Following the debut of the all-new, next-generation S650 Ford Mustang this week, it's clear that the current variants of the long-running pony car - the Mach 1 and Shelby GT500 - will be going away, at least temporarily. As Ford Authority reported earlier today, the GT500 will bow out after the 2022 model year, in fact, while the Mach 1 will live on through the last year of the S550 in 2023. However, sources familiar with the matter have told Ford Authority that the S650 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will debut in 2025 as a 2026 model, which means it won't be absent from the lineup for too long.
If the S650 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 remains on track for a 2025 release for the 2026 model year, this means that the next-gen variant will arrive earlier for the seventh-generation than the sixth, as the S550 didn't get a GT500 until the 2020 model year after debuting for 2015.
The S550 Shelby GT500 is equipped with the supercharged Ford 5.2L V8 Predator engine, which cranks out 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. It's mated exclusively to Ford's seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, and is equipped with a host of suspension upgrades and aero modifications that help it live up to its billing as the ultimate version of the current-gen Mustang.
Meanwhile, the regular 2024 Ford Mustang will continue to be offered with enhanced versions of the existing Ford 2.3L I-4 EcoBoost and Ford 5.0L V8 Coyote powerplant. While the EcoBoost will no longer be available with a six-speed manual transmission, the Coyote will continue to be offered with both the manual and the Ford 10-speed automatic gearbox, which is now the only option for base four-cylinder models.
Finally, the Mustang Dark Horse was also unveiled alongside the regular versions of the pony car packing a fortified version of the Coyote V8 that's projected to produce 500 horsepower and is mated to a Tremec six-speed manual transmission. The Dark Horse will also be available in two track-only variants and is the basis for a big motorsports push consisting of multiple new Mustang racers, one of which will compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
We'll have more on the S650 Ford Mustang soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Mustang news, Mustang Shelby GT500 news, and continuous Ford news coverage.
Leases available naitionwide on best-selling three-row crossover.
Putting The Blue Oval in serious contention for the win.
The same part present in certain models from the factory.
The elimination of the tax credit won't help.
After it was purchased in pieces.
With minor updates and a brand new powerplant.
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It'll be interesting to see if Ford ups the horsepower of the S650 GT 500 to something closer to 900 or 1,000...or who knows...maybe more. The only issue will be competing with Shelby American and their "magic wand" programs like the KR and others. Should be interesting to watch how this potential crossover of Ford engineers potentially increasing not only horsepower but upping their game in the suspension arena as well.
That kind of output is almost impossible for a low displacement engine without high volume turbos and a hybrid system. The only way they make that kind of power with just a supercharger and still make it reliable is with a big block. I hope they do that, but I’m not optimistic.
This is not true at all. You can make 850-900 rwhp on the stock blower reliably on 93 octane on the 2020-2022 models. There is no reason why 900+ crank hp wouldnt be possible reliably.
CONCORDO MEU AMIGO
I doubt you'll see more or much more than the current platform has. Mostly due to the traction limitations imposed both by the platform (front engine and RWD) plus the S650 is more or less S550 part two and the outgoing platform doesn't really benefit from a huge increase in power (as the various Shelby American tuner cars show, even with significantly more power they are barely faster if at all) over what the GT500 offers now. Personally, I'd be fine with the current 760 or 800 horsepower for the people that insist every new edition has to come with more power or it isn't progress and just being able to use it more effectively. That will translate into a faster car and something more enjoyable to drive.
The ZL1-1LE after all is about on even terms with much less power much like the 911 GT3 is more capable with significantly less power and of course the GT3 RS absolutely clobbers the GT500 with the same power the standard GT3 comes with (C8 Z06 like GT3 RS does the same with less power obviously).
The S650 GT looks MUCH better than the S550 GT to me. I'm looking forward to seeing the S650 GT500!
I hope they chuck in a DOHC aluminum big block just for old times sake. That kind of engine would make well over 760 hp naturally aspirated, so if you throw a supercharger on it, there’s your quadruple digit horsepower rating. It’s wishful thinking, but then again, they almost decided to produce a 10 liter Mustang in the early 2000s.
There was a SN95 that someone put in a 6.8 litre 10 cylinder modular engine, not 10 litres.
I said almost. They made something they called the SVT Boss in the SN95 generation that had a 10 liter NA V8 making 855 hp. It was made as a response to the ZL1 Camaro prototype from the same time, which also had a 10 liter V8 making much less power, but since GM got shown up they cancelled the project, which caused Ford to stop making them after just 1 unit. It runs a quarter mile in the mid 10 range.
C if your talking the SN95 Boss 351, it was a 4.6 DOHC with two cylinders grafted on and displaced 5.8 liters. The car was awesome even if it was a mule but people do drop the 6.8 Triton in the SN95 cars on occasion.
I'd take an all-aluminum 7.3 Godzilla. The case can be made for 550-600 horsepower I think and would make a nice riposte to the GT350 and it's high revving 5.2 which primarily appealed to Americans where other countries are looking for the quintessential muscle car experience in cars like the Mustang.
Hopefully this S650 will produce more horsepower than the dodge demon. Sure would be awesome before everything goes electric
You make a lot of valid points. Ford removing both the "c" side body lines and the double brow dash was a shockingly bad decision. Still, IMO, it looks good and promising, but it doesn't really look like a Mustang anymore. I believe they intentionally water down the style so it's easier to make a big splash at the mid-generation refresh, so I suspect these issues will be resolved in a few years, but at this price those games leave a bad taste. Also unimpressive are the fragile plastic interior finishes, manual Recaro's at $2k, and 3800+ curb weights. Add those to a long consistent string of horrible Ford dealer experiences I've had in the last few years, and I'm out. Plus, I really think Ford needed AWD this gen otherwise it's just more of the same and increasingly uncompetitive. Still, I bet a few years from now this gen will be the best looking and performing modern Mustang. But even if it is, I've moved on.
Well, here is a 60-something guy and I like it. I've owned 12 Mustangs including ALL generations and been a member of a Mustang club for 43 years. So far, I like my 2015 S550 better but I'll wait until I see the S650 in-person before making a final decision. As far as the presentation is concerned, things like final HP figures are never released this early in the development cycle.
I'm a dissenter then since I like what Ford did with the car and I'm over 50 (and I saw the Dark horse in person at NAIAS). I am planning on getting one when the GT350 is paid off. Also, Ford like GM with the C8 was looking to appeal to a younger market since there is a lot of truth in the bit "you can sell an old man a young man's car but you can't sell a young man an old man's car". Do I think "Dark Horse" sounds dumb as hell - absolutely, but then again I've never been super big on "Boss" either but like Carroll Shelby "The name wouldn’t make the car, and if it is a bad car, the name won’t save it.".