Disguised S550 Mustang Spied Testing - New Variant or Refresh?

[f e r]

I'm digging the bull bar

And definitely something's going at the top of the front fenders.

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[Kevin08]

Those front brakes look pretty large. I'm hoping there have been some serious upgrades to the car for the 2017/2018 Mustang GT and all variants

They're regular GT brakes.

That's also why I doubt it's an ecoboost, they have smaller brakes (except for PP). Plus...you can see one of the slanted fangs in the upper-grille, which is only a feature on the V8 cars. Still betting on 17MY Refresh, a Mach 1 would probably have an entirely different front clip (shaker hood?), and not be sporting the same chin spoiler.

But in these photos, it does almost look as there's a grille delete present -- you can see the radiator clearly around the pony, which would normally be impossible to see through the honey comb. Either that or there is a horizontal billet grille behind it, but the pony does look like it's kind of floating on its own without a shroud. Mach 1s did have grille deletes, so...

 

[Mountain376]

Those are exhaust extenders. It's part of an experimental exhaust system that provides a deeper tone while projecting the sound further distances.

Just standard test exhaust tips for internal emissions testing and such. Nothing to get excited about here.

Is it me or does it look like there is a billet/horizontal grated-type upper grill behind that fascia cover?

 

[Khyber]

Because Team Camaro is kicking Team Ford's ass :lol:

i guess you've been living under a rock since oct 2014?

 

[Mountain376]

I'd like to see something more aggressive. My biggest issue with the current Mustang has always been the soft nose design. The rest of it I love, including that wide back end.

I've done countless photoshops on that front end to make it a bit more 'American Muscle' rather than what imo is inspired by Euro-Asian design.

Here's some I've done...

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I like this. Ever mess with simply changing the lower, rear line on the headlights. So, instead of sweeping back at around a 45-degree angle, make it more aggressive, like 60-80? Basically "chopping off" the Asian-ness (squaring it off)... Or, instead of coming to a point, adding almost a chamfer at the end and leaving the about 45 alone?

 

[AMAlexLazarus]

What in the world is going on here!? I've loved spy shots for at least a decade, I've never ever seen anything like this before (light wise)

 

[Mr.Solis]

My guess is they are testing components for new led lighting program

 

[AMAlexLazarus]

Hmm I'll take a guess that it's a GT variant with a v6 ecoboost engine that Ford will name something else to differentiate the two. The engine will be the all-new 3.5 L twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 that will also be shared with the raptor in 2017. This will allow an option similar in price and power output that will exceed the 16 camaro ss.

That's the weird thing, why test a tranny with a camouflage body?

diversion

Why does mustang need to respond to the Camaro???

Friendly Competition of course!

Couple Stabs here after reading the entire thread.

Mach maybe.

3.5Turbo? - I'd love it (EB Explorers/SHO's with a tune are quite fun) but would Ford really cannibalize the EcoBoost (4cyl) that fast?

- Where would that come in HP wise too? It just doesn't make sense yet.
- Not seeing any intercooler (I could be blind too)
- Hood looks interesting
- Rear looks spoiler looks huuuge

I love me some speculation!

 

[Spartan]

My thoughts as well. Definitely a refresh but MY2017? Seems early to me, when was the first refresh of s197?

In this day and age, the usual refresh is 3rd year. Generation is usually 5 total years.

With competitors bringing new cars to market faster and with new upgrades, goodies, etc, the car companies are battling even harder to get buyers so they have to keep their cars updated and fresh.

Over on Camaro6, I was looking at one of their posts with the comparison photos we had on here also and there were a few new forum people that were going to buy GTs and when the new Camaro information hit, they halted their purchases because they felt the Camaro offered more.

So that's why many of us feel this is the refresh for the Mustang. 3rd year. It hits right after Camaro 6 gen hits and counters them. Lots on here will say Ford has to do nothing. That's fine. Lots out there do think they need to improve a bunch of things on the S550.

We'll have the R&T and MTCOY articles out soon and that will give a good indication of what Ford is up against here.

 

[Spartan]

Friendly Competition of course!

3.5Turbo? - I'd love it (EB Explorers/SHO's with a tune are quite fun) but would Ford really cannibalize the EcoBoost (4cyl) that fast?

- Where would that come in HP wise too? It just doesn't make sense yet.
- Not seeing any intercooler (I could be blind too)
- Hood looks interesting
- Rear looks spoiler looks huuuge

I love me some speculation!

I think the spoiler could be misleading. It actually might not be that big of a spoiler at all and the padding/camo/way it sits is exaggerating it. From the back it looks huge but from the side, it doesn't sit that high at all.

I'm guessing that it has the California Special spoiler on it. If you look at the CS from the side, it's spoiler seems very similar to the height of this one.

 

[OH5GT 2 S550]

I like this. Ever mess with simply changing the lower, rear line on the headlights. So, instead of sweeping back at around a 45-degree angle, make it more aggressive, like 60-80? Basically "chopping off" the Asian-ness (squaring it off)... Or, instead of coming to a point, adding almost a chamfer at the end and leaving the about 45 alone?

:lol::lol::lol::first::hail::hail::hail:

 

[l2frankie]

Nobody mentioned the gt hood. I do hope it's a v6 Eco that I might trade up to

 

[OH5GT 2 S550]

Nobody mentioned the gt hood. I do hope it's a v6 Eco that I might trade up to

Not sure it's a GT hood. It has the turn signal indicators...dont all '16's have those?

 

[Mustang8]

Where can I get those exhaust tips? lol

 

[Spartan]

Not sure it's a GT hood. It has the turn signal indicators...dont all '16's have those?

Nope. Only GTs have the hood vents.

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