texas8709
Member
It seems like a new GT500 to me. The front end underneath the curtain almost looks like S550 GT500. Seems like it slopes in at the top slightly, and then juts out more prominently at the bottom. Could be my eyes, but I feel like I can see a similar hexagon shape to the last GT500 too.
The rear fenders seem like they're flared, and it looks like it has a decent rear wing extending out back, though not as aggressive as the GTD. I'm just confused about a new GT500's space in the lineup.
I don't think it's hybrid, I feel like we'd have heard more rumors in the lead-up. Though I guess a hybrid GT500 could theoretically be possible.
I can't see it being "mid engine" either (in the traditional rear-mid engine definition). The shape doesn't seem to indicate that here. More importantly why would they develop a new GT3 racer and homologation GTD car, go through the hassle of converting it to a transaxle and front-mid engine layout, and drastically improve its aero, if they were going to have a (theoretically) superior rear-mid engine Mustang platform a year later to work with. I can't fathom that happening. I expected if a rear-mid Mustang would ever happen, the GTD would have been that. A really expensive, limited production mustang to somewhat fill the space of the finally-retired GT. A price well into 6 figures could help justify the cost of developing the special platform. And then I thought that maybe the next GT500 would get a transaxle, if anything revolutionary. The first S197 GT500's calling card was bringing back a supercharged v8 with relatively high HP. The 2013 version upped the ante more by having well over 600hp and the (controversial) claim of being capable of 200mph. The S550 GT500's calling card was obviously even larger hp numbers, but more so the focus on handling and first-time use of a DCT. So what would have been the headline grabber for the S650 version? 800+ hp maybe, but I thought a transaxle for the new GT500 to help weight distribution would be a good new feature to differentiate it from the S550 version.
But as we all know, that car is the GTD. 800+ hp and transaxle. So what space can the new GT500 occupy? The last one had 760hp, so one would think this thing has to receive at least a bump to 800hp to move the needle compared to S550. But that brings it into GTD hp territory. Do they put a transaxle in the new GT500 too? So now it's even more similar to the GTD. So what will differentiate it, no crazy aero, not as advanced suspension, less/none of the light-weighting? So the GT500 basically becomes a portlier, sloppier GTD? But with the prices of current Mustangs, a new GT500 IS going to cost 100k+. There is a great difference between 110,000 and 325,000, but I feel like either the GT500 is going to be too good/close to the GTD which would make that seem like a rip-off, or it's going to be held back too much from the GTD and make the GT500 seem over priced. I'm definitely interested to see how this goes. Way too long of a story, but basically if they would have just made the GT3/GTD rear-mid engine, none of the points of my fanatical ranting would have been an issue!
The rear fenders seem like they're flared, and it looks like it has a decent rear wing extending out back, though not as aggressive as the GTD. I'm just confused about a new GT500's space in the lineup.
I don't think it's hybrid, I feel like we'd have heard more rumors in the lead-up. Though I guess a hybrid GT500 could theoretically be possible.
I can't see it being "mid engine" either (in the traditional rear-mid engine definition). The shape doesn't seem to indicate that here. More importantly why would they develop a new GT3 racer and homologation GTD car, go through the hassle of converting it to a transaxle and front-mid engine layout, and drastically improve its aero, if they were going to have a (theoretically) superior rear-mid engine Mustang platform a year later to work with. I can't fathom that happening. I expected if a rear-mid Mustang would ever happen, the GTD would have been that. A really expensive, limited production mustang to somewhat fill the space of the finally-retired GT. A price well into 6 figures could help justify the cost of developing the special platform. And then I thought that maybe the next GT500 would get a transaxle, if anything revolutionary. The first S197 GT500's calling card was bringing back a supercharged v8 with relatively high HP. The 2013 version upped the ante more by having well over 600hp and the (controversial) claim of being capable of 200mph. The S550 GT500's calling card was obviously even larger hp numbers, but more so the focus on handling and first-time use of a DCT. So what would have been the headline grabber for the S650 version? 800+ hp maybe, but I thought a transaxle for the new GT500 to help weight distribution would be a good new feature to differentiate it from the S550 version.
But as we all know, that car is the GTD. 800+ hp and transaxle. So what space can the new GT500 occupy? The last one had 760hp, so one would think this thing has to receive at least a bump to 800hp to move the needle compared to S550. But that brings it into GTD hp territory. Do they put a transaxle in the new GT500 too? So now it's even more similar to the GTD. So what will differentiate it, no crazy aero, not as advanced suspension, less/none of the light-weighting? So the GT500 basically becomes a portlier, sloppier GTD? But with the prices of current Mustangs, a new GT500 IS going to cost 100k+. There is a great difference between 110,000 and 325,000, but I feel like either the GT500 is going to be too good/close to the GTD which would make that seem like a rip-off, or it's going to be held back too much from the GTD and make the GT500 seem over priced. I'm definitely interested to see how this goes. Way too long of a story, but basically if they would have just made the GT3/GTD rear-mid engine, none of the points of my fanatical ranting would have been an issue!
Sponsored