The Dawn of a New Era: Charting the Evolution of the Ford Mustang S650

In the ever-shifting landscape of the automotive world, where electrification and automation are the prevailing winds, the Ford Mustang stands as a defiant monument to internal combustion and driver engagement. For sixty years, it has been the quintessential American pony car, a symbol of freedom, performance, and style. With the launch of its seventh generation, codenamed the S650, Ford didn’t just create a new car; it made a powerful statement. This is the story of the S650 Mustang, a detailed look at its introduction, its models, and the beginning of its evolution as the last V8-powered muscle car standing from the Detroit Big Three.

The Context: A Bridge from the S550

To understand the S650, one must first appreciate its predecessor. The sixth-generation S550 (2015-2023) was a watershed moment for the Mustang. It introduced independent rear suspension as standard across the lineup, brought a right-hand-drive model to global markets, and achieved unprecedented levels of performance with models like the Shelby GT350 and the supercharged GT500. It was a massive success.

However, by the early 2020s, the automotive world was a different place. Dodge had announced the end of its V8-powered Challenger and Charger, and Chevrolet was preparing to sunset the Camaro. Emissions regulations were tightening globally, and the pressure to go electric was immense. It was in this environment that Ford greenlit the S650, not as a radical, clean-sheet redesign, but as a strategic and substantial evolution of the S550’s winning formula. The mission was clear: preserve the V8 heart and soul of the Mustang while wrapping it in a technologically advanced, modern package that could carry the nameplate into the future.

.

.

The Foundation: Architecture and Design

The S650 Mustang officially debuted for the 2024 model year. It rides on an updated version of the S550’s platform, retaining a similar wheelbase and core structure but with enhancements to improve rigidity and crash performance.

The exterior design is an exercise in sharp, athletic modernism. While the S550 was characterized by its softer, more flowing lines, the S650 is all crisp angles and aggressive creases. Ford’s designers created three distinct front-end designs to differentiate the main models. The EcoBoost features a clean, horizontal grille and intake layout. The GT proudly sports a larger, more aggressive grille with functional hood vents that evoke its V8 power. The top-tier Dark Horse model gets a unique front fascia with “nostrils” flanking the pony emblem, designed for maximum cooling.

At the rear, the iconic tri-bar taillights remain but are now sharply angled and deeply recessed, giving the car a more menacing and technical appearance. Overall, the S650’s design is an intentional step forward, nodding to its heritage (particularly the original 1960s models and the Fox Body of the ‘80s) while looking firmly to the future.

The Heart of the Beast: Powertrain Evolution

Ford doubled down on what makes a Mustang a Mustang: its engines.

• 2.3L EcoBoost Four-Cylinder: The entry-level engine is an all-new generation of the turbocharged four-cylinder. For the 2024 model year, it produces a healthy 315 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. A significant change for the S650 generation is that the EcoBoost model is available exclusively with a 10-speed automatic transmission, discontinuing the manual option for the four-cylinder variant.
• 5.0L “Coyote” V8 (Fourth Generation): The legendary Coyote V8 is the soul of the S650 GT and Dark Horse. This fourth-generation engine received substantial upgrades, most notably a dual air intake box and dual throttle body design, a first for the Mustang GT. This innovation, combined with an improved exhaust manifold and other internal tweaks, allows the engine to breathe more freely and produce more power. In the GT, it generates 480 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque (or 486 hp and 418 lb-ft with the optional active-valve performance exhaust). It remains paired with either the 10-speed automatic or a Getrag MT-82 six-speed manual transmission for purists.

A Digital Revolution: The Cockpit

The most dramatic evolutionary leap for the S650 is found inside. The traditional “dual-cowl” dashboard is gone, replaced by a sweeping, driver-focused digital display. This monolithic glass panel houses a 12.4-inch customizable digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch central touchscreen running Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system.

Powered by Unreal Engine, the same 3D creation tool used in high-end video games, the graphics are crisp, responsive, and highly configurable. Drivers can choose from various gauge layouts, including a nostalgic mode that replicates the green-lit analog gauges of the 1987-1993 Fox Body Mustang. This digital integration, while controversial for its reduction of physical buttons, firmly plants the S650 in the modern era and appeals to a new generation of tech-savvy buyers.

Model Year Breakdown: The S650 Lineup

As a new generation, the S650’s “evolution” is currently in its nascent stages, defined by the expansion and refinement of its initial offerings.

