This prototype has a Bullitt steering knob, which appears to be a manual.
Spy photographers captured the seventh-generation Ford Mustangprototype in a camouflaged pose, as it walked around Dearborn’s Blue Oval headquarters. We don’t have just images this time. This long spy video gives us a close-up view of the exterior and an inside look. There’s also some V8 noise to remind you that internal combustion isn’t dead yet.
The clip takes just over three minutes and features what we believe to be a 2024 Mustang GT. Camera isn’t afraid to get up close and we look inside at the 1:31 mark to see a Bullitt badge on its steering wheel. It’s possible that this could be a Bullitt prototype. However, it is highly unlikely given the very early stages of development. It’s possible that it is a part bin item, but it’s still an interesting find.
We can also hear the V8 engine underneath the car in the video. It is clearly heard on a few occasions. However, the most memorable soundbit comes at 2:28 during an acceleration run. We are left wondering what the engine is doing under the hood. The engine sounds loud and raspy. Although the 5.0-liter engine seems to be the most likely, a 6.8-liter V8 is possible. In 2020 , a major Canadian trade union official briefly spoke of a Mustang engine. However, no announcement or comment from Ford has been made.
The transmission is not clearly shown in the video or photos. The interior close-up video shows that the driver seems to be moving in the same area as a shift stalk just before pulling away from the camera. The acceleration runs sometimes have an audible pause following the initial throttle burst. However, the sound quality isn’t clear enough to identify a manual shift upshift. Although we can’t prove the existence of a manual transmission, evidence for three pedals and one stick is compelling.
The video is accompanied by a set of spy photos that capture the exact same prototype. Apart from the V8 sound, the car rides on the same wheels as the Mustang GT. This lends credence to the car being a future GT-test car. The body is still covered in heavy camouflage, but take a close look at the fenders that run behind the front wheel. There are two horizontal bumps visible in the covers. This suggests that there may be a vent hiding behind. This was not apparent in the first Mustang prototype, which also had smaller wheels. This could have been an entry-level EcoBoost Mustang, which is a powerful V8-powered GT.
You shouldn’t expect any major disclosures anytime soon. According to sources, the seventh-generation Mustang is expected to arrive in 2024. This means that the debut could occur as soon as this year’s end, but most likely in 2023.