The Ford Group is one of the "Big Three" American vehicle manufacturers. While it once housed luxury car brands like Land Rover, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Volvo, and Mercury, only Lincoln and Ford remain, with Mercury becoming defunct and the others being sold. Many of the vehicles produced under Ford have been practical, affordable models. Still, some came with brain-mangling performance and power, enabling them to feature among the fastest American cars.
The Blue Oval has produced the most thrilling cars of all Ford Group brands. It is difficult to identify which Ford vehicles, from legendary muscle cars to track-focused supercars, are the fastest because so many of them have claimed the title of the fastest car during their respective eras. To simply everything, we ranked the quickest cars that Ford Group has ever manufactured in terms of their 0 to 60 mph acceleration time.
10 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1- 0-60 In 4.2s
The Mach 1 nameplate, first used in 1969 and last used in 2004, was revived in the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1. Designed as a track special, it has not only turned out to be a worthy replacement for the Bullitt coupe, but has also filled the gap left by the highly sought-after Shelby GT350.
The 2021 Mach 1 can launch with eye-watering force, courtesy of its 480-hp direct-injected-liter V8, lifted from the Bullitt. Its 4.2-second 0-to-60mph pace will excite anyone who wants a track car that doubles up as a daily driver.
9 2012-2013 Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca - 0-60 In 4.1s
The Boss 302 is an iconic nameplate born in Ford's stables in the late 60s. Only having had an initial limited two-year production run, it's one of the rarest Mustang models today. When Ford brought it back to life in 2012, they made a further upgraded track-specific version – the Boss 302 Laguna Seca – named after the famous California track.
Only 750 units, available in Black or Ingot Silver, were made. Each was equipped with a 5.0-liter Coyote V8, 6-speed manual transmission, and a Torsen limited-slip differential. With the Boss 302 Laguna Seca also getting a beefier suspension and a rear seat delete (for weight savings), it could scoot from a standstill to 60mph in 4.1 seconds, earning it a spot on this list.
8 2018 Ford Mustang GT Automatic - 0-60 In 3.9s
Two features highlight the Mustang's 2018 model year changes: a revised 5.0-liter V8 engine with better low-end torque and high-rpm power, and an all-new 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. The latter had a wide-ratio span and optimized gear spacing, resulting in increased average power for acceleration.
The automatic transmission turned out so good that owners of the 2018 Ford Mustang GT Automatic would disagree with those who argue that stick shifts are the better option for acceleration. Using it, they could achieve 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, outgunning the similarly-powered 6-speed manual counterpart at the drag strip.
7 2015 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 – 0-60 In 3.8s
The Shelby GT350, which has since been discontinued, was intended to be a street-legal beast that would also double up as a track weapon. The 2015 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350, powered by a 5.2-liter V8 engine and armed with a 6-speed manual, could lay down 3.8 seconds in the 60mph run.
It's even more impressive when you learn that the engine, tuned to whip out a tire-smoking 526 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, didn't use a turbocharger, supercharger, or even a smidgeon of Ford's EcoBoost treatment. This car's insane 8,250-rpm redline also made the V8 the highest revving engine in Ford history (at the time).
6 2018 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R – 0-60 In 3.7s
For those who a Shelby GT350 isn't enough, the race-focused Shelby GT350R variant has always been the answer - it's a muscle car with more on-track chops. Intended to be a leap in the GT350's handling and performance, the GT350R comes equipped with more performance-oriented features, such as lighter carbon fiber wheels and stickier tires. At the same time, unnecessary stuff like back seats get removed to reduce curb weight. As such, it can go even faster.
The 2018 GT350R had the same 526-hp high-revving V8 engine dubbed "Voodoo" mated exclusively with a 6-speed manual. In terms of performance, it turned out a masterpiece of its creator. The 0 to 60mph run sprint could be made in 3.7 seconds, with a 176-mph top speed.
5 2014 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 – 0-60 In 3.6s
The Ford Mustang GT500 is a ferocious muscle car and the best product of the Ford-Shelby-Ford partnership that started in the 1960s. Shelby GT500 models based on the fifth-generation Mustang produced nearly a decade ago are still excellent performers today.
The 2014 Shelby GT500 is among them. It got its juice from a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 pumping out 662 horsepower and up to 631 lb.-ft of torque. Straight from the factory, it could blitz from zero to 60 in an astonishing 3.6 seconds, topping at 200mph.
4 2005-’06 Ford GT Mk1 – 0-60 In 3.5s
The Ford GT MK1 is a beautiful mid-engine, two-seater sports car produced by Ford in 2005 and 2006 as a tribute to the 1960s Le Mans-winning Ford GT40. Only 4,038 GTs were made, selling for more than $150,000 when new. Since then, we bet their value has only gone up.
The 2005 Ford GT came with a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 wringing out 550hp and 500 lb.-ft of torque, sending the power to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox. It had a top speed of 205 mph, which was insane for its day, and took only 3.5-second to launch from zero to 60 mph.
3 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition – 0-60 In 3.5s
Despite its controversial name, the Mustang Mach-E has been a success for Ford. Built on a dedicated EV platform, it boasts an EPA-estimated range of 270 miles, provides a comfortable cabin, and has superb driving dynamics. It is available in several flavors, but the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition is the hottest and the only logical option for speed freaks.
With 480 horsepower and 634 lb.-ft. tire-spinning torque on tap in AWD form, the Mach E GT Performance Edition 0-60-mph time is 3.5seconds which might be a worthy compensation for the lack of a thrilling soundtrack to go along with all of that power.
2 2022 Ford Mustang GT500 – 0-60 In 3.3s
The 2022 Ford Mustang GT500 is one of the most exhilarating muscle cars on the road today, and it's easy to see why. It boasts a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 that doles out 760 hp and 625 lb.-ft of torque, making it the most powerful street-legal production car Ford has ever built.
While it's a muscle car at heart, it also offers the agility and responsiveness of smaller, lighter sports cars. It has been clocked sprinting from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds and completing a quarter-mile in only 11.1 seconds. With such performance, there is little doubt that Ford's second-fastest car can hang with Europe's best.
1 2016-'22 Ford GT 0-60 In 3.0s
The 3rd generation Ford GT with an aerodynamically-optimized teardrop shape is not only quick but also quite the looker. Its power comes from a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that kicks out 660hp and is linked to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Thanks to both its audacious design and extraordinarily powerful V6, this race-bred track-munching supercar is the fastest Ford ever.
Designed for ultimate performance, Ford claims 0-62 mph in 3.0 seconds, 0-100 mph in just 6 seconds, a quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds, and 216 mph at full tilt are all within reach.