Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R 2016

The 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 is a powerful, high-strung muscle car designed to rock race tracks while still being at home on the street. Its special 5.2-liter V-8—code-named Voodoo, with good reason—makes 526 horsepower and revs to a dizzying 8250 rpm with an unforgettable shriek that sounds more Ferrari than Ford. The GT350's suspension is tuned tautly enough to handle cornering at race-track speeds without being bone-jarring on the street, and it has brakes to match. If you're a dedicated track rat, want even more on-track performance, and don't care if your GT350 is uncomfortable to drive on the road, there's the all-out GT350R. It's fitted with stiffer race-ready suspension, lightweight carbon-fiber wheels, and more aggressive aerodynamic components.

Rock 'n' roll ain't noise pollution. Neither is the ungodly roar from Ford's raucous, high-revving 526-hp V-8, code-named Voodoo. Like learning how to be a snake charmer, taming the wild engine takes time and tenacity. Its natural aspiration and peaky nature make it docile at low revs. Crest 4000 rpm, however, and a thrust-filled crescendo builds until the 8250-rpm redline. Likewise, the six-speed shifter slots precisely into each gear and rewards ratcheting through the ratios. The buoyant clutch is effortless, with fluid feedback that doesn't punish your left leg in stop-and-go traffic. In our testing, the GT350 shot from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds; the R version was a tad quicker at 3.9. Both trail behind the high-powered Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger but contend with other high-dollar rivals. It has a hair-raising soundtrack and ethereal track ability, yet the Shelby GT350 is still surprisingly livable in daily driving. Add tenacious grip, brilliant brakes, and satisfying steering, and you are treated to a symphony not just of sound but of pure, unbridled driving pleasure. Regardless of model, the Shelby's chassis is excellent; its limits are easily explored and exploited. The electrically assisted steering performs best on smooth surfaces at any speed, but it can be unpredictable on choppy streets where darting reverberations are disconcerting. The touchy brake pedal on our GT350 test car took some getting used to. Its initial bite was met with a tremendous response that felt too eager around town. That same feeling provided fortuitous reprieve at high speed, however.

At first glance, the Shelby GT350 interior appears identical to that of the regular Ford Mustang. The mix of modern and retro styling is sweet, and front-seat legroom is abundant. Although faux-suede trim and Shelby badging are specific to the GT350 and add some differentiation, the plentiful hard plastics look and feel low-grade for a car at this price point. A pair of standard Recaro front sport seats are supportive yet still quite comfortable but only offer basic seat adjustments. We like the thin cross section of the flat-bottom steering wheel, which avoids the thick-rim trend. The GT350 is a hoot at the track and also an agreeable travel companion. In our testing, it held the second-most carry-ons and the most interior storage space among its space-challenged competitors. The back seat stows with a pull-strap release and folds up by hand. Only the Dodge Challenger we tested held more luggage than the Shelby.