Shelby American has unleashed the 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R, the most potent car ever built by them for the racetrack. Some weeks ago, Shelby invited MotorTrend to its Las Vegas manufacturing facility for an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse into how this track-ready Super Snake-R comes to life.
Shelby American has always maintained a reputation for producing vehicles at different tiers for the various needs and budgets. Beyond what Ford offers, the 2025 GT350 and GT350R provide greater levels of performance and styling. For those with a little more to spend, the 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R offers a lot more performance than a GT350 or a Ford could ever offer. However, Shelby took note of its customers, who said that they wanted performance even more so, especially regarding crisp handling, and thus Shelby American developed the Shelby Super Snake-R.
“The Shelby Super Snake lineage enjoys the richest motorsport heritage, the first Shelby Super Snake having been created in 1967 for very high-speed racing,” stated Joe Conway, CEO of Shelby American. “But the R suffix has never before been associated with a Shelby Super Snake. We can make a very limited number of them for 2026 with such high performance as to warrant the R badge.”
And so, the Super Snake-R is a limited edition of the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. It retains all the attributes of the platform, including the famed Tremec TR-3160 six-speed manual transmission. The one thing Shelby set out to change, however, was the handling and power, taking them to unprecedented levels. This meant installing a new coil-over independent suspension system, widening the stance, fitting larger tires, and introducing aerodynamic carbon-fiber components along with cooling enhancements and myriad other upgrades.
The Mustang Dark Horse’s 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 engine produces 500 hp and has been supplemented by a supercharger to take the output well over 850 horsepower on 93 octane. Transmission options include the six-speed Tremec manual or Ford’s.
Meet 2025 Ford Mustang Mach E, check out its features, performance, and what’s new.
