🎥 First Listen of the Legend Engined 2026 Shelby GT500 Mustang Next-Gen Successor!

[Farmer Fran]

What "We" want seems to be incomprehensible, IMO.

Half of the complaints I see/hear about the Mustang center around how much this car has strayed from its roots, given that it's attempting to fight other brands abroad and no longer solely focusing on the "Fast in a straight line" philosophy. Go back in the opposite direction and I promise you someone is going to whine about how it's not good at handling anymore.

...That someone may be me, but that's beside the point.

Other complaints I hear about the Mustang surround the design, and after years of watching people whine about it, I've surmised the only thing that will make those people happy is if Ford started rebuilding the Gen 1. At that point just go buy a Resto-mod or the actual Gen 1 itself.

And then the remainder of people who are upset with the car would literally drive anything else except a Mustang. To those people, I ask, if it's so terrible why does this car live rent-free in your head?

Point in case: If Ford listened to the voices, the car we have now would either be stretched thin even further or go so far in one direction it would stop selling altogether. Right now it's catering to multiple audiences, and IMO if some people took off the rose-tinted glasses, used their critical thinking skills, and just maybe stopped arguing online about how terrible of a job Ford is doing and touched some grass, they'd see that the car isn't half bad.

TLDR, people need to stop talking about what Ford could have have given us and just go drive their damn car. I'm sorry but it really peeves me when I see all these complaints, especially coming from fellow owners, who clearly wouldn't be satisfied even if they got what they were asking for. If you don't like it buy something else. This isn't a Model T situation where you have one single choice...

I think maybe i get what you are saying....

The mustang has evolved into a cushy, fast, feature heavy, expensive car, generally speaking.

Give us a 35k V8 stripper that is tuneable

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[Q6543]

Can’t wait to see the fascia… but it looks more like a rolls Royce phantom under wraps…

 

[11GT50]

I suspect the car in the still photos has carbon ceramic rotors.

 

[falcongtho3]

Please have three pedals, please have three pedals...

 

[Tamadrummer88]

Ford doesn't own the rights to Shelby anymore. This can't be a GT500.

I thought that too, but it appears Ford didn’t renew their licensing to the “GT350” name, and not the “GT500” name, so this could very well be the next GT500

 

[Thomas]

The car I wish they would make, is essentially just the S550 Gt500, with a different name, 6-700lbs lighter, slightly more low-end torque, modestly shorter gearing , a real traction control system to help manage wheel spin at low speeds, faster throttle response (ala GTD), paddles that feel like your cocking a shotgun, and mode select switches that work in both directions....and an 8500 RPM redline...

But it would cost 200k to drop that much weight....

 

[Bikeman315]

I thought that too, but it appears Ford didn’t renew their licensing to the “GT350” name, and not the “GT500” name, so this could very well be the next GT500

Both the GT350 and the GT500 names were licensed to Ford from Shelby. No license, no GT500.

 

[Bikeman315]

The car I wish they would make, is essentially just the S550 Gt500, with a different name, 6-700lbs lighter, slightly more low-end torque, modestly shorter gearing , a real traction control system to help manage wheel spin at low speeds, faster throttle response (ala GTD), paddles that feel like your cocking a shotgun, and mode select switches that work in both directions....and an 8500 RPM redline...

But it would cost 200k to drop that much weight....

So you want a C8?

 

[Thomas]

So you want a C8?

Heh....almost. More like a less refined AMG GT that breathes a lot more fire (not the new fat one, although it is ballistic).

Base C8 is too boring, and is missing just raw excitement (and a lot of HP). Even in Z06 form, it sounds like its breathing through a tube or something and all the trims looks like someone made a paper airplane by just folding the paper into a nose heavy dart, unfolded it and said "that's what it should look like". So many weird crinkles and angles.

 

[broncoboy22]

The car I wish they would make, is essentially just the S550 Gt500, with a different name, 6-700lbs lighter, slightly more low-end torque, modestly shorter gearing , a real traction control system to help manage wheel spin at low speeds, faster throttle response (ala GTD), paddles that feel like your cocking a shotgun, and mode select switches that work in both directions....and an 8500 RPM redline...

But it would cost 200k to drop that much weight....

I don’t think it’s possible for them to shed that much weight on this current platform

 

[Mulletdaddee72]

Just being a hopeful optimistic here but…..
Would be SUPER RAD to see a true successor to the original Terminator, a true new aged Cobra, not gt500 or gt350 or boss. And just to be cheeky about it, it would be awesome if they used an internal code like T-900 if they were aiming for 900hp. Bring back a coupe of OG Terminator colors like Comp Orange and Mystichrome. Offer it with the option for a tremec manual or a 7spd DCT. A Cobra R package with improved aero, CF wheels, sticky tires. Maybe even bring some GTD spice by giving it multimatic dampeners and please give some toned down versions of those GTD fender vents. That’s something I’d pay $100k for.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

I don’t think it’s possible for them to shed that much weight on this current platform

Nope. Not without expensive materials like aluminum and carbon fiber. Or a small engine turbo.

 

[erocker]

I can see the engine being a 5.4L loosely based off the GT3 cars. Maybe something completely different? I just don't see them using the 5.2L again.

 

[Q6543]

If it’s a cobra…. Then maybe there will be another “cobra R” finally.

 

[IceGamer]

I can see the engine being a 5.4L loosely based off the GT3 cars. Maybe something completely different? I just don't see them using the 5.2L again.

Always remember: the Mustang gets what the F-150 has. It's financially inadvisable to do something else. So 5.4 sounds unlikely unless the F-150 gets the same upgrade in the near future and I don't see that happening. Besides, we already had 'confirmed' rumors that the Predator engine will get an upgrade and knowing Ford and it's marketing team they came up with a new name so that they can claim 'brand new car with a brand new engine called 'Legend', pushing over 800hp'. That's what the S650 has been so far.

I'm curious how far the design will stray away from the GTD, especially hood and fender.

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