Blue Oval’s next-gen S650 muscle-car on track for 2022 reveal and 2023 arrival, just in time for Supercars
Just days after news of yet another production delay, first spy images of the next-generation ‘S650’ Ford Mustang have surfaced ahead of its official world debut later this year and its Australian release in 2023.
Wrapped in some of the thickest camouflage we’ve seen in recent months, the new-gen muscle-car was spotted cruising around Michigan wearing manufacturer plates and EPA exhaust outlets plus a combination of other new and old parts.
Rolling on black S550 wheels complemented inside by an S550 Bullitt-spec steering wheel, Ford is clearly going to great lengths to keep the details of its new Mustang under wraps.
Despite the obviously fake padding – to help break up the body lines – under the camo wrap, the S650 predictably looks set to retain similar dimensions and proportions to the current model, backing up previous claims the new model would be more evolution than revolution.
Save for the Bullitt steering wheel, we can’t ascertain much about the interior because, like the body, it too is covered in thick camouflage.
While both Ford Australia and its parent company are staying tight-lipped about anything to do with their new performance flagship, carsales understands the S650 will make its global premiere this year ahead of its local launch sometime in 2023 – the same year in which it will make its race debut in line with the implementation of the new ‘Gen3’ Supercar era.
Although the rules were first outlined back in 2020, the introduction of the Gen3 cars and regulations was actually pushed back from the start of the 2022 championship with officials citing COVID-related development delays.
Even so, the S650 Mustang may not be available to the Australian public before it hits the track, and the Gen3 Supercars Mustang will end up looking a fair bit different to the striking blue prototype revealed at the 2021 Repco Bathurst 1000 as the nation’s peak motorsport category attempts to strengthen the relationship between the race cars and the production versions.
Speaking of production, the exact details of the most recent interruption in US are still to be confirmed, however, Ford Australia has confirmed to carsales no impact is expected to be made on local supply.
“The reported pause to production will not affect Australia, however, demand for Mustang continues to be strong and with limited stock of Mustang there are waiting periods on most variants into Q2 2022,” a spokesperson said.
For reference, the MY22 range is expected to arrive Down Under in the second quarter of the year anyway.
Previous intel from some dealers pointed to the Mustang being sold out until the S650 arrives next year, following the reported commencement of production in March 2023.
Keyword: New Ford Mustang spotted in the wild