When comparing lists of what is/is not known about the Ford Mustang’s performance model that slots above the GT, the list of “known” is almost nil, while the “not known but everyone has a wild guess” list is almost two miles long. Well, we have confirmation of the car’s name, at least:
Ta-da. Picked from some corporate paperwork is this official rendering of the new model’s nameplate, which was always at the top of the list of likely names. Unlike the last GT350 (based off the S197 Mustang), this one will be a Ford-built, Shelby-licensed deal, like the last GT500’s. (The S197 GT350 is technically a Shelby American car, with Ford suppling the Mustangs and Shelby American doing the modifications.)
One down. What’s still not known are the exciting bits. Yes, we know that whatever is powering this thing is a screamer (there are plenty of YouTube vids of this creation blasting around the Nordschliefe) but what exactly it is hasn’t been pinned down. The most exciting guess is the “Voodoo” flat-plane-crank V8, but there hasn’t been a word even whispered out of Flat Rock if that’s even a close guess. Much like Dodge did with the Hellcat twins, Ford is going to play their cards close to their chest until they are damn good and ready to show them. With Ford faithful salivating at the opportunity to top the Hellcat’s horsepower figures, that news can’t come soon enough.
Is this replacing the GT500 or being built in addition to it?
Near as anyone can tell, it sounds like something has been swapped: the GT350 is built at Ford with a licensed name, and the GT500 is built by S.A. and will be sold through their dealerships. All hearsay and conjecture at this point.
I can’t wait to see what this comes to. I don’t think Hellcat-cowering numbers would be the right way to go here. This should’ve be another ridiculous overpowere car. I hope that it is a road course destroyer instead of an overbuff muscle car that reinforces the american stereotype that europeans tend to emphasize on. I hope that they make it a car that hangs with Europe’s best.