Aaron Brzozowski 
The seventh generation of Ford’s iconic Mustang pony car, the S650 Mustang, is coming in hot. Just last week, spy photos were released showing the new model, done up head-to-toe in shape-masking camouflage and padding, running around on the test track. It wasn’t immediately clear at the time, but that was likely a Mustang EcoBoost prototype, and in the time since, new photos have emerged showing a prototype of the S650 Mustang GT. Which, as should have been expected, is V8-powered. Let’s have a listen:
It’s difficult to tell the two cars apart, what with both being completely covered, but the folks at Mustang7G have managed to spot one apparent difference: a subtle high spot beneath the cladding on the front fender, just behind the wheel. The only obvious answer as to what this could be is a fender vent to alleviate some of the air pressure that builds while the car is in motion, reducing aerodynamic lift. That could be one telling aesthetic difference between the S650 Mustang GT and Mustang EcoBoost.
It’s hard to tell much about the 2024 Mustang’s appearance apart from that, thanks to the camo. As we’ve noted before, the new car will be proportionally similar to the current one, with a similar track width, wheelbase, overhang lengths, dash-to-axle ratio, etc. as the S650 platform is an evolution of S550. Also previously noted, the taillights are expect to don a similar but sleeker appearance with parallel vertical strips, thinner in width thanks to more compact LED elements. A similar approach will take place up front, with narrower, more horizontal headlights.
What we can glimpse of the S650 Mustang grille outline through the obfuscating camouflage fabric suggests that it will look similar to the one on the S550 model.
S650 Ford Mustang GT: The Last Of The Breed
The S650 Mustang will very likely be the last “true” American muscle car standing – if you subscribe to the notion that a muscle car must be rear-wheel drive with available V8 power – as the Chevy Camaro transforms into an electric sedan and Dodge does away with its Hemi V8s and replaces them with a range of inline-six engines. That’s a testament to the Mustang’s longstanding appeal, only somewhat undercut by the fact that the ‘Stang had its worst sales year ever in 2021. The S650 Mustang is expected to launch in 2023 as a 2024 model, and Ford plans on keeping the car on the market for a full eight-year stint.
Best to enjoy it while we still can, which shouldn’t be hard; while the S650 is expected to launch with the familiar powertrain options – turbo-four or V8 matched with either a 6-speed manual or 10-speed auto – hybrid and AWD variants are expected to join the fray later on. This could make the 2024 Mustang a natural competitor to the Dodge Challenger GT with AWD, giving muscle car fans in more northern climates a compelling reason to just say no to crossovers and stick with Ford’s sleek, low-slung coupe.
