Report: 2026 GT500 Confirmed in UAW document

[Epiphany]

I've heard NA mentioned several times over the last few months on the new mystery car, but the 2 mules they keep driving around Detroit look to have larger coolers in the front. Are these just a facade for photo ops, a secondary iteration of what's to come with forced induction, or something completely different altogether?

Good question. Ford is playing the Ops game well - so far.

The UAW Local 600 has held back on making the first 2025 issue available online, no doubt in part because of the GT500/Legend blurbs therein.
https://uawlocal600.org/?page_id=49

Blown 5.2, naturally aspirated 5.4, DCT, 6 speed manual...all nail biting for sure.

The brakes being shown sure are interesting. Front calipers look very similar to previous GT500 as do the SHW rotors in some photos. But now Ford is showing a drilled rotor, something that offered nothing aside from looks on the GT350 and wasn't carried over to the '20-'22 GT500. So using them now...hmm. If you look close you can see that the hats on the drilled rotors are completely different than the SHW hats.

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[Inthehighdesert]

That front end is a big improvement. That looks really good.

I've heard NA mentioned several times over the last few months on the new mystery car, but the 2 mules they keep driving around Detroit look to have larger coolers in the front. Are these just a facade for photo ops, a secondary iteration of what's to come with forced induction, or something completely different altogether?

 

[Epiphany]

I see the front end and I think twin intakes/throttle bodies into a revised intake manifold, not a supercharger.

Keep the center of gravity lower, reduce weight/complexity with the cooling system, and go with a high output 5.4 with both DCT and manual transmissions as choices. Emissions standards will be revised starting with 2026 models and maybe Ford won't need twin air pumps such as the GTD is forced to use or particulate filters.

I really hoped for more rubber along with flares or different fenders/quarter panel stampings but Ford would rather you pay for electronic billboard dashboards and blue stitching. Or maybe they haven't shown their hand yet and we can finally break free from OEM 305/315 tire limitations. I dare Ford to shock me instead of putting me to sleep.

 

[MAGS1]

Or maybe they haven't shown their hand yet and we can finally break free from OEM 305/315 tire limitations.

How big we thinking, Tob? 335, 345?

 

[Epiphany]

Yes.

I remember Jamal defending the 265/285 GT500 tire combination years ago (on an interview with Travis at SVTP). He was saying that you lose out with a fatter tire up front and referenced skinny tired supercars as the way to go. The 285 was an S197 fenderwell limitation out back. But he said that as he was working on the S550 GT350's knowing full well that it wasn't true as there were wider tires on the way.

The truth was, SVT engineers were limited at that time to budget constraints so there was no way they were going to introduce new stampings mid model years. I doubt they'd ever do it now but you never know. Maybe somebody in the program with balls like Coletti had could get it done. A 325/345 combination....oh my lawd! The drag guys would love it as would those that like to turn. No more CAFE to worry about so why not unleash?

 

[MAGS1]

Sign me up

 

[Inthehighdesert]

I’m in, but I can hear the tramlining bxtching already.

Yes.

I remember Jamal defending the 265/285 GT500 tire combination years ago (on an interview with Travis at SVTP). He was saying that you lose out with a fatter tire up front and referenced skinny tired supercars as the way to go. The 285 was an S197 fenderwell limitation out back. But he said that as he was working on the S550 GT350's knowing full well that it wasn't true as there were wider tires on the way.

The truth was, SVT engineers were limited at that time to budget constraints so there was no way they were going to introduce new stampings mid model years. I doubt they'd ever do it now but you never know. Maybe somebody in the program with balls like Coletti had could get it done. A 325/345 combination....oh my lawd! The drag guys would love it as would those that like to turn. No more CAFE to worry about so why not unleash?

 

[WItoTX]

Perfect, drilled rotors so they can crack after any track use.

 

[Epiphany]

Perfect, drilled rotors so they can crack after any track use.

Yeah, that's an odd one. Unless maybe they've finally figured it out somehow via process or materials...or nah, somebody just thought it looked cool and would throw a turd in the punch bowl so they did it just for shits.

 

[mavisky]

Boomers love cross drilled rotors even if they are more expensive and functionally worse.

 

[robvas]

C7 Z had 335's out back and still had traction problems. I don't see them going that big, they can't move the engine to the back

They can't one-up the HP of the GTD, can they?

Twin turbo V8? I can't see them doing an NA high RPM engine, if it's Coyote based. Even a 5.4 making 625hp (similar to the 5.5 in the Z06) wouldn't get the job done if this thing is over 4,000lbs like the S550 GT500, even if they go with an 8 or 9 speed DCT

 

[robvas]

Boomers love cross drilled rotors even if they are more expensive and functionally worse.

Carbon brakes are all the rage now

 

[mavisky]

C7 Z had 335's out back and still had traction problems. I don't see them going that big, they can't move the engine to the back

They can't one-up the HP of the GTD, can they?

Twin turbo V8? I can't see them doing an NA high RPM engine, if it's Coyote based. Even a 5.4 making 625hp (similar to the 5.5 in the Z06) wouldn't get the job done if this thing is over 4,000lbs like the S550 GT500, even if they go with an 8 or 9 speed DCT

Won't be more hp than the GTD.

I dont see them going bigger in tire size than what the Dark Horse has.

I also dont think they necessarily have to compete with the Z06 or the former GT500 on power as the cars competition is now out of production so it only has to kind of compete with cars like the BMW M4. I dont even know if its going to be supercharged so weight could be close to Dark Horse weight.

Ford could use this as an opportunity to reset the base metric of the HP wars by making their top tier option a DCT equipped 550hp 5.4L based Coyote and call it the Cobra. Would be the 2nd coming of rhe 2000 Cobra R almost.

 

[robvas]

GT500 has been supercharged for the last 18 years I doubt they drop that

The 670hp (?) NA 5.5 C8 Z06 is still in production it's only been out a year

And what's the price going to be? $125+?

 

[MAGS1]

Well, it’s not going to be called a GT500 so boost of any kind is not a requirement

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