Is This the New Ford Mustang GT500?
Ford is trying really hard to hide all the details on this prototype, so it must be something juicy.
Spy photographers have caught what appears to be the 2019 Ford Mustang GT500 testing on the streets of Detroit. It’s clearly wearing a lot of camouflage to conceal its bodylines, but a closer look at the tires tell a story.
The American automaker doesn’t even want you to know what tires are being used on the prototype, nearly scrubbing off all the markings on the sidewall. What our spy photographers can make out is that they’re sized 305/30/ZR20 on the front and they’re from Michelin. By comparing products on TireRack, our spy photographers believe they’re the new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, but the big takeaway is that they’re 20 inches up front, which is larger than the 19-inch standard tires up on the GT350 and GT350R.
Unfortunately they weren’t able to confirm what’s in the rear as there’s nothing readable on those tires, though it’s possible Ford is using 21-inch wheels and tires out back.
SEE ALSO: 2018 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Rumored to Pack Over 700 HP
The company is also hiding what the wheels will look like with massive camouflage panels attached to them. The last time the American automaker did this, it was trying to cover up carbon ceramic brake rotors on a prototype.
There are plenty of rumors surrounding the new GT500, and it’s still unclear what powertrain Ford will use. Some say it will be a twin-turbo 5.0-liter Coyote V8, or a supercharged 5.2-liter Voodoo V8. It is expected to boast over 700 horsepower, something that’s almost a necessity with the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 pushing 650 hp and the new Dodge Challenger SRT Demon offering a ridiculous 840 hp.
Discuss this story on our Ford GT 500 Forum
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Nope. They can keep it. It's not 60(s) retro enough and ugly as hell. NO ENGINE ... LOL Dodge and others give you far more CID than Ford. I wouldn't let it sit in my driveway if they gave me the damn thing.
Me thinks the 2018 will be the best GT500 yet and now it has an IRS. Ford did a good job on S550. I wish they would slope the nose a bit giving it a sleeker appearance but that's my only gripe about the car from what I've seen. Hopefully it a PD blown V8 with a stick. I have a suspicion it won't have a FPC like the voodoo. Should be interesting especially after the Demon announcement but that car is basically an showroom NHRA car wearing a license plate. Ford needs to make big splash with this car before it's competitors suck all the oxygen out of the room.