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The 2016 Shelby GT350R may have done a secret 7:32.19 around the Nürburgring

Shelby GT350R Mustang
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The 2016 Shelby GT350R played a big part in ratcheting up our heart palpitations during Ford’s amazing Detroit Auto Show presentation this year. Details on hand were limited but enough to get us excited: 5.2-liter flat plane crank V8 that produces over 500 horsepower, more than 400 pound-feet of torque, carbon fiber wheels, and a slew of performance-enhancing body work done to make it the fastest ever Mustang around the track. According to one source, it’s proven itself by setting a 7:32.19 time around the infamous Nürburgring.

This tip comes from Horsepower Kings, who only site a “trusted” and reliable source. The run allegedly took place this past September, with the source saying the result is “easily repeatable” and that the GT350 sans the R-Package put up a time that was only a few seconds behind, although no details about that car’s time was given.

Shelby GT350R Mustang
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If this is proven to be true, then this tops the 7:37.40 run of the Camaro Z/28 and, more frighteningly, beats the time set by the Porsche 997 GT3 RS MKII by a mere second. We all saw the fight between it and the Camaro coming but a Mustang that matches or out-laps a Porsche? These are indeed scary times.

This is a very bold and specific claim, to which I’m sure we’d all like some confirmation of, particularly Mustang fans among us. If this is true, it goes a long way in validating all the updates and improvements Ford has put into its performance-oriented pony car. If any substantial evidence to this claim, like dash-cam video of the run pops up, we’ll be sure to update.

Alexander Kalogianni
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…
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