The 1,000-hp Shelby 1000 Mustang is so extreme, it’s not street legal

By Stephen Edelstein Published November 16, 2017

It’s hard to argue with 1,000 horsepower. That’s what the Shelby 1000, the latest tuned Ford Mustang from Shelby American, delivers. But owning an American muscle car with supercar-like power requires some compromises.

Unveiled at SEMA 2017, the Shelby 1000 is based on the current-generation Mustang, meaning versions from model year 2015 to 2018. Shelby replaces the stock engine with a 5.2-liter V8. You may think Shelby just swapped in the engine from Ford’s own GT350 Mustang, which has the same displacement. But while the Shelby engine does share cylinder heads with the GT350 motor, it doesn’t share that engine’s unorthodox flat-plane crank design. The Shelby 1000 engine is also supercharged, while the GT350 engine is naturally aspirated.

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The new engine is backed by reinforced fuel and cooling systems, and a retuned transmission. Shelby also widened the car’s track, part of an aesthetic makeover that includes flared fenders, a new front fascia, a vented hood, a new rear fascia with diffuser, and Shelby-specific 20-inch wheels. On the mechanical side, Shelby fitted upgraded suspension and brakes. When you’re dealing with 1,000 hp, good brakes are very important.

But you’ll only be able to unleash that power on a racetrack. Shelby elected not to pursue emissions compliance for the new engine, meaning the Shelby 1000 isn’t street legal. Shelby did build a previous-generation 1000 Mustang from 2012 to 2014 that was offered in both street-legal and track-only versions, but apparently decided it wasn’t worth the hassle this time around.

The new Shelby 1000 package can be applied to any V8 Ford Mustang from the 2015 model year on. The conversion is priced at $169,995, not including the cost of a Mustang donor car. Shelby estimates the total cost, including the donor car, to average $219,995. The company only plans to make 50 cars per year, adding the incentive of collectibility.

In an era when you can buy a 650-hp Camaro or an 840-hp Challenger, a 1,000-hp Mustang isn’t quite as awe-inspiring as it once was. Add in the high price and the fact that you can’t drive the latest Shelby 1000 on the street, and this muscle car definitely becomes a niche product. But there is something special about a four-digit horsepower figure and, for dedicated power junkies, that will be enough.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Archer’s flying taxis head to LA for the 2028 Olympics

archer air taxi la28 inglewood aerial a final

Remember the buzz about flying taxis zipping through Paris for the 2024 Olympics? That sci-fi fantasy never got off the ground —Germany’s Volocopter dream was denied certification, leaving fans staring at the same old ground traffic. But now, the skies are opening again for a second shot at glory—this time over Los Angeles.
Archer Aviation, the California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company, has been named the exclusive air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft, a piloted electric air taxi designed to carry four passengers, will be whisking around VIPs, fans, and stakeholders between venues and key locations like LAX, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and even Orange County. Think 10-20 minute flights that skip the infamous LA gridlock and land you right where the action is—on the roof, basically.
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation.
And Midnight isn’t just a pretty rotor. It’s a whisper-quiet, emission-light aircraft with 12 rotors and a redundant, airline-level safety design.
What’s more, Archer and LA28 are working together to electrify vertiport hubs around the city—think futuristic sky stations—to serve not only Games-time needs but also to plant seeds for a post-Olympic air mobility network.
The air mobility market has been fast developing over the past few years, featuring the likes of Hyundai partnership with China’s XPeng HT Aero and Toyota's backing of Joby Aviation, a U.S. venture. Joby bought Uber Elevate in 2020, hoping to someday pair its air taxis with Uber’s ride-hailing app.
Archer, for its part, has been busy building a strategic partnership with United Airlines, which has already placed orders for the aircraft and is helping with logistics to integrate air taxis into airport-to-downtown travel. More than a demo for the cameras, the LA28 partnership will showcase urban air travel for real-world daily use, starting with one of the most high-profile events on Earth.
After raising false hopes in Paris, the air taxi dream is aiming for liftoff in LA—and this time, it might just stick the landing.

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Electric Muscle Misfire? Dodge Pulls Charger Daytona R/T from 2026 Lineup

electric muscle misfire dodge pulls charger daytona r t from 2026 lineup all new

The Dodge Charger Daytona R/T, once hailed as the vanguard of Dodge’s electric muscle car future, is being dropped for the 2026 model year.
According to a report from MoparInsiders, the Scat Pack variant will now lead the Daytona lineup, marking a significant pivot in Stellantis’ EV strategy.
Originally introduced with bold ambitions, the Charger Daytona R/T was designed to offer an accessible gateway into electric performance. With its 456-horsepower dual-motor setup and optional 509-horsepower Direct Connection stage kit, it seemed poised to excite both muscle car fans and EV newcomers. However, market realities have painted a different picture.
Industry and media reports highlight the core issue: buyers just weren’t biting. Despite its impressive specs and nostalgic design cues, the R/T struggled to justify its price tag, starting near $60,000. At that level, buyers expected either more performance or more premium features. Without strong sales traction, Dodge made the tough call to shelve the R/T variant for 2026, opting instead to focus on trims that resonate better with customers.
As we reported in December, the Charger EV was launched with an off-beat marketing message to “save the planet from self-driving sleep pods.” The goal was to retain Dodge’s brand identity—muscle, aggression, and driver engagement—even in the electric era. The Charger Daytona R/T was supposed to be the perfect balance of price and performance, but it seems the target audience wasn’t ready to make that leap at that price.
Importantly, this doesn’t spell the end of the Charger Daytona altogether. Higher-performance models like the Scat Pack and Banshee are still in the pipeline and, interestingly, are being adjusted for price competitiveness. Several trims are reportedly seeing price cuts, suggesting Stellantis is serious about making these vehicles more appealing and accessible.
For enthusiasts, the takeaway is clear: the electric muscle car isn’t going anywhere, but automakers are still figuring out how to sell it. The demise of the R/T is less a failure and more a recalibration—proof that even the boldest plans need to stay flexible in the face of consumer demand.

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The all-electric Cadillac Vistiq makes the Escalade redundant

2026 Cadillac Vistiq front-quarter view.

Cadillac wants a full lineup of electric vehicles, and it’s nearly there. It has a standard crossover SUV (the Lyriq), an entry-level model (the Optiq), an electric version of its flagship Escalade (the Escalade IQ), and even a baroque showpiece (the Celestiq). But something’s missing.

For a modern luxury brand, a midsize three-row crossover is key. Customers for whom a Toyota Highlander is too déclassé need something to take their kids to lacrosse practice, but may not want something as big as an Escalade. This isn’t the most exciting design brief, and that’s reflected in the gasoline Cadillac XT6, which has always felt like nothing more than a placeholder. Its new electric counterpart, the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq, is anything but.