 with a limited run of Mustang Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition fastbacks. These will be finished in classic Brittany Blue exterior paint with two exterior stripe options.
