London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Oct 06, 2025

Review: The 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R is the most exciting car under $100,000

When the GT350R first thundered onto the scene in 2016, the biggest point of praise was the 5.2-liter V8 engine that powers the Shelby.

With an apocalyptic exhaust note and amazing on-track performance, the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R is the most exciting driver’s car under $100,000.


At $73,435 to start, it’s a lot for a Mustang.

For all but the most hardcore enthusiasts, we’d recommend the cheaper Shelby GT350.

Five months ago, we drove the 2019 Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 and declared it the most fun Mustang on sale. Now, though, Ford’s brought similar updates to the track-focused GT350R.

It’s got the same howling engine as the GT350, even better driving dynamics, a more aggressive suspension setup and 130 fewer pounds to lug around. It’s lighter, more nimble and feels more alive. The Mustang Shelby GT350R isn’t just the most fun Mustang, it’s the most exciting car under $100,000 we’ve ever driven.

What’s new

When the GT350R first thundered onto the scene in 2016, the biggest point of praise was the 5.2-liter V8 engine that powers the Shelby. That is, thankfully, unchanged for 2020. Instead, engineers have focused on suspension and aerodynamic improvements.

First up is the front suspension geometry, which is updated with parts from the upcoming Ford Shelby GT500. That car, with its supercharged V-8 and dual-clutch transmission, is meant to slay supercars and provide Hellcat-level horsepower numbers. The similarly priced GT350R, meanwhile, caters to a driver that cares more about an exciting driving experience than numbers on a spec sheet.

The car also has retuned magnetic dampers. These can vary their stiffness on the fly, allowing a soft ride on the road but stiffening up on the track to provide maximum grip. Teamed with a revised steering rack and retuned power steering, it’s supposed to provide more precision on the track. Ford also removed exhaust resonators to reduce weight and give it a sharper exhaust note over the standard GT350R.

Finally, the GT350R gets a new technology package with a new premium audio system, blind-spot monitoring and voice-activated navigation and a few new optional colors like “grabber lime.”


The good

The engine continues to be one of the best powerplants on sale. Rather than fitting the GT350R with a traditional, low-revving V8 like in the standard Mustang, Ford gave it a 5.2-liter flat-plane-crank “voodoo” motor. A flat-plane-crank architecture is what Ferrari uses for its V8s, as its more balanced design allows for a screaming high redline and a wailing exhaust note.

That makes the GT350R an absolute delight on the track. The 526-horsepower motor wants to be wrung out, delivering amazing power and an incredible noise near the top of its 8,250 rpm redline. It feels alive and exciting in a world of muted, turbocharged engines.

Handling is similarly lively. One of the big benefits of the GT350R over the standard GT350 is its carbon fiber wheels. Lightweight wheels make the car ride better, handle better and turn better. On the track, the front end dives into corners with aggression reminiscent of mid-engined supercars. With sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s, the GT350R stays planted throughout a corner and hooks up quickly to thunder downs straightaways.

This is a car that cares more about driver engagement than lap times, as evidenced by the sole transmission option: a six-speed manual. Running all the way to the shift lights warn you of the approaching 8,250-rpm redline and banging off another gear is addicting in a way that no dual-clutch transmission can ever replicate. The steering is also incredibly communicative and the limits are high. In track mode, the GT350R will give you a lot of room to let the rear end step out or slide but always reels you back.

Off the race track and on the road, the GT350R is shockingly comfortable. Maybe it’s the lightweight wheels, but it feels better on cracked pavement than even the standard GT350. It’s totally livable, with the high-strung engine docile at low speed.


The bad

The Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R gets a significant price hike for 2020, starting at $73,435. That money can get you in a Porsche Cayman, BMW M4, Chevy Corvette or Dodge Challenger Hellcat. We think the GT350R is significantly more exciting to drive than any of those, but it is still a variant of Ford’s pedestrian pony car.

And it’s not even the fastest Mustang for the price. The Mustang Shelby GT500 will start at $72,900. The GT500 will get to 60 quicker, has a higher top speed, will get around most tracks quicker and comes with a dual-clutch automatic transmission. If you want the fastest, top-trim Mustang, the GT350R is no longer the top of the pack.

