S650 mule spotted..........with all wheel drive?

[Twin Turbo]

Shouldn’t we have seen full camouflage prototypes by now?

I reckon we’ll start seeing them in the next month or two. At least I hope so!

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[zackmd1]

I reckon we’ll start seeing them in the next month or two. At least I hope so!

Let’s hope! The S550 was shown off in 2013 before sale in 2014 so maybe an unveiling later this year?

 

[Twin Turbo]

I think an unveil this year is unlikely, although anything is possible. If it were to be this year, either the North American International Autoshow (which is actually now called Auto Bella and being held at the M1 Concourse https://naias.com/ ) or the Woodward Dream Cruise.

But, given Covid uncertainties, I suspect Ford will do a stand-alone reveal, much like they've just done for the Mach 1. If they go that route, I'd expect a Spring reveal (April 17th would be nice) with full production starting late Autumn.

Either way, I cannot wait to see those first fully cammo'd prototypes

 

[RIBS]

There is no axle in the center of the front wheel hub, but there is in the rear. 2 wheel drive.

 

[Chadillac]

Yeah I don’t know if I buy the AWD suspicion. The second calipers could 100% be fake to screw with folks... which seems likely considering the car has massive brakes front and rear (with even an extra set of calipers). And laughably has “no brakes” written on it.

 

[amk91]

I don’t think we’re going to see integrated units testing until sometime about a year out from production start. Prototypes exist, but they are hidden away on proving grounds.

Production was supposed to start in 1 year, but now it’s late 2022. F-150 final body testers first appeared in May 2019 right after first testers were built in April 2019, 13 months ahead of the original Job 1 date of June 2020.

CD6 Explorer, it was 1 year ahead of May 6, 2019 and caught by a casual sightseer in early June 2018.

According to insiders, Ford is now really strict about preventing exposure of final designs in testing. No more of: First spy shots previous January (2021) or summer (2021), with fall release the following year (ie October 2022).

If a new model is due in Fall 2022, you won’t see it even in camo until late summer of the year before.

This wasn’t the case before, where Ford infamously had nearly 3 years of spy shots in some cars back on the 1990s, in the FINAL body. (1995 Windstar prototypes were first caught testing in February 1991 and mules before that in 1989-90)

'95 Ford Windstar Prototype (February 1991); January 1994 Debut*

I think S650 production might start around September 2022, so no chance you’ll see it testing in camo until this summer or early fall.

Ford hid the Bronco from public rounds until January 2020, despite building the first actual units many months earlier in mid-2019 and finishing design work in July 2018. Why? Because original sales Bronco launch was Jan-February 2021. COVID changed that.

Typically at Ford, they’d roll prototypes out in camo to the streets, as soon they were ready to go for testing. Now they’ve changed that approach to be more guarded and confine them to night rounds or proving grounds only, until 1 year out +/-.

Let's just hope this car hasn't been delayed into 2023 and won't be. Job 1 is no longer May 30, 2022.

 

[br_an]

So warm and friendly

 

[Pittpa]

Good catch! Had to go back to the article to have a laugh.

And you also missed the wiring for the experimental summer tire preheaters for winter time.

 

[Twin Turbo]

I don’t think we’re going to see integrated units testing until sometime about a year out from production start. Prototypes exist, but they are hidden away on proving grounds.

Production was supposed to start in 1 year, but now it’s late 2022. F-150 final body testers first appeared in May 2019 right after first testers were built in April 2019, 13 months ahead of the original Job 1 date of June 2020.

CD6 Explorer, it was 1 year ahead of May 6, 2019 and caught by a casual sightseer in early June 2018.

According to insiders, Ford is now really strict about preventing exposure of final designs in testing. No more of: First spy shots previous January (2021) or summer (2021), with fall release the following year (ie October 2022).

If a new model is due in Fall 2022, you won’t see it even in camo until late summer of the year before.

This wasn’t the case before, where Ford infamously had nearly 3 years of spy shots on some cars back on the 1990s, in the FINAL body. (1995 Windstar prototypes were first caught testing in February 1991 and mules before that in 1989-90)

I think S650 production might start around September 2022, so no chance you’ll see it testing in camo until this summer or early fall.

Ford hid the Bronco from public rounds until January 2020, despite building the first actual units many months earlier in mid-2019 and finishing design work in July 2018. Why? Because original sales launch was Jan-February 2021.

