S650 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 May Ditch That Iconic Name: Report
According to a new report, Blue Oval brass is considering calling the expected S650 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 something else entirely.
The Shelby GT500 has long represented the proverbial “king of the hill” in the Mustang lineup, dating all the way back to the first generation. While it hasn’t been present in every generation that the pony car has existed over the past six decades, the GT500 has been around for a while now – including, of course, in the previous S550 model that also happened to be the most powerful production Mustang to date. That model bowed out after the 2022 model year, but everyone simply assumed that an S650 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 would arrive at some point. Now, according to Ford Authority, that may not technically be the case.
According to this report, Ford is at least considering using another nameplate for its forthcoming, range-topping pony car, and no actual decision has been made as of yet. However, the fact that an S650 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 may not ever come to fruition is undoubtedly shocking, given the tremendous success the same model has enjoyed in the past, coupled with the history behind Ford and Shelby’s relationship in general.
There are a few valid reasons why Ford might be thinking about ditching the Shelby moniker, however. For starters, Shelby American is its own, separate, third-party entity, and The Blue Oval has to license the Shelby name to use on its own models. Currently, Ford brass seem to prefer using the company’s own nameplates, a list that includes the Raptor – which has expanded to include the Ranger, Bronco, and F-150 – as well as the Dark Horse, which was new for 2024 and yet, has also quickly endeared itself to fans.
Then there’s the fact that Ford is looking to attract a younger demographic to the S650 in general. The automaker was quick to point this out from day one, noting that the newest Mustang packs features like big screens and fancy graphics that were created using the video game Unreal‘s engine, coupled with features like the electronic drift brake, all of which are specifically targeted at young folks.
It’s unclear if using the Shelby name is actually a deterrent for young shoppers, nor if they can even afford such a machine, but as Ford Authority points out, GM has thus far accomplished this goal with the C8 Corvette. Though it isn’t exactly cheap, the C8 is perhaps the most affordable new, exotic-styled, mid-engine sports car on the market, and so far, has attracted a considerably younger client, on average, than its predecessors, which is important for its long-term survival.
This all makes perfect sense, of course, but it would still be quite shocking if The Blue Oval ultimately decides not to move forward with an S650 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, and it would also prove to be controversial among fans of the pony car, in general. Now, we’ll just have to wait and see how things ultimately pan out.
Photos: Ford
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