Ford will launch a Mustang Shelby GT500 next year and the automaker has just dropped a new photo.

This time it isn't a shadowy teaser we're talking about but a clear shot giving us a bird’s-eye view of the 700-plus-horsepower super muscle car. It joins a previous teaser shot and video, as well as our own spy shots of prototypes.

Clearly visible is the car's new vented hood, which has been designed to keep the 5.2-liter supercharged V-8 residing beneath cool. The engine will feature a cobra snake logo on its supercharger housing and is expected to skip the flat-plane crank of the naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V-8 Ford uses for its Mustang Shelby GT350. All Ford will say is that the engine will bring more than 700 horses.

Getting back to the teaser, we also get an impression of the widened front fenders along with a glimpse of the front splitter, which we know from spy shots will be joined by a pair of dive planes. A massive wing, in carbon fiber, can be seen at the rear. The focus on downforce suggests a level of a capability beyond just the drag strip.

Key competition for the Shelby GT500 will be the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE and Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat. The rival models deliver 650 and 707 hp, respectively. Given the improvements Ford has made with its latest Mustangs in the areas of ride and handling, the car may also lure some buyers of pricey sports cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT and Porsche 911.

The previous-generation Shelby GT500 impressed us with its combination of power and civility, though still left us wanting more. It doesn't appear that that will be the case this time around. Stay tuned.

Did you know you can get a $47,000 Ford Mustang GT with cloth seats? In fact, if you keep adding options (including a $229 illuminated Mustang badge), you can get the price of a cloth-upholstered pony car up to nearly $50,000. We weren’t testing this particular Mustang for its accessories or its orange paint, though. We were much more interested in its 10-speed automatic transmission and how it would compare to the six-speed manual we tested last winter.

In terms of acceleration, it wasn’t even close. The automatic Mustang ran from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, a full half second quicker than the manual version. In the quarter mile, it was exactly the same story. The automatic Mustang ran it in 12.1 seconds at 118.8 mph, a half second quicker (and 3.7 mph faster) than the manual car.

“It’s this much quicker than the same car with a six-speed manual because, yes, the shifts are faster (and more in number), but the tach never swings in and out of the power band,” noted road test editor Chris Walton. “Also, there’s a significant mechanical force advantage with the 10A. Ford chose the ratios for a reason.”

Braking performance was also excellent, though no different than that of the manual version. Both cars stopped from 60 mph in 104 feet. “Extremely firm pedal, almost wooden,” Walton wrote. “Very little dive and no ABS buzz, pulsation, or tire sound. Good fade resistance, however.”

In our handling test, the Mustang averaged 0.97 g on the skidpad and ran the figure eight in 23.9 seconds at 0.84 g. The former is slightly off the stick-shift’s figure, and the latter is marginally better.

“Nice, smooth power, and I’d agree with Chris that there wasn’t too much Ford-fade after a few laps. The brakes’ resistance to overheating seemed pretty good this time. In cornering, there’s the usual need to probe the throttle to dance the car out of the understeer penalty box,” wrote testing director Kim Reynolds. He did, however, take issue with the steering, saying, “The steering’s linearity leaves everything to be desired, and I couldn’t predict a steering correction to stop it.”

For some people, the quicker shifts and improved acceleration will be a benefit on the track. Especially if they can’t justify the Shelby GT350’s higher price tag. But most people who pick the automatic over the manual will probably do so because they want the Mustang GT experience without the need to shift their own gears.

In that regard, the automatic Mustang is mostly a success. It rides and handles almost identically to the manual version. Commuting to and from work on the famously congested Interstate 405 was much less of a workout than it would have been in the manual car. There was no real learning curve, and I didn’t have to spend time getting adjusted to the clutch because there wasn’t one. You also don’t have to worry about making sure someone knows how to drive your car before you toss them the keys.

The automatic also does nothing to mess with the Mustang’s sounds. The optional active exhaust sounds incredible, and as Walton pointed out, it does a great impression of a race car at wide-open throttle. Plus, with remote start, you can enjoy the sound as you approach to your car.

That said, the transmission has its issues. Presumably in pursuit of better fuel economy, “It keeps the engine out of its powerband, and that’s exactly what you don’t want in a high-revving V-8,” said associate online editor Stefan Ogbac. “It’s quick, but this isn’t an ideal transmission for this type of engine.”

Chris Walton had similar issues during the acceleration tests. “Drag mode with traction control off in S-Drive was best,” he wrote. “Otherwise, it was too clever for itself by half, short shifting, throttle pulling, etc.”

The 10-speed isn’t necessarily bad. It just doesn’t feel like a fully integrated part of the Mustang package. Knowing how enjoyable the manual version is makes the auto’s shortcomings even more frustrating.

As for the cloth seats, we say pass on those if you can stretch your budget. The fact that they’re easier to get dirty and harder to clean than leather means the novelty of owning a Performance package–equipped Mustang GT with cloth seats will probably wear off quickly. Do pick a bright color such as our tester’s Orange Fury paint job, though. If you’re going to buy a car that stands out, you might as well really stand out.

