The 2013 Shelby GT500 is a car that hasn’t even gone on sale yet, but is almost guaranteed a shrine in the Horsepower Hall of Fame. With 650 horsepower and a top speed that Ford says is over 200 mph, the 2013 Shelby GT500 has firmly placed it at the top of the American muscle pantheon…at least for now. But how did the Blue Oval do it?

Car & Driver talked to SVT’s lead engineer Jamal Hameedi and dissected the 2013 GT500, looking at all of the little improvements that add up to a big boost in power, speed, and dominence.

While a lot of attention naturally focused on the supercharged 650 horsepower 5.8 liter engine, Ford has also lowered the gear ratios in the rear end. In the 2012 GT500, the standard gear ratio 3.55:1, with an optional 3.73:1 also available. For 2013 that ratio has been lowered to 3.33:1, a small change that likely plays a huge role in taking the 2013 GT500 over 200 mph. Five of the six transmission gear ratios are also new, something that many people may overlook but that has a dramatic impact on handling, speed, and acceleration.

Another major enhancement is the launch control system, which at least one Mustang magazine thinks take the 2013 GT500 to mid-11’s in the quarter-mile. There are a lot more details in Car & Driver’s interview, so make sure you check it out. From the sounds of it though, Ford all but built a brand new car, and all those little differences really add up at the end of the day.