2026 Ford Mustang: This sport utility vehicle has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a traditional 5.0-liter V8 and is available in various trim levels for various buyers.
For 2026, we expect Ford authorities to add a new-level Mustang to its GTD selection.
Inspired by its Mustang GT3 race car sibling, the GTD is equipped with race car goodies like a pushrod-actuated suspension, adjustable dampers, and a rear transaxle (it combines the transmission and rear differential into one compact unit).
- The race car-inspired Mustang GTD will have 800 hp and cost more than $300,000
- There are no other significant changes for the 2026 Ford Mustang model.
2026 Ford Mustang Raptor
The 2026 Ford Mustang Raptor will certainly have some expected very significant updates with each rev-match when the sound of the 700 hp 5.2-liter V-8 engine with supercharger and features the Ford Mustang Raptor model with a Fox Live Damper on its feet and enough suspension to let you cruise the bumpy I-94 highway in Michigan without spilling your Vernor.
Of course, this will require some sacrifice on the part of the Mustang. Even though it uses all-wheel drive, the car is not equipped with a two-speed transfer case and has no manual option. However, when it arrives in 2026, it should have all the equipment necessary to be one of the fastest Mustangs ever.
Leaping boundaries like never before, the Ford Mustang Raptor is brand new, although it’s long been a fantasy in the hearts of pony car (and likely Raptor) fans.
2026 Ford Mustang S650
In recent years, the Ford Raptor family has grown to include not only the Ford F-150 Raptor (and Raptor R) but also the Ford Bronco Raptor and Ford Ranger Raptor, each of which is sold in more than one country around the world. These rugged, high-performance off-road vehicles have become extremely popular among enthusiasts, routinely selling for much more than MSRP and remaining in high demand. Therefore, according to Car and Driver, it’s reasonable to expect more Raptor-powered vehicles moving forward, which could be the case with the Ford Mustang Raptor S650.
Last November, Ford Authority (FA) made a version of the S650 that we thought was similar to the Ford Mustang Raptor R, but that’s just a hypothesis. However, Car and Driver (C&D) reports that the engine will arrive in 2026. However, no source detailed the information. It was published online today but is scheduled to appear in the magazine’s May 2023 issue.
Regardless, C&D provided details on what we can expect from the Porsche 911 Dakar’s more affordable rival, including that it will be powered by a 500-horsepower naturally-aspirated version of Ford’s 5.0L V8 Coyote engine. However, there is no manual transmission, only a 10-speed automatic, and no two-speed transfer case. However, it will use an electronically controlled center differential, while the Predator-powered version of the Raptor R won’t either. It seems it can be avoided.
Otherwise, the Ford Mustang Raptor will have much in common with other Raptor models, including Fox Live Valve dampers, a two-inch lift, beefier springs, skid plates, fender flares, and all-terrain tires. Prices will reportedly start at around $90k, making it quite an expensive pony.
Ford opted not to offer all-wheel drive on the 2024 Mustang, and the S650 may be the last to offer a V8 engine. Given that S650 production will reportedly end in 2030, it makes sense to produce as many special models as possible, including the next-generation Shelby GT500, which is set to launch in 2025 for the 2026 model year and was recently spied by the Ford Authority.
2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 (GT350R)
While we eagerly waited for the new GT500 based on the S650-generation Ford Mustang, Shelby surprised us by unveiling the 2025 GT350 and GT350R, which have more power than the old S550-based Shelby GT500 in its top configuration.
A true challenger to the Dodge Hellcat (pun intended), the previous generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 had 627 pound-feet (847 Nm) of torque and 760 hp (771 ps/567 kW) from its supercharged 5.2L V8 engine. It took about three seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) and is a ten-second car in perfect condition.
However, the all-new Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 is on a higher level. The familiar Coyote V8 produces up to 810 horsepower (822 ps/604 kW) on 93-octane fuel, and if that sounds extreme, and we hope it doesn’t, customers can opt for the base version. With 480 hp (487 ps/358 kW) from the regular 5.0L V8 engine, there’s nothing to write home about here. Both naturally aspirated and supercharged models can be combined with manual and automatic transmissions.
Additional technical modifications include new front and rear sway bars and lowered springs. A Borla cat-back exhaust system is included for a louder ride and the car rides on 20-inch alloy wheels (9.5×20 front and 11×20 rear) with performance tires. It also features dual racing stripes, a three-piece front apron, aggressive grille inserts, a ducktail spoiler, and fairly discreet Shelby badging. If you want your new Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 to look more aggressive, you can optionally opt for a large wing and carbon fiber package.
Special sill plates greet those who open the doors, and the dash panel bears a special plaque indicating the build number. The Shelby embroidery isn’t missed on this model, which also gets leather seats and embroidered floor mats. Taking the stick shift variant will give you a ball shifter, and that’s another cool thing.
Remember, while the new Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 comes with up to 810 hp thanks to a Whipple supercharger and other upgraded internals, the 2025 Shelby GT350R is much more powerful. The 5.0L supercharged V8 engine that powers it produces more than 830 horsepower (842 ps/619 kW).
Opting for the GT350R means living with a six-speed manual transmission, as an automatic isn’t available here. Further chassis changes are part of the Shelby makeover: Gold Rush brake calipers, an aluminum hood, ventilated front fenders made from carbon fiber, a carbon fiber rear diffuser, a carbon fiber wing, and some exclusive touches inside.
The new Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R is coming to Michigan courtesy of Turn Key Automotive, with production limited to 36 units, all of which will have a white finish, though with various stripes and graphics available. The regular GT350 will be limited to 526 units, sold through select Ford dealers in the US and abroad. Full pricing details are not yet known, although Shelby has confirmed that the supercharged GT350 will be priced at $109,999, and that price includes the donor car.
