Zac Quinn 
As Ford Motor Company officially pulled the sheet of the S650 Mustang yesterday in Hart Plaza, Detroit, fittingly just adjacent to the GM Renaissance Center, it was made official that production is targeted for the Summer of 2023 as a 2024 model year vehicle. With less than a year to wait, it has Mustang enthusiasts wondering if Ford would even bother with a 2023 Mustang, which would be the final model year for the S550 generation. As it turns out, that’s a definite “yes,” but not without a few caveats. Primarily, it involves the current Mustang Shelby GT500.
2023 Ford Mustang: Details On The Last S550 Model Year
MC&T was able to chat with brand manager Jim Owens during a private S650 Ford Mustang backgrounder event last week, who confirmed that the 2023 Ford Mustang would experience a shortened model year. The exact timetable was not disclosed, but Owens noted that it wouldn’t be a full calendar year. Ford is still working on building the 2022 model year Mustang.
“Demand (for S550 Mustang) is there,” said Owens. “Supply is not, and we’re working towards it. We were down nine weeks this year, thirteen weeks last year” at the Flat Rock Assembly plant, where the Ford Mustang production exclusively takes place.
Additionally, if you’ve been wanting a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, now’s the time to buy, as we also learned that there won’t be one for the 2023 model year. This effectively means the GT500 is done after the 2022 model year, until if/when Ford debuts one for the S650 generation. Lastly, we also learned that the Brittany Blue heritage color has also been dropped, as well as the Mustang EcoBoost Coastal Edition. Ford will continue to build the Mustang Mach 1 for the 2023 model year, but will continue to hold off on building the Handling Package during the winter months, due to the warmer weather conditions needed for the Michelin performance tires.
Owens said that the S550 Ford Mustang GT500 Heritage Edition was also “slightly more volume” than what the Shelby GT350 Heritage Edition was, with more customers opting for the $10,000 hand-painted stripes than expected.
2024 Ford Mustang Details
The all-new 2024 Ford Mustang will be available with an upgraded 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine set to deliver the most naturally aspirated horsepower of any Mustang GT, thanks to the help of a dual air intake box and dual-throttle body design. In addition, the 2024 Mustang GT will be standard with a six-speed Tremec manual transmission. However, for an easier experience, a 10-speed automatic transmission is available.
For customers who wish to own an S650 Ford Mustang but care about fuel efficiency, there is an EcoBoost model powered by a four-cylinder turbocharged 2.3-liter engine. Unfortunately, though, it’s only available with an automatic transmission. Additionally, six available drive modes enable customers to adjust steering effort, engine response, and transmission and electronic stability quickly. The modes include Normal, Sport, Slippery, Drag, and Track, plus a customizable setting with up to six individual profiles. Finally, for even greater performance, the 2024 Mustang GT and EcoBoost have an optional Performance Pack, which adds a host of track-focused features.
