With the new-gen Dodge Charger's order books still not open and the Chevrolet Camaro dead and buried (for now), the Ford Mustang is the only muscle car in production. The Blue Oval appears to be interested in cashing in more, as it was recently spied testing an aggressive prototype of the S650.
Images of the partially camouflaged tester recently made their way to the web, with the_xcalibur sharing them on social media. The mysterious prototype was presumably spotted in Las Vegas, and all hints point to a future Shelby model.
Our initial thought was the production version of the upcoming GTD, which will be available in limited numbers at the end of the year or in early 2025, with a targeted 800 horsepower and a starting price of around $300,000. However, it looks very soft compared to the hardcore model, so it cannot be that.
It also looks more aggressive than the current GT and Dark Horse, sporting an entirely new bumper with a different grille design, a fresh hood, and a chunky integrated ducktail spoiler. It has blue brake calipers, five double-spoke alloys, and a black finish, and it might also feature a few chassis enhancements—if it is indeed a Shelby, that is.
Photo: Instagram | the_xcalibur
You may want to take the next piece of information with a pinch of salt, as nothing is backing it up: we think it may be a new GT350 – or a GT350R. If that's the case and it stays true to its predecessor, then it will feature a higher-displacement naturally aspirated V8, a few interior mods, including a pair of bucket seats, and some enhancements beneath the skin, next to a sporty exterior makeover.
Another possibility is that we may be looking at the next-gen Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, yet we wouldn't be that convinced, as this model would likely sport a more aggressive design. Rumors speak of a possible 2025 introduction of the S650-based GT500, making its way to dealers as a 2026 model and perhaps kicking off at close to $100,000.
It might boast in excess of 800 horsepower, and we wouldn't be surprised if the Dearborn car manufacturer gives it a four-digit output, which would allow it to take a swing at the mighty Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170. The old GT500 had a 5.2L supercharged V8 with 760 horsepower (771 ps/567 kW), and with the GTD making roughly 800 hp, it is natural to suspect the next one will have much more than that.
Only time will tell what Ford is testing with this S650 Mustang prototype, though our money would be on a new GT350 (GT350R?), perhaps due in the coming months. So, what do you think we're dealing with here?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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