Typically at Ford, they’d roll prototypes out in camo to the streets, as soon they were ready to go. Now they’ve changed that approach to be more guarded and confine them to night rounds or proving grounds only, until 1 year out.

Once again, fantastic information, thank you. I'm impatient to see the full prototypes, but knowing they're unlikely to be seen until late Summer/Autumn at least puts my mind at rest.

 

[amk91]

Once again, fantastic information, thank you. I'm impatient to see the full prototypes, but knowing they're unlikely to be seen until late Summer/Autumn at least puts my mind at rest.

Thanks, I notice you're on top of all this, as it's great to have a new forum to primarily discuss this car. I figure traffic it's not as strong as 8-9 years ago with S550 and Mustang6G, but that was only because more discussion was out there in knowing SRA was being ditched, losing retro design theme and the media overhyped the S550 to ridiculous proportions.

I am just really glad to see Ford is testing something on camera so far, to shut up cynics who keep claiming S550 will remain unchanged until 2029ish. The doomsayers get really tiring to hear from.

Anyway, as soon as the S550 was ready for testing 8 years ago, we got our first spy shots on June 10, 2013. Weirdly enough same day as 2015 F-150. It felt staged a bit, after 1 year of seeing S197 body mules with rounded off engine bays and IRS since June 2012.

According to S550 chief Dave Pericak or designer Kemal Curic, the first actual prototypes were built in May 2013, 5-6 months after 2012 design freeze. Ford no longer rolls em out immediately, unless it's convenient for marketing purposes, which sucks for us.

I am hoping the Job 1 delay rumor isn't as bad as it sounded, because even a 6 month delay would mean a release in January 2023 = no spy photos until fall of this year at earliest or even early 2022.

Ford said they were delaying most programs 60 to 120 days from Job 1 and market launch last year during the most challenging days of the pandemic.

Bronco went from Dec. 7, 2020 Job 1 (same as 2021 Ranger) to now Monday, May 3, 2021, on sale in July. They're gonna be so happy on Monday...

Bronco Sport was July 13, 2020 Job 1, slipping all the way to October 26, 2020 and December release.

New F-150 over here slipped from June 15, 2020 to October 12, 2020 Job 1. Could S650 production have slipped 4 months from May 2022 to September 2022 as I theorized? Let's hope so, at worst.

 

[Twin Turbo]

Your detail on dates is mind boggling, but it's greatly appreciated.

I have no doubt Covid will have impacted the original timelines for S650 but I hope it's only by a few months, like you've indicated.

The hunt for information on the next-gen Mustang has been something I've loved ever since the '10MY refresh was first spotted. I try to soak up as much information as I can, as quickly as I can. The Mustang's story is 6 chapters long.......I can't wait to read the 7th chapter

 

[Roadway 5.0]

@amk91 , you know your Fords!! Seeing the Windstar prototype brought a smile to my face

 

[Mikthehun1]

My question is though, covid aside, how might the ongoing chip shortage affect any new models? Would Ford really put out a new car without being able to guarantee their ability to put them on lots? It's very likely that supply/demand would be reconciled until well into next year, if not until 2023. If Ford can't get a good allocation of chips, wouldn't they reserve what they do have for higher margin truck sales? I wouldn't be surprised if they delay until the 24' MY, and make this more of a 13-14' type final run of the S550.

 

[Twin Turbo]

First year of an all-new model would see good sales, so I'd expect Ford to prioritize S650 when it's time comes. But, who knows.....Covid.....chips shortage.......these things come in threes lol

 

[Bit_the_Bullitt]

My question is though, covid aside, how might the ongoing chip shortage affect any new models? Would Ford really put out a new car without being able to guarantee their ability to put them on lots? It's very likely that supply/demand would be reconciled until well into next year, if not until 2023. If Ford can't get a good allocation of chips, wouldn't they reserve what they do have for higher margin truck sales? I wouldn't be surprised if they delay until the 24' MY, and make this more of a 13-14' type final run of the S550.

I wonder if they'd just take the GM route and said "screw it" to some of the chips?

You are probably correct on the trucks. If a Mustang and F150 are going to share a chip and they only got 1 for 2 vehicles, we all know which one is going to go into production.
Money talks yo.

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