This new sports car model from Shelby combines the past and the future with this retro feature. Today, passenger vehicles are more advanced than ever before, with novel technological features released by companies year-on-year in order to remain competitive. However, amidst these futuristic outputs, an increasingly common trend is being seen on the road is auto developers bringing back elements of their previous models and redesigning them to be fit for the demands of the modern-day driver.
Sports cars and passenger vehicles continue to advance
Rapid advancement in vehicle technology has meant that the world of automobiles has come to include features that were never before considered possible. From assisted self-driving technology to electric engines, the latest vehicles we see on the road are defined by sophisticated engineering, which is also defined by increased safety features.
For the past decade in particular, the electric engine across all vehicle model types has risen to be the primary focus of the automobile industry. Increasing consumer concern regarding the sustainability of the planet, coupled with the ‘Tesla effect’ that saw the American electric vehicle company see rapid success with its electric vehicles, has led nearly all major automobile developers to offer an electric vehicle model for their consumers to stay ahead.
While electric vehicles have seen particular success in the passenger vehicle world, sports car developers have not ignored these changing developments in the industry. While it is difficult to imagine a world where legendary super sports car developers, such as Ferrari and Lamborghini, would cease to feature a traditional combustion engine, developers of these types of vehicles have embraced hybrid and electric technology. By continuing to advance alternative engine technology, these developers are highlighting how they are not sacrificing performance and speed just because they are switching to more sustainable solutions for the sake of the planet’s future.
Shelby brings back this vehicle design from the past
While today’s vehicles have made leaping bounds in technological advancement, Shelby American has dived deep into nostalgia and brought back the spirit of the classic American ‘muscle cars’ of the 60s with their latest model design. With brand new 2026 Shelby Super Snake-R features a manual gearbox built on the latest S650 Mustang platform to deliver an impressive 850hp of power. The new model is reminiscent of previous designs, such as the 1967 Shelby GT500 Super Snake, but continues to include modern technological features.
The new vehicle, while street legal, is designed for the track, featuring a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine and available with a Tremec TR-3160 manual 6-speed or a 10-speed automatic transmission. To date, it is the most aggressive Super Snake vehicle offered by the company, with an estimated top speed of 200mph.
“Shelby American’s engineering team focused obsessively on balanced performance, integrating lightweight magnesium alloy wheels and proprietary carbon fiber elements,” described Shelby American on their website. “The result is a car that’s not only blisteringly fast but also remarkably poised and customizable for track conditions.”
Sports cars continue to keep up with the changing times
Sports car brands often sit with a unique consideration when they embrace alternative engine technology, whereby they need to consider the brand’s legacy and history. With these vehicles being designed for sports car enthusiasts, developers need to take into account how loyalists to the brand will react to these changes to their vehicles’ engines.
Nevertheless, legendary sports car developers continue to deliver. The inclusion of alternative engine technology in their vehicle model outputs also highlights a new era for these companies to embrace while maintaining core identity elements of the brand’s name. These developers are showcasing how high performance and sustainability can continue to coexist, and that these alternative engine solutions can even enhance the driving experience.
