With all the hype and buzz that the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has generated since its debut at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in January, Ford has just recently begun to unleash some of the finer details that help define the performance oriented mission that is infused into this potent serpent. When we last met the 2020 GT500, it was in a wind tunnel where we had the opportunity to learn about some of the lengths that Ford went to maximize the GT500’s aerodynamic potential. This time however, Ford has a neat surprise that arrives just in time for the one day of the year where green is king, and the luck of the Irish is in abundance.
Before you ask, Ford reps did NOT reveal the still unknown horsepower number that the GT500 is packing amid healthy servings of corned beef and Irish nachos. Instead, the company revealed an all new paint color, which is certain to make many of its competitors green with envy. Dubbed “Grabber Lime” this very bright shade of green is inspired by a vintage Mustang hue from the 1970s, but advances in certain paint technologies (including pigments) allow this particular shade of green to pay homage to the iconic original, while also boasting a very modern look that allows it to stand out to a new generation of muscle car enthusiasts. We also like the way the contrasting black accents and the accompanying black stripe package help make the color appear to pop out to the eyes when viewed by observers.
“it’s lime green on steroids” revealed Barb Whalen Ford’s color and materials manager. “This color traces back to a Mustang heritage color while bringing it forward with more modern dynamic pigments, and more dynamic energies.”
Grabber Lime will also be one of two special colors that will be on the GT500 color palette with Twister Orange being the other model exclusive color. We first saw Twister Orange in press photos that Ford released during the car’s debut in January, and the addition of Grabber Lime will allow the GT500 to boast a very enviable range of colors when it eventually arrives in dealer lots this fall. The two bold hues will also be joined by two other colors (Iconic Silver and Red Hot Metallic) which will also offer their services to the lesser GT350 model. The appearance of Grabber Lime as well as the other colors in the GT500’s color arsenal hint at Ford’s broader attempt to understand and formally embrace recent design trends, which have seen the resurgence of bright retro themed colors on many modern products including sportswear, clothing, and even appliances.
“These bright, vibrant colors are trending in design – in home furnishings, sportswear, and even appliances” Whalen said. “Aspirational and confident, they are fun youthful colors that make a statement of how you want the world to see you and who you want to be. And your car is an extension of that.”
With all the pieces slowly falling into place, the 2020 Shelby GT500 appears to have all the tools it needs to take the muscle car wars by storm. We look forward to hearing what else is in store for this potent reptile, and also finally hearing exactly how much horsepower is lurking under the vented hood of this track slaying all star.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.