Finally, the GT350R comes with a $12,995 premium over the $60,440 standard-issue GT350. Make no mistake, the GT350R is the better car. It has better driving dynamics, rides just as well if not better, sounds better and will get more respect from in-the-know Mustang fans. But only a really discerning driver will notice the differences and fewer still will be able to justify $13,000 to make that jump.


Early thoughts

The GT350R and its more pedestrian GT350 sibling are giant slayers. They sound better, drive better, look better and feel better than 95% of cars. In terms of raw driver engagement and excitement, nothing beats the Mustang Shelby GT350R for less than $100,000. It is howl-inducing on the racetrack and totally capable of daily driving. Its biggest problem is the GT350, a car almost as good at everything but $12,995 cheaper.

For people who are going to frequently track their cars, the GT350R is better suited to track abuse with heavy-duty cooling and updated brakes. And if you want the most fun Mustang or the most excitement for the price, the GTR350R is unbeatable. But we suspect most people will be happy with the second-best driver’s car for $12,995 less.



Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Stands Firm in Shutdown Showdown and Declares War on Drug Cartels — Turning Crisis into Opportunity
Surge of U.S. Billionaires Transforms London’s Peninsula Apartments into Ultra-Luxury Stronghold
Pro Europe and Anti-War Babiš Poised to Return to Power After Czech Parliamentary Vote
Jeff Bezos Calls AI Surge a ‘Good’ Bubble, Urges Focus on Lasting Innovation
Japan’s Ruling Party Chooses Sanae Takaichi, Clearing Path to First Female Prime Minister
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced to Fifty Months in Prison Following Prostitution Conviction
Taylor Swift’s ‘Showgirl’ Launch Extends Billion-Dollar Empire
Trump Administration Launches “TrumpRx” Plan to Enable Direct Drug Sales at Deep Discounts
Trump Announces Intention to Impose 100 Percent Tariff on Foreign-Made Films
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Singapore and Hong Kong Vie to Dominate Asia’s Rising Gold Trade
Trump Organization Teams with Saudi Developer on $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah
Manhattan Sees Surge in Office-to-Housing Conversions, Highest Since 2008
Switzerland and U.S. Issue Joint Assurance Against Currency Manipulation
Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Historic $55 Billion Buyout
Thomas Jacob Sanford Named as Suspect in Deadly Michigan Church Shooting and Arson
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
New York Man Arrested After On-Air Confession to 2017 Parents’ Murders
U.S. Defense Chief Orders Sudden Summit of Hundreds of Generals and Admirals
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
Trump Claims FBI Planted 274 Agents at Capitol Riot, Citing Unverified Reports
India: Internet Suspended in Bareilly Amid Communal Clashes Between Muslims and Hindus
Supreme Court Extends Freeze on Nearly $5 Billion in U.S. Foreign Aid at Trump’s Request
Archaeologists Recover Statues and Temples from 2,000-Year-Old Sunken City off Alexandria
China Deploys 2,000 Workers to Spain to Build Major EV Battery Factory, Raising European Dependence
Speed Takes Over: How Drive-Through Coffee Chains Are Rewriting U.S. Coffee Culture
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Ringo Starr Champions Enduring Beatles Legacy While Debuting Las Vegas Art Show
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
FBI Removes Agents Who Kneeled at 2020 Protest, Citing Breach of Professional Conduct
Trump Alleges ‘Triple Sabotage’ at United Nations After Escalator and Teleprompter Failures
Shock in France: 5 Years in Prison for Former President Nicolas Sarkozy
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
BNP Paribas Abandons Ban on 'Controversial Weapons' Financing Amid Europe’s Defence Push
Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across East Asia Before Making Landfall in China
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Big Banks Rebuild in Hong Kong as Deal Volume Surges
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Arnault Denounces Proposed Wealth Tax as Threat to French Economy
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Denmark Investigates Drone Incursion, Does Not Rule Out Russian Involvement
Lilly CEO Warns UK Is ‘Worst Country in Europe’ for Drug Prices, Pulls Back Investment
Nigel Farage Emerges as Central Force in British Politics with Reform UK Surge
Disney Reinstates ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after Six-Day Suspension over Charlie Kirk Comments
U.S. Prosecutors Move to Break Up Google’s Advertising Monopoly
Nvidia Pledges Up to $100 Billion Investment in OpenAI to Power Massive AI Data Center Build-Out
U.S. Signals ‘Large and Forceful’ Support for Argentina Amid Market Turmoil
×