Ford Eyes Naturally Aspirated Shelby GT350 Successor
Ford reportedly is developing a new naturally aspirated Mustang to succeed the Shelby GT350, expected to be offered exclusively as a coupe.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Performance Vehicles
Ford reportedly is developing a new naturally aspirated Shelby GT350 successor Mustang, which is expected to be sold only as a coupe. Ford has not officially announced the car.
Why it matters
The report points to Ford keeping a naturally aspirated V8 in its high-performance Mustang lineup even as rivals move toward forced induction. A coupe-only lineup would also mirror the previous Shelby GT350, which was never offered as a convertible.
The reported naturally aspirated V8 could deliver around 650 horsepower, compared with 500 horsepower and 418 pound-feet of torque for the 2026 Dark Horse and 795 horsepower for the supercharged Dark Horse SC. The 2026 Dark Horse starts at