A New S650 Shelby Mustang Arrives This Week

Roughly a year ago, a rumor emerged claiming that Ford had already begun testing an all-new Shelby GT500 in both coupe and convertible forms. Then, less than a fortnight ago, an upgraded S650 Mustang test mule was spied near Shelby American HQ in Las Vegas, and now Shelby American has begun officially teasing its first S650-based creation on social media, announcing that the vehicle will be presented on 18 April 2024.

At this point, it’s still unclear what the new Shelby Mustang will be called, but all clues point to this being the new Super Snake. Lick your lips…

Supercharged V8

One teaser image gives us a glimpse of the engine bay, where the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine has been fitted with what appears to be a Whipple supercharger. Teaser images also reveal traditional Shelby badging across a new duck-billed trunk, atop which a carbon fiber wing rests. This is balanced by a large front splitter, which is fixed to a redesigned front bumper said to improve airflow.

Take a closer look at the fascia, and the mascara around the headlights does a good job of concealing subtle intakes. Whether these are functional or not remains to be seen. Hood pins, vented front fenders, a manual transmission with a white cue ball gear knob, and bronze wheels (likely forged) are also evident, hinting at an enthusiast-focused track-biased vehicle.

The Debut Venue

The full extent of these upgrades will be announced at a Barrett-Jackson auction this month, which is interesting because the 2013-2014 Shelby GT500 Super Snake was announced at a BJ auction in 2012. At the reveal, we’ll likely learn how the new styling changes improve aerodynamics, and we should get a power figure and a closer look at the sueded leather cabin. It remains to be seen if pricing will be announced, but Shelby-branded Mustangs are always among the most expensive Ford vehicles on sale, so expect to pay dearly – especially since production numbers will likely be low.