Is this a mid-engine S650?

[roadpilot]

I have seen the GTD, I just don’t understand why there would be a mule for the GTD if it’s already been released which leads me to believe it’s a different offering.

Because they still do all kinds of testing with mules. Could be for next year, the year after or even further. They don't build a new mule for every model year.

Again, if you lived around here and if you were involved in the auto industry, you'd understand. Been here most of my life and have worked supporting this industry for nearly 40 years. Everybody you meet around SE Michigan either works for, worked for, or has/had someone they know work for one of the auto companies or suppliers.

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[JimC]

My son-in-law is an engineer and works for one of the other manufacturers and yes, testing goes on all the time using mules. He often has something at home where they are testing something out and it is on some existing platform where they don't need the next generation vehicle to test the application.

 

[Zig]

Imo, more rear engine than mid engine. Not exactly sure the point of making it look like a four seater and yet take up the back seat with the engine/transmission, passengers go up front now to even out the weight?

 

[roadpilot]

Imo, more rear engine than mid engine. Not exactly sure the point of making it look like a four seater and yet take up the back seat with the engine/transmission, passengers go up front now to even out the weight?

The GTD is front engine RWD, but is 50:50 balanced. This is most likely a GTD mule.

 

[Zig]

The GTD is front engine RWD, but is 50:50 balanced. This is most likely a GTD mule.

50:50 with that ever so slight torque vectoring assist upfront and call it a day, but please keep the backseat. Once that is gone it’s a whole different class/intent. Racecars it’s fine but for the street don’t limit me to just one when there’s room for three.

 

[roadpilot]

50:50 with that ever so slight torque vectoring assist upfront and call it a day, but please keep the backseat. Once that is gone it’s a whole different class/intent. Racecars it’s fine but for the street don’t limit me to just one when there’s room for three.

I don't think I'd every try to find anyone older than about 10 in those rear seats ... LOL.

 

[Zig]

I don't think I'd every try to find anyone older than about 10 in those rear seats ... LOL.

Don’t forget about the bendy types …

 

[roadpilot]

Don’t forget about the bendy types …

Or those without both legs?

 

[Zig]

Or those without both legs?

Not the intent. To be clearly blunt: gymnasts

 

[roadpilot]

Not the intent. To be clearly blunt: gymnasts

I was just being funny, considering my ... err ... situation.

 

[Zig]

I was just being funny, considering my ... err ... situation.

Understood. Didn’t mean to imply anything other than to keep the seat. Acknowledged it’s already gone on the gtd but if we’re ‘testing mules’ and we get a chance to pipe up and they’re taking questions …

 

[NegativeMultiplier]

Spotted this morning in SE Michigan. The license plate is a manufacturer plate.

While I can't quite place my finger on where this photo was taken in the region it does look incredibly familiar. If I had to guess, this is close to/within the vicinity of a major East/West running interstate on the south end.

This is definitely a GTD mule; However I find it unlikely that Ford would run a mule without the wing in the rear at this stage of development, much less without the production exhaust tips. The rear tires also don't appear to be the correct size. This leads me to believe that the component that is being tested is likely the transaxle; If it were the engine, I'd like to assume they would have wider tires on to control the power. That said, an engine testing mule isn't out of the question, if my assumption that this is a drivetrain tester is correct.

Assuming all of the above checks out, and given the information we've had released over the course of the last few months, I'd wager that this is most likely the second or third time we're seeing the GTD Lite (or a GT500 equivalent) in its very early prototype form - the first of which being April of last year, when the camouflaged convertible prototype appeared on GT500 CFTP wheels, and shortly after that with the Dark Horse prototype having a similar rear decklid.

 

[roadpilot]

While I can't quite place my finger on where this photo was taken in the region it does look incredibly familiar. If I had to guess, this is close to/within the vicinity of a major East/West running interstate on the south end.

The photo was taken this morning at the corner of Warrren Rd and Morton Taylor Rd in Canton, MI. That's very close to I-275 and Ford Rd.

This is definitely a GTD mule; However I find it unlikely that Ford would run a mule without the wing in the rear at this stage of development, much less without the production exhaust tips. The rear tires also don't appear to be the correct size. This leads me to believe that the component that is being tested is likely the transaxle; If it were the engine, I'd like to assume they would have wider tires on to control the power. That said, an engine testing mule isn't out of the question, if my assumption that this is a drivetrain tester is correct.

Again, for those who do not work in the automotive industry and/or those who do not live here, you simply don't understand how mules are used. We see all kinds of mules every day. No, you won't see every GTD mule running full accessories and/or cosmetic bits. They could be testing the HVAC system for all we know.

Assuming all of the above checks out, and given the information we've had released over the course of the last few months, I'd wager that this is most likely the second or third time we're seeing the GTD Lite (or a GT500 equivalent) in its very early prototype form - the first of which being April of last year, when the camouflaged convertible prototype appeared on GT500 CFTP wheels, and shortly after that with the Dark Horse prototype having a similar rear decklid.

Most likely? Based on what? We can all guess what we think it might be. But at this point, nobody's guess is any better or worse than anyone else's.

 

[NegativeMultiplier]

Most likely? Based on what? We can all guess what we think it might be. But at this point, nobody's guess is any better or worse than anyone else's.

My hypothesis is based on the idea that Ford could be testing main components in isolation. I'd like to assume that if Ford were testing something inconsequential/low-impact to the overall drivability of the car, they could just toss it in a TT build and not say anything until the next mass-produced iteration.

Again, for those who do not work in the automotive industry and/or those who do not live here, you simply don't understand how mules are used. We see all kinds of mules every day. No, you won't see every GTD mule running full accessories and/or cosmetic bits. They could be testing the HVAC system for all we know.

Yes, indeed. There are all kinds of mules here in the SE Michigan area every day. They would know better than most of us on this forum what exactly this mule is.

 

[roadpilot]

My hypothesis is based on the idea that Ford could be testing main components in isolation. I'd like to assume that if Ford were testing something inconsequential/low-impact to the overall drivability of the car, they could just toss it in a TT build and not say anything until the next mass-produced iteration.

Hypothesis.

Like I said: An assumption. A guess. Based on little more than a hunch.

FYI: TT builds are for tooling process confirmation for new platforms/programs, and are used prior to pilot builds. They are not for "testing something inconsequential" with "low impact" ...

Yes, indeed. There are all kinds of mules here in the SE Michigan area every day. They would know better than most of us on this forum what exactly this mule is.

Been doing this for ~40 years. Our major sub-component is in that mule. It's in your car, my car, and (as of earlier this year) 20 million other Ford and Linconln vehicles. It is in ~77% of every North American market Ford and Lincoln SUV, light truck, and sedan (Mustang) produced since 2013.

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