It could have a race-spec engine under it.
Automotive spy photos are a fascinating world. It is not always a science. Sometimes, the photos are simple and show us a few prototypes of future models. There are also photos like this, which show a current-generation Mustang Shelby GT350 with the most imposing hood bulges.
This is clearly a test mule. We’ve seen many Mustangs crash into people at car shows. This might be a bizarre protection device, our witty readers may think. It wasn’t the first time we saw it, and the grille would still be inhaled by coffee-filled people too close to the road.
Let’s get serious. There are many valid theories. Our spy team recalls a similar setup from years ago on a previous-generation Mustangtest vehicle. It was concealing the large-domed hood that is used in Mustang Cobra Jet race car. Cobra Jets were designed for drag racing, and they are not street legal.
This is a likely scenario, considering that we have already seen prototypes for the next-generation Ford Mustang. We have confirmed that the V8 will be returning and that a new series of Cobra Jets is possible for the next-generation Ford Mustang. The bigger question is whether the car is simply testing a meaty body or if it is actually testing an engine beneath.
The video was not recorded by spy sources, but it did show a high volume of sound coming from the test car. Everything else seems to be the standard Shelby GT350. Ford’s 7.3-liter pushrod V8 may be used in production cars. However, the 5.0-liter V8 is expected to return. A prominent member from the Canadian Auto Workers union stated that a 6.8-liter version would make the Mustang. Ford has not confirmed this statement.
Ford’s iconic pony car could get a big pushrod engine in either a production or track-only model. The next-generation Mustang may be the last one to have a gasoline engine, with electrification in the future. This Shelby could even be testing it.