Wall Street may be doing its best impression of a seismograph, while California vacillates between fire and flooding. Despite those swings, and the gravitational pull of an industry looking toward the future while still rooted in its past, the inexorable pull of performance keeps rearing its rev-happy head. And nowhere is that more clearly evident than in the garages of Ford, which recently revealed the all-new Shelby GT500.

If you’re known by the company you keep, you should know that in the world of 700+ horsepower 2-doors, it’s a very small company. Scheduled to arrive in Ford/Shelby showrooms this fall, the Shelby GT500 is described by Ford as the most powerful street-legal Ford ever – that’s EVER – with its supercharged 5.2 liter V8 capable of mid-three-second 0-60 times, and completing the quarter-mile in under 11 seconds.

That power goes to the GT500’s rear wheels (this ain’t no Subaru!) via the segment’s first dual-clutch trans, capable of executing shifts in less than 100 milliseconds. And not only is the transmission quick, it’s flexible; a driver can select from normal, slippery, sport, drag and track drive modes.

Of course, there’s more to any Shelby than what’s under the hood. Mods to the GT500 suspension include revised suspension geometry, a new electronic power steering unit and lighter weight coil springs front and rear. In combination with a next-gen MagneRide suspension, the GT500 delivers the best-ever lateral acceleration from a Mustang platform.

The GT500 recipe is made complete with a number of cosmetic changes, all of which supply both greater individuality and enhanced functionality. Being cool – of course – is more than just looking cool. It’s keeping 700+ horsepower running cool, and the GT500’s two tons staying right-side up.