It’s easy to call the new Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 (and GT350R) the most powerful muscle car in production, as Dodge has left the Hellcat/Demon world behind. The Stellantis-owned car brand has confirmed that it will not install a V8 engine in the next-generation Charger. It will be limited to a six-pot engine for the ICE family and some electric variants in the Daytonas. However, knowing how Dodge is going and considering the powerful versions of the S650 Mustang, including two new Shelbys and the very expensive GTD (starting price $325,000), we think it’s only a matter of time until the company produces an insane muscle car.
Regardless of what kind of power it will use (probably electric), we expect it to have double-digit output at its best.
After all, the Demon 170 version of the old Challenger typically had up to 1,025 horsepower in its top configuration; it took 1.66 seconds with a 0-60 mph launch and covered the quarter mile in 8.91 seconds. However, we found a standard copy not long ago that was faster than advertised.
There’s no need to bring GM into the discussion because while Ford still offers V8-powered muscle cars and Dodge is switching to six-pot and EV power for their new Charger, Chevy abandoned the game over a year ago. The Camaro is no longer in production and is unlikely to return to the automotive world soon.
Therefore, the Blue Oval holds the true muscle car crown, and the new GT350 and GT350R duo are phenomenal. The ball is in your court, Mopar!
2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
2026 Ford Shelby GT500: The new seventh-generation 2024 Ford Mustang stood out at its unveiling last week, keeping the dream of a V-8-powered, manual-shift muscle car alive for at least a few more years.
Over the past few generations, Ford has developed the Shelby GT500 trim as one of the range-topping variants in the Mustang lineup, offering more power than the standard V-8 ‘Stang with the help of a supercharger.
We can expect heavy use of carbon fiber, intense suspension, chassis upgrades, custom bodywork with more aggressive aero, a massive rear wing, and the GT500’s signature racing stripes. Here are some renderings of the 2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.
While it’s somewhat surprising that, as has long been rumored, there’s no hybrid or electrified powertrain in this new generation, Ford is still offering something fresh: the all-new Ford Mustang Dark Horse performance model. Dark Horse will offer the most powerful 5.0-liter V-8 engine the company has ever tuned for a road car, producing around 500 horsepower.
The Dark Horse also borrowed several upgrades previously reserved only for Shelby Mustang performance models, such as the GT500, including carbon fiber wheels and specially modified piston connecting rods, without a full Shelby overhaul.
This new Dark Horse model appears to take a midrange performance level for this next-generation muscle car previously held by performance trims like the 2021 Mustang Mach 1. This model offers about 20 more horsepower than the sixth-generation Mustang GT on which it is based. This still leaves plenty of room for Shelby models like the GT500 to go even further.
The supercharged 5.2-liter “Predator” V-8-powered GT500 boasts 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque, and we only expect it to get even more ridiculous with the next generation due out in a few years.
The outgoing GT500 offered a dual-clutch 7-speed automatic (no manual option), good adaptive dampers, brakes up to 16.5 inches, and Michelin Pilot Sport tires wrapped around lightweight carbon fiber rims, and we can expect a similar setup for the new car.
The GT500 will likely get Shelby-specific Recaro front seats, a rear seat delete option to save weight, and plenty of carbon fiber trim and construction.
This week, Ford Authority has reported via “sources” that the seventh-generation Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will debut in 2025 as a 2026 model, with the current sixth-generation Mustang-based GT500 being phased out this year. That sounds reasonable, so we likely won’t have to wait too long for the new one to debut.
2026 Ford Mustang Release Date
Full details have not been revealed, but we expect more information as we approach the Mustang Raptor’s launch date, which is expected to be around 2026.
2026 Ford Mustang Price
Prices for the 2026 Ford Mustang Raptor / Raptor R are expected to start around $91,000 and go up to $111,000, depending on trim and options.
Ford will follow a similar formula with the F-150 Raptor. This could start with a base version that significantly increases horsepower over the street V-8 model, followed by the Raptor R that makes big torque. Like other Raptors, the off-road Mustang’s starting price will be as high as its knobby tires.
| Models | Price MSRP |
| Mustang Raptor | $91,000 (est) |
| Mustang Raptor R | $111,000 (est) |
Verdict
The 2026 Ford Mustang will certainly be able to attract you with its available V8 power, great handling, and modern technology features. Other automakers have given up on high-performance coupes, but Ford is still on fire with its latest Mustang. We’ll be back soon with more on the 2026 Ford Mustang, so bookmark our website to stay updated with the latest Ford news, Ford Mustang news, and information on other Ford models on the road.
FAQs: People also ask about the Ford Mustang 2026
Q: How much horsepower does the 2026 Mustang Raptor have?
A: A deafening stampede is approaching us from the opposite side of the sandy dune. It crackles and explodes with each rev-match. Our hearing are likely to hear the sound of a 700-hp 5.2-liter V-8 with a supercharger whining like a mosquito from hell when the wind deflects its roar just right.
Q: What year will Mustang be discontinued?
A: The Ford Mustang of the most recent generation will remain in production until 2028. The future of agile, V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive coupes with available manual transmissions is uncertain as The Blue Oval, along with much of its competition, makes substantial investments in electrification.
Q: Will there be a 2025 Dark Horse Mustang?
A: The 2025 Mustang Dark Horse Handling Package is available and contributes to the most track-capable, street-legal 5.0L V8 Mustang ever. Featuring enhanced aerodynamics as a result of upgraded hardware and calibration.
Video Discovery
RETURN of the Shelby GT350 & The Future of Shelby American Inc. | Capturing Car Culture