The choices are limited, which is perfect.

The online configurator for the 2019 Ford Mustang is live, which means you can build and price your own GT or EcoBoost or whatever, but the most exciting part is that you can also now spec a new Bullitt.

The new Bullitt was introduced at this year’s Detroit auto show alongside the reappearance of the long-lost 1968 hero car from the original movie. Available only as a fastback, it’s essentially a GT Premium with the Performance package, made far more awesome through the addition of black Torq Thrust–style wheels and Highland Green paint. (You also can order a 2019 Bullitt in Shadow Black, but only a heathen would do that.)

Bullitt pricing starts at $47,590, or about three grand more than a GT with the Level 2 Performance package. If you’d like to spend even more, you can add the following factory options:

• Leather-wrapped and more aggressive Recaro seats with green stitching, $1595
• MagneRide active magnetorheological dampers, $1695
• An electronics package with navigation, blind-spot monitoring, an upgraded 12-speaker B&O Play audio system, and a memory function for the driver’s seat, side mirror, and ambient lighting, $2100

So equipped, a Bullitt runs $52,980, which is a lot of coin for a Mustang but maybe not so much for one that’s as sweet as this one and packs so much performance. The third-generation Bullitt (after the 2001 and 2008–2009 models) has six-piston Brembo brakes up front, a thicker rear anti-roll bar, a Torsen limited-slip differential, and a larger radiator. The 5.0-liter V-8 under the hood makes 480 horsepower—20 more than a regular GT—courtesy of the GT350’s cold-air intake, 87-millimeter throttle bodies, and tweaked engine programming. As it should be, a six-speed manual is the only transmission choice.

The 2019 Mustang also adds a California Special model and makes a few tweaks across the range. You can read about the CS and the changes here. And thankfully the Mustang will be among the two models that will survive FoMoCo’s purge of passenger cars from its lineup.

Ford’s much-loved Pony Car has hit a new milestone. At least, we think so – word is that the 10 millionth Mustang is now complete at the company’s Flat Rock, Michigan assembly plant. A few places have said that number 10 million is coming this week, and we've heard through our own sources that a big announcement and ceremony from Ford is slated for Wednesday. In the meantime, official_ford_guy on Instagram – who also happens to be media maven Evan J. Smith – nabbed a couple photos of the car he’s saying is the actual 10 millionth model.

If Smith is correct, it appears this milestone Mustang is a rather non-descript 5.0-liter convertible wearing a simple shade of white. Of course, these days a non-descript V8 Mustang GT droptop is still a $46,000 ride packing 460 horsepower (343 kilowatts) from its 5.0-liter Coyote V8. The Instagram post doesn’t mention anything about options, but a GT convertible only comes in Premium trim. That automatically means leather climate-controlled seats with Ford’s SYNC 3 system and the mondo nine-speaker stereo. Still, we don’t see any special striping or other add-ons that would otherwise suggest this is something special. That is, except for one verynotable option.

In the first Instagram post showing the car on the assembly line, Smith said this car was Wimbledon White. That color option isn’t available for 2019 Mustangs, and Ford history buffs will recall that the very first Mustang Ford sold was a pre-production convertible wearing – you guessed it – Wimbledon White. That’s not to be confused with the first retail Mustang sold, which was a blue 1965 model that went to a Chicago school teacher. Suddenly, this non-descript Mustang makes all kinds of sense.

Another interesting tidbit could be found in the hashtags on this post, one of which says #notforsale. It could well mean this car will be destined for the Ford archives, but we've heard that it will be on display at the upcoming Woodward Dream Cruise – an event which sees 40,000 cars and also happens to have Ford as a major sponsor.

We’re standing by on the official press release from Ford to give us full disclosure on this very special Mustang milestone. Look for that coming on Wednesday.

Ford is turning its iconic Dark Highland Green Mustang Bullitt Kona Blue to help benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and one lucky raffle participant will drive home in this one-of-a-kind Mustang.

Ford is revealing the Ford Mustang Bullitt Kona Blue at the 2018 Woodward Dream Cruise, where Ford and JDRF start selling up to 60,000 raffle tickets at $10 each. The raffle ends Nov. 9, 2018. A winner will be selected Nov. 13, 2018.

The JDRF Mustang Bullitt comes with unique gray wheels, and its Kona Blue exterior is carried inside with blue cabin stitching. It features the 2019 Mustang Bullitt's high-performance add-ons - including the performance-tuned 5.0-liter V8 churning out 480 horsepower for a top-end speed of 163 mph. And like the original one-of-a-kind 1968 Mustang fastback from the classic thriller "Bullitt," which also is making an appearance at the Woodward Dream Cruise, the newest model features minimal badging, a blacked-out grille and special white cue ball shifter.

Another 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 has been spied, and though most of the car isn't any different than past prototypes, it does have a couple of new additions. At the back, it now has a spoiler, and inside it has a roll cage. The spoiler is intriguing since every prototype before this has had a bare trunk lid, and the official image Ford released of the car recently shows a larger, more aggressive carbon fiber wing. The appearance of this spoiler suggests that Ford will have different levels of aerodynamic aids available, similar to the different ones that had been featured on the regular GT350 and the GT350R until just recently. As a matter of fact, this spoiler appears to be the same one used on the standard GT350.

