Shelby Mustang GT350 review: GT500's baby brother tested

Ah the Ford Shelby Mustang GT350. Does it feel kinda limp now the brilliant 2020 GT500 is here?

Fair question. The Shelby GT500 has 750bhp, a supercharger and an ability to knock the breath from TG's Pat Devereux, not a man easily impressed. So it's fair to imagine that'll leave the 526bhp GT350 bobbing forlornly in its wake.

Is it that simple?

No it is not. The GT500 has a supercharger bolted onto its V8, a straightforward route to vast power. It's got all the thrust all the time. It makes 625lb ft of torque against the GT350's 429lb ft. The GT350 has a super-special flat-crank V8 that zaps to 8,250rpm, and you've got to rev high to get the full effect.

The GT350 comes with a manual, whereas it's a DCT in the big brother. The GT350, without the blower and the extra cooling and the lighter transmission, is 170kg less, most of it over the front wheels.

More revs, more pedals, less weight. Sounds like it could be more involving?

It is. The engine's amazing, a barking animal as it swings beyond 8,250, but still full of true muscle in the middle revs. Pickup is always immediate.

It's got a sound all of its own too. This crankshaft means each half of the V can fire evenly, which is better for revs and power. But it's mechanically less balanced than the cross-plane variety. So it doesn't do the usual Detroit syrupy bubba-burble. But it's not quite like a Ferrari blare either, partly because of the way the pistons are arranged (up-down-up-down in each bank rather than up-down-down-up) and also the linking of each bank's exhaust. Combustion nerdery there folks.

And as you drive you're paying attention to the powertrain, because you're shifting the gears. The narrow-gate lever is quick to use, but you need to be accurate.

You know what? Get your gear and revs right, and it doesn't feel a whole bunch slower than the supercharged brute. Mind you, neither are supercar quick.

Does it handle?

It's precise enough, and well balanced. But the main thing is grip. Absolutely colossal cling-on. To be honest at road speeds you never feel you're giving it enough to do, so the sense of connection isn't the very greatest. And it tramlines, adding to the effective width on scabby tarmac. It's a car for American-sized roads, then. That said, it's sharper and quick-witted on the road than the GT500.

Is it just for the weekend track rat?

Nope. For that you need the even badder GT350 R, which has extra marginal improvements that all add up – stiffer in the chassis, grippier in the tyre, lighter in the wheel, stronger in the downforce. According to Ed Krenz, the engineering flame-keeper for the Mustang and other hot Fords, while the GT500 is obviously boss on the power tracks, a GT350 R will beat it around tight, snaky circuits.

So a road car?

All these Shelby Mustangs have adaptive dampers, and in the GT350's case the ride's really very civilised. And it's got most of the usual Mustang's amenities. Seats are cushty too. Keep the revs down and you can operate discreetly.

And, for the avoidance of doubt, it's powered by petrol?

Very, very much so. The Mach-E might be making news as one of tomorrow's Mustangs, but the GT350, among all of today's, certainly floats our boat.