The S550 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is truly an all-around track weapon. Despite the remaining stigma that Mustangs are meant only for straight lines, Carroll Shelby began putting them around corners faster than anyone thought possible back in the 1960s. Now, upholding his legacy is a supercharged brute that grips windy racetracks like a featherweight roadster. Finding something that can keep up in both the corners and the straightaways is nearly impossible. Perhaps, though, the Cadillac CT5-V has a chance. After all, it beat out the C8 Corvette in a similar event.

Can the luxurious Caddy dethrone the almighty snake?

The Edmunds U-Drags are something of a dream come true for auto enthusiasts. They’ve managed to develop a format for testing cars head to head throughout multiple disciplines in one fell swoop. A standing quarter-mile, braking, cornering, and a rolling start race all at once is truly fun to watch. In this episode, they pit the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V against the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.

The specs are undoubtedly a bit lopsided in this race. The GT500 packs a whopping 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque thanks to its supercharged 5.2-liter V8. Additionally, its seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission shifts through gears faster than you can blink an eye.

All of these attributes make for quite a problem for the CT5-V. It, too, has a supercharged V8 powerplant. However, its 6.2-liter unit is “only” producing 668 horsepower with an accompanying 659 pound-feet of torque. Though it’s the enthusiast choice, its six-speed manual transmission is definitely a disadvantage when it comes to battling the Shelby.

The U-Drags have two races. Between them, the cars switch both lanes and drivers to ensure a level playing field. Additionally, both vehicles use their respective launch control systems to get off the line.

The Mustang’s brutal horsepower and suspension put up fierce competition

Right off the bat in both races, the Mustang’s horsepower advantage is very plainly visible. Despite the Cadillac beating the GT500 off the line, the supercharged Shelby quickly reels the Caddy in and blows right by into the braking section. After whipping around the corners, the gap the GT500 puts on the CT5-V is unsalvageable.

Unfortunately for the Cadillac, switching sides and the driver did not help. Just like in the previous race, the CT5-V gets off to an early lead. Ultimately, though, that’s its only victory. Though they are relatively even coming out of the corner, the GT500 puts all its mighty horses down and sprints to the finish line, crossing it at 145 miles per hour with a time of 31.2 seconds.

Remarkably, this doesn’t just beat the CT5-V. The GT500 is now in the top spot on the Edmunds U-Drag leaderboard, even beating out the C8 Chevrolet Corvette.

Ultimately, the CT5-V and the GT500 each fill a bit of a different niche. While the Cadillac does have a ton of power and a manual transmission, it’s a bit less suited for track days than the almighty GT500.

Either way, seeing them compete head-to-head in a competitive environment is a sure-fire way to put a smile on car enthusiasts’ faces. Keep scrolling to see the CT5-V take on the C8 Corvette in a previous U-Drag!