When I tell other motorheads I’m an automotive journalist, many ask how they too can figure out what their favorite brand is up to next. I often joke that they should ignore the automaker’s statements—but pay close attention to what the factories are doing. Recently filed patents are also a great clue. Well, two of those clues just came together to reveal the new, supercharged, Ford GT500 Mustang.
Ford’s ramping up supercharged V8 production
In late February, the UAW sent a memo to autoworkers about a new shift at Ford’s Dearborn Engine Plant. Why? To build more supercharged 5.2-liter V8s. That engine currently powers the F-150 Raptor R, but it’s a highly evolved version of the old Mustang GT500’s supercharged engine. Sure enough, the memo said the plant was ramping up for a 2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. The Detroit Free Press later confirmed the new program.
Are Ford’s new trademarks a bluff?
Ford filed a bunch of trademarks this year—“Boss,” “Dark Horse Boss,” and even a fresh “Cobra” trademark. That’s a lot of smoke to throw us off the trail of a revived GT500. Luckily, the first pictures have emerged of the new ’Stang. And they reveal some major clues.
An eagle-eyed photographer over at Motrolix spotted three interesting cars in the wild. They were highly modified Mustang Dark Horse models. What are they for? They wore Michigan “manufacturer” plates, so they’re clearly experimental vehicles Ford is testing. One even had a cheeky sticker of a mule next to its Dark Horse badge. Safe to say these are “test mules”—cars wearing one body style but packing a brand-new powertrain underneath. So what engine do these ponies have?
Like the Dark Horse, they have four sizable tailpipes. But up front, Ford’s chopped away the driver-side vent below the headlight and installed a huge air intake and radiator. Interesting. It’s giving Dodge Challenger Hellcat vibes—remember how that one inhaled air through a headlight blank? This is likely a supercharged Mustang. You can see the picture below, and keep scrolling for the final clue about what this car’s name will be:
One of the mules had the exact same rims as the S550-generation GT500. Yes, the tires are updated, but unless Ford’s playing next-level mind games, we’re likely looking at the 2026 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500.