The roll cage inside is also a new development. However, we doubt this will be available on the production car. Based on the "VIR" Virgina International Raceway sticker, this car has been doing some serious track testing. The roll cage was probably fitted as an extra layer of safety, similar to what manufacturers do when running cars at the Nürburgring.

We still expect the new GT500 to make its debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January. It will have a supercharged V8 making over 700 horsepower. Spy video indicates that there will be an automatic transmission available, probably a heavy-duty version of the 10-speed automatic found in the Mustang GT and Ford F-150 Raptor.

Right now, the most powerful Mustang you can buy from Ford is the GT350 with 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque. With that level of power, the GT350 is no slouch, but it still can’t compete with the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, which has a monstrous 707 hp under the hood. If you can’t wait for the 2020 Shelby Mustang GT500 to arrive, which is rumored to have 720 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque on tap, Roush has a solution.

The 2019 Roush Stage 3 Mustang adds an Eaton R2650 supercharger with a custom inlet to the Mustang’s 5.0-liter V8 to crank up the power output to 710 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque just like the JackHammer revealed a few months ago. Compared to the stock Mustang, Roush’s Stage 3 Mustang has an extra 250 ponies under the hood.

To help the car cope with all that extra muscle, Roush’s Stage 3 kit also includes a new set of coilovers available with three-way adjustability, a new set of 20-inch alloys, an optional adaptive exhaust system, an aero kit, and a sport interior package. Roush is currently accepting orders for the package, but it comes at a hefty premium.

On top of the price of a stock 5.0-liter Mustang, the RS3 package will start from $22,925, including a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. That’s a total cost of at least $58,115 if you’re also going to buy a new Mustang GT, which makes this option slightly more expensive than a Shelby GT350. Unfortunately Roush has only released one image of the 2019 Stage 3 Mustang so we’ve included images of the similarly powerful JackHammer for your viewing pleasure.

Saleen celebrates 35 trips around the sun this year, and it's marking the occasion with a Mustang-based special edition.

The car is appropriately called the SA 35, for Saleen Automotive 35, and just 10 examples will be built.

These days, Saleen is actually an automobile manufacturer, but the company began with a focus on tuning Mustangs in 1983, with its first Mustang-based vehicle rolled out in 1984. Engineering largely surrounded better handling characteristics, which the SA 35, based on a Ford Mustang GT, also embodies.

In an announcement last week, Saleen said the SA 35 features a Racecraft R Code suspension to enhance the sixth-generation Mustang's handling chops. But, that's not all. Saleen also massaged the donor car's 5.0-liter V-8 to produce a 780 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque. The added ponies come from a Saleen exhaust system and supercharger.

Of course, the car dons trademark black, white, and yellow graphics, and the SA 35 also features special fenders and hood, a custom rear wing, and Saleen-designed forged aluminum wheels.

The interior of the car follows the black, yellow, and white motif with special badges marking the car's significance.

The 35th anniversary Saleen follows last year's special 302 Black Label Mustang. That car marked the 30th anniversary of winning the SCCA/Escort Endurance Championship; Saleen won the series’ Driver, Manufacturer, Team, and Tire titles.

Concurrent with its various Mustang programs, Saleen is preparing for the S1 sports car's launch—the company's first standalone car since the S7 supercar exited production in 2009. The S1 will eventually ship from China, but to start, the car will be made in Mississippi. A 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 packs 450 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque.

Lebanon Ford has been offering high-performance Mustangs for a number of years and now the dealer has taken the wraps off their “newly revamped” LFP Hellion.

Featuring a Street Sleeper Twin Turbo System from Hellion Power Systems, the $39,995 car is based on the entry-level Mustang GT and features two turbochargers, dual wastegates, bypass valves and a high-flow intercooler. The package also includes upgraded fuel injectors and a custom Palm Beach Dyno tune.

Thanks to the aforementioned upgrades, the Mustang’s 5.0-liter V8 engine produces 800 hp (596 kW / 811 PS) at the crank when running on low boost. This is a significant improvement over the standard Mustang GT which starts at $35,355 and has 460 hp (343 kW / 466 PS).

Since the LFP Hellion is focused on performance, additional changes are limited. However, the Mustang GT 300A comes equipped with LED lighting units, a rear spoiler and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The model also has a leather-wrapped steering wheel, six-way power front seats and an Intelligent Access system with a push-button ignition. Other highlights include an auto-dimming rearview mirror and Silver Arrow Aluminum trim.

While the car seems like a bargain in base form, buyers looking for more power will have plenty of options. Among the choices are a JMS Boost-A-Pump upgrade, higher flowing fuel injectors and upgraded oil pump gears. Given enough upgrades, the dealer says the “kit is capable of seeing four digit power even in base form.”

Customers who already own a 2018 or 2019 Mustang GT can also purchase the performance package for $6,395.