Since the debut of the S650 Mustang in 2023, we’ve been waiting for a hardcore Shelby model. Rumors of the high-performance muscle car have been circulating for years, but nothing’s been made official. That’ll likely change soon, judging by these spy photos of a seemingly complete Shelby GT500 mule captured driving around Michigan.
Our spy photographer managed to snag some detailed photos of this camouflaged GT500 prototype stalking around on the street ahead of a reveal likely to take place later this year. The front fascia wears a thick layer of netting and tarp to conceal changes to the front end, though we can see wider openings for the upper and lower grilles, as well as some outer bulges on the hood.
Photo by: KGP Photography
Photo by: KGP Photography
Photo by: KGP Photography
The rear end is more of the same, with a makeshift blanket covering the bumper, and polka-dot camouflage on the fenders and trunk lid. The thin quad-exhaust pipes are clearly not production ready, while the wing looks to be lifted straight from the lesser Mustang GT.
The wheels and tires are the most fascinating part of this tester. Look closely, and you’ll see the tires measure 305/30ZR20 up front and 315/30ZR20 in the rear—coincidentally, these are the same exact sizes found on the last-generation GT500. The tires themselves are Pirelli P Zero Rs with “Prototype Use Only” text on the sidewalls.
Unlike the last GT500 prototype we saw, this one isn’t using carbon fiber wheels, but more traditional alloys. In all likelihood, this wheel and tire setup will likely be the base offering for the upcoming GT500, with a carbon fiber wheel and stickier tire offered as the sportier option.
Photo by: KGP Photography
There’s no official word on what sort of engine will power the next GT500, but we have a pretty good idea of what to expect, thanks to a leaked union memo from the Dearborn engine plant in Michigan. The document, whose contents were confirmed by the Detroit Free Press through internal sources, showed plans to produce an engine nicknamed “Legend.”
The plant currently builds the supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 found in the Raptor R. That same motor powered the last GT500, making 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque. So it makes sense for the factory to supply the next car’s engine, too. Power is still a question mark, though we wouldn’t be surprised to see the next GT500 make over 800 hp, possibly matching the track-ready Mustang GTD.
Judging by how ready-for-production this prototype looks, we probably won’t have to wait much longer to find out.
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Source: KGP Photography