We had a feeling we weren't alone in silently cursing Ford for not having the foresight (or possibly the production capacity) to bring the latest Shelby GT500 to the UK. Now we know it's not just us, because Clive Sutton, a well-known UK-based tuner - and importer - of Mustangs, has turned its frustration into a business solution. Behold the CS850GT.
Clearly something built to fill the gap created by the GT500's absence is going to be a mite silly on the output front, and in that respect the new model does not disappoint. Sutton claims 859hp from the reworked 5.0-litre V8, and any way you cut it, that is a lot. The incoming Mach 1 delivers 460hp. The GT500, 771hp.
To extract so large a number, the firm inevitably went full Whipple. It doesn't state precisely how large the custom-tuned supercharger is, but we're thinking substantial. Not least because when you factor in a new intercooler and exhaust, the CS850GT is providing the rear axle with 665lb ft of torque. Which you get to marshal through a short-shifting six-speed manual gearbox. Aces.
Unsurprisingly, the tuner has devoted half its development time to making sure the Mustang's chassis is up to the job of accommodating more power than you get in a Ferrari 812 GTS. Upgraded front and rear anti-roll bars are virtually a given, but Sutton also cites 'enhanced bracing and new subframe components' to go with the 20-inch custom Vossen wheels and uprated DBA brakes.
Elsewhere the car gets a revised front end intended to mimic the GT500, with a new carbon fibre rear valance to incorporate the Quad Active XFORCE exhaust. The fixed rear wing you see in the photos is optional, but the 'Sutton' red billet starter button, carbon dash and performance steering wheel are all par for the CS850GT course.
Clive Sutton commented: "Our customers demand the highest level of performance, handing and quality and I'm confident that the new CS850GT will exceed their expectations in every area. Our bespoke Mustang creation tops even the most powerful stock offering in the US, including the Shelby GT500, guaranteeing owners exclusivity and unparalleled Mustang enjoyment." If it all sounds like your sort of jam, prices start at £115,000.
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