Leaked document appears to confirm the upcoming GT500 will debut with a new engine as Ford continues to stay silent amid swirling rumors about the model’s potential return
A leaked document on Reddit appeared to confirm the return of the GT500 Mustang which was last seen on the previous generation Ford Mustang.
It has been a few years since we have seen a Mustang GT500 with the last version being axed when the Mustang was updated a few years ago with the model being replaced in the range-topping spot by the Mustang Dark Horse. The GT500 was a potent performance statement and it long signaled the pinnacle of performance for Shelby badged Mustangs.
Rumors have been swirling for the past few years about the model’s potential return and it appears that the rumormill gained some unexpected fuel this week with a leaked document not only alleging the GT500 will be making its return this year, but that it will also be debuting a new engine which might push the envelope of performance even higher than what is currently available to consumers.
GT500 might be prepping for a return
The GT500 could potentially give up its range-topping status to the GTD in exchange for filling a gap in the performance Mustang lineup.
The document in question was posted on the r/Mustang sub-reddit and appears to be the second half of a UAW release with the end portion of the said statement seemingly confirming the model will return in 2026 with the model getting a new engine which is being dubbed “Legend.” While Ford has not chosen to comment on the validity of this document, there are several indicators here that suggest the document is genuine. For instance, UAW Local 600 is based in Dearborn and this branch of the UAW covers employees who work at the Dearborn Engine Plant. This facility is responsible for the production of V8 powerplants for models like the F-150 Raptor and even the Mustang GTD.
This leak would also go along with established Ford habits with the Mustang performance lineup notably missing a model between the Dark Horse and the GTD. As such, this GT500 could bridge the gap between the two with the model giving up its range-topping status in exchange for offering buyers potential performance that would strike a balance between the GTD’s raw performance and the Dark Horse’s more approachable nature.
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Could it be packing a hybrid system?
The 2025 Mustang GTD’s engine is already a potent piece of engineering but the GT500 might trump it with a hybrid system.
The GT500 has always been a loud and brawny symbol of American performance with the model usually being powered by a large V8 with more recent versions of the car getting supercharged V8 engines. However, tightening fuel regulations are forcing many automakers (Ford included) to make novel choices about how they can still deliver the performance that GT500 buyers would want while still complying with regulations.
One potential approach is a hybrid system with the setup not only allowing the GT500 to make more power but also get slightly more fuel economy. The added weight of such a system would be a tough drawback for Ford engineers to work out in terms of handling but the attention such a model would get would perhaps be worth the investment and it would allow the Mustang to have a unique selling point in the upper end of the model lineup.
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