2024 Model Year (Launch Year)

The inaugural year established the core hierarchy of the S650 family, available in both Fastback and Convertible body styles (except for the Dark Horse).

• Mustang EcoBoost: The accessible performance model.
  • Trim Levels: EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium. The Premium trim adds features like heated/cooled leather seats, a larger touchscreen, and ambient lighting.
  • Key Packages: The High Performance Package returned, though later rebranded, bundling features for better handling. The Bronze Design Series Appearance Package offered unique Sinister Bronze wheels and badging.
• Mustang GT: The quintessential V8 pony car.
  • Trim Levels: GT, GT Premium. Similar to the EcoBoost, the Premium tier elevates the interior with more luxury and comfort features.
  • Key Packages: The GT Performance Package is a must-have for enthusiasts, adding Brembo brakes, a Torsen limited-slip differential, heavy-duty front springs, a front strut-tower brace, and wider wheels with summer tires. The Nite Pony Package added blacked-out wheels, roof, badging, and trim for a stealthier look.
• Mustang Dark Horse: The new apex predator of the lineup.
  • Positioning: Billed as the most track-capable 5.0L Mustang ever, the Dark Horse is a dedicated performance model that effectively succeeds the S550’s Mach 1 and Shelby GT350 in spirit.
  • Powertrain: It features a specially tuned version of the Gen 4 Coyote V8, utilizing forged piston connecting rods and other hardware from the S550 Shelby GT500 program to produce an even 500 horsepower and 418 lb-ft of torque. It comes standard with a unique Tremec TR-3160 six-speed manual transmission, with the 10-speed automatic as an option.
  • Chassis and Aero: MagneRide adaptive dampers are standard, along with larger Brembo brakes, a unique rear axle cooler, and improved engine cooling. An optional Handling Package adds a unique rear wing with an integrated gurney flap, stiffer springs, and ultra-sticky Pirelli Trofeo RS tires.
  • Track-Only Variants: Ford Performance also announced the track-exclusive Dark Horse S (with a full FIA-certified roll cage and safety systems) and Dark Horse R (for wheel-to-wheel racing).

2025 Model Year (Expansion and Celebration)

The second year of production saw the lineup largely carry over, but with the introduction of two highly significant new additions that mark the first major evolutionary steps for the S650.

• 60th Anniversary Package: To celebrate six decades of the Mustang, Ford introduced a limited-edition appearance package available on the GT Premium. It features exclusive 20-inch wheels inspired by the 1965 Mustang, unique side graphics, a special grille with a retro mesh design, and a serialized 60th Anniversary plaque on the dashboard.
• Mustang GTD (The Halo Car): The most significant development for 2025 is the arrival of the Mustang GTD. This is not merely a trim level; it is a limited-production, street-legal supercar designed to take on the best of European performance cars.
  • Engineering: Developed in parallel with the Mustang GT3 race car, the GTD is a complete re-engineering of the S650 platform by Ford Performance and Multimatic.
  • Powertrain: It eschews the Coyote V8 for a purpose-built, supercharged 5.2L V8 targeting over 800 horsepower, making it the most powerful production Mustang ever.
  • Chassis and Aero: It features a rear-mounted 8-speed dual-clutch transaxle for near 50/50 weight distribution, an advanced in-board pushrod suspension system, extensive use of carbon fiber for the body panels, and a dramatic, hydraulically controlled active rear wing that is illegal in GT3 racing. The GTD represents the absolute pinnacle of S650 performance, a “road-legal race car” with a price tag expected to exceed $325,000.

The Road Ahead

The evolution of the Ford Mustang S650 has only just begun. While the 2024 and 2025 model years have established a formidable core lineup—from the accessible EcoBoost to the track-focused Dark Horse and the world-beating GTD—the future promises even more.

History tells us to expect a mid-cycle refresh around the 2027 or 2028 model year, which will likely bring updated styling, new technology, and potentially powertrain tweaks. Furthermore, the Mustang story is incomplete without the legendary Shelby name. While the GTD fills the supercar void, the inevitable return of a Shelby GT500 successor, likely boasting even more extreme supercharged V8 power, is widely anticipated.

The S650 Mustang is an audacious bet on the enduring appeal of the traditional performance car. In an era of silent acceleration, it offers the visceral howl of a naturally aspirated V8 and the mechanical satisfaction of a manual gearbox. Its evolution, from its confident launch to the stratospheric ambition of the GTD, proves that while the world changes, the spirit of the Mustang remains untamed, uncompromised, and undeniably alive.