2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500: Everything We Know

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2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 spy shots

written by Steven Ewing^{Director, Editorial Content
Steven Ewing has worked in the automotive industry since 2003. In that time, he's written thousands of articles and tested just as many vehicles. Steven is Edmunds' director of editorial content and has previously been on staff at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog, Motor1.com, CNET, and was the U.S. correspondent for Top Gear magazine. Steven has also contributed to Automobile magazine, Car and Driver, The Drive, Jalopnik, Porsche Panorama, and dozens of other publications. In his spare time, Steven loves to play the drums, cook, and drive his 2000 BMW M Roadster.}
edited by Kathleen Clonts^{Copy Chief
Kathleen Clonts has worked in the automotive industry since 2014 and has copy-edited thousands of vehicle reviews and stories about cars and the auto industry in that time. Kathleen is the Edmunds editorial team's copy chief and previously worked as the senior copy editor for Automobile magazine.}
6/4/2025
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Ford is hard at work on a new Mustang Shelby GT500.
New styling changes are all for the sake of performance.
Expect a supercharged V8 called "Legend" with ridiculous power output.

There's a new top-dog Ford Mustang on the horizon, and it looks to be an absolute beast. Our spy photographers recently caught the 2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 out testing in Michigan, and we can see a number of changes all designed to accommodate this 'Stang's added performance.

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Beefy, brawny styling

Up front, the GT500 has large air intakes, a flared chin spoiler and wide fenders. The hood also has some bulges and cutouts, and around back, a new bumper sits above large quad exhaust tips.

These test mules have a new wheel design (which also looks rad) and ride on staggered 305/30ZR20 front and 315/30ZR20 rear tires. Which tires, exactly? We're looking at Pirelli P Zero R-compound rubber, which should offer serious cornering grip. Don't worry, we're fully expecting Ford to offer carbon-fiber wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R ultra-high-performance tires, too.

A Legend under the hood

Earlier this year, a leaked dealer memo suggested the Shelby GT500's new engine will use the name "Legend." And indeed, we're expecting legendary power. For context, the last-generation Shelby GT500 had a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 with 760 horsepower and 623 lb-ft of torque. But considering the new Mustang GTD already makes 815 hp, something higher than that — possibly even to the tune of four figures — is certainly possible.

It's unclear exactly when Ford will debut the new GT500. But considering these prototypes have advanced significantly since the last time we spied this hi-po Mustang in late April, we'll bet the next-gen Shelby will bow before the end of the year.

Photos by KGP Photography

by Steven Ewing

Steven Ewing has worked in the automotive industry since 2003. In that time, he's written thousands of articles and tested just as many vehicles. Steven is Edmunds' director of editorial content and has previously been on staff at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog, Motor1.com, CNET, and was the U.S. correspondent for Top Gear magazine. Steven has also contributed to Automobile magazine, Car and Driver, The Drive, Jalopnik, Porsche Panorama, and dozens of other publications. In his spare time, Steven loves to play the drums, cook, and drive his 2000 BMW M Roadster.

edited by Kathleen Clonts

Kathleen Clonts has worked in the automotive industry since 2014 and has copy-edited thousands of vehicle reviews and stories about cars and the auto industry in that time. Kathleen is the Edmunds editorial team's copy chief and previously worked as the senior copy editor for Automobile magazine.

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2026 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500: Everything We Know

Beefy, brawny styling

A Legend under the hood

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