Manoli Katakis 
The 2020 SEMA Show didn’t happen like it was supposed to this year. Replaced by the online event known as SEMA360, the aftermarket association did what it could to connect companies showcasing new products with other industry professionals as well as media via roundtable discussions. Those that tuned into these scheduled events could get added levels of insight on the latest aftermarket products and accessories. OEMs such as Ford Motor Company also hosted these roundtables. And according to Motor Trend, the 5.2L supercharged V8 engine found exclusively in the S550 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will soon be available as a crate motor from Ford Performance.
The report says that official horsepower and torque figures for the Predator V8 crate engine are still at large, as is the price, and/or if will come with a transmission or other components. For reference, the engine punches out an exceptionally powerful 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque in the S550 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, which also features an exclusive Tremec dual-clutch seven-speed transmission. It’s an absolute riot to experience, as the Ford Performance team used all of the powers and skills at hand to make a 4,200-plus pound muscle car shake and dance and scoot like something that weights a thousand pounds lighter.
Compared to what’s available/upcoming from crosstown rivals Chevrolet Performance and Mopar, the 5.2L Predator supercharged V8 crate engine will squeeze itself between the 755 horsepower LT5 V8 from Chevrolet Performance ($18,811 USD), and the newly announced 807 horsepower Hellcrate Redeye engine from Mopar ($21,807 USD). If Ford can keep the price competitive (a bit of a challenge considering the 5.2L Aluminator 52XS is priced from $22,599), then a Predator V8 crate engine is going to be a highly appealing. But that LT5 is a serious power bargain.
Otherwise, Ford Performance otherwise had zilch to show during SEMA360. We at least expected some concepts, and some Ford Bronco stuff. But we’re still expecting announcements from Ford Performance soon, so stay tuned.
To get you up to speed on more Ford engine news, the 7.3L Godzilla V8 engine was announced earlier this year as a crate motor, while Canadian union leaders may have let a big secret slip with the announcement of a new 6.8L V8 engine coming to both the S650 Ford Mustang and fourteenth-generation Ford F-150.
