With the new Mustang waiting in the wings, the S550 has been retired.
It's the end of an era: production of the S550 generation Ford Mustang has ceased. According to MotorTrend, the final model – a 2.3-liter EcoBoost Coupe painted in Oxford White – left the Flat Rock Assembly Plant on April 6, bringing an eight-year run to an end. CarBuzz has reached out to Ford for confirmation and will update the article accordingly once we receive a reply.
The S550 first sailed down the production line in July 2014. It replaced the aging S-197 II, itself a facelifted version of the first retro-inspired Mustang, the S-197. While the styling was very similar, the S550 was technologically superior, thanks to the standard independent rear suspension and a more sophisticated chassis. The EcoBoost four-cylinder engine also made an appearance, replacing the archaic V6 engines used in previous lower-rung models.
It wasn't the first time a four-pot engine found its way into a Mustang; the third generation was also offered with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder.
The S550 has always been a firm favorite of enthusiasts across the world, thanks to keen pricing and attainable performance. With coupe and convertible body styles, along with various engine and transmission options, buyers could tailor the Mustang to their desired tastes and budgets.
Ford's pony car has always been admired across the world. The S550 generation was the first Mustang sold in many foreign countries and was lapped up by aficionados who, previously, could only dream of Mustang ownership. It also spawned some legendary performance models, including the track-focused Shelby GT350 (discontinued in 2020), the brutish GT500, and the iconic Bullitt.
While many will mourn the loss of the S550, it had to make way for the next generation model, a vehicle that promises to continue the Mustang's legacy of performance and style.
Revealed last year, the S650 has been updated with a more modern look. But from any angle, it's unmistakably a Mustang. The 2.3-liter EcoBoost and 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engines are still available, and so is the manual transmission – provided you opt for the V8, of course.
In the lead-up to the S650's arrival, Ford has been whetting our appetites with numerous updates. The automaker recently detailed how the remote rev feature works and even shared all of the upcoming color choices for the 2024 model year.
Those more interested in performance will make a beeline for the Dark Horse, a track-ready iteration of the new Mustang that spring into action with 500 horsepower and available accessories like carbon fiber wheels. Let's not forget the new Shelby models that are rumored to be in development already.
It's sad to know the S550 is no more, but we have faith that the latest model will do the Mustang dynasty proud.
Keyword: S550 Ford Mustang Reaches The End Of The Line After Eight Years In Production