S650 Ford Mustang Cobra, Boss Variants Rumored to Debut at Detroit Auto Show

We could be treated to two new pony cars in a couple of weeks in the form of an S650 Ford Mustang Cobra and Dark Horse Boss.

We’ve known for months now that more S650 Ford Mustang variants are in the works, but when it comes to what, exactly, those variants might be, well, that’s a different story. Rumors have been all over the map, with many believing the Shelby GT500 will return after a multi-year absence, while others suggest Ford may opt to go with names like the Cobra and Dark Horse Boss, reviving a couple of legendary pony car monikers. Now, we may now when the new S650 Ford Mustang Cobra and Dark Horse Boss may debut.

In this video from YouTuber StangMode, our host reveals that he has been invited to this year’s Detroit Auto Show, which kicks off on January 14. While The Blue Oval obviously isn’t telling folks that it’s debuting something like the S650 Ford Mustang Cobra or Dark Horse Boss in that venue, it is interesting that a guy who makes a lot of pony car content received an invite, which he assumes is because a new pony car or two could be unveiled at the event.

In the meantime, we’re left to speculate, and most rumors suggest that Ford is indeed cooking up two different variants here, as it has filed to trademark both Cobra and Dark Horse Boss in the U.S. over the past few months.

The current Dark Horse is the range-topping model at the moment, one that’s focused on track performance, so it would make sense to bring back the Boss as a more hardcore version of that model dubbed Boss – and that’s what we’ve seen in some prototypes that sport a more aggressive front fascia with flared wheel arches and larger wheels and tires – and even a convertible model, most recently.

As far as what might be powering the Dark Horse Boss, well, it would make perfect sense if Ford opted to leave it naturally-aspirated and simply coax some more power out of the existing Coyote, and pair it with a manual transmission like the Dark Horse’s existing Tremec. If the goal here is to make the Dark Horse more track capable, there are many ways to do precisely that, even without a power boost – perhaps some suspension and aero upgrades are on tap.

Then there’s the rumored S650 Ford Mustang Cobra, which could arrive packing more in the way of straight-line performance, perhaps leaning on forced induction to coax more power out of the Coyote. It could very well serve as the effective GT500 replacement if Ford opts not to continue to use that name, as has been rumored for quite some time now. Either way, we may not need to wait much longer to learn all the details of what The Blue Oval is cooking up here, if StangMode’s prediction comes true.

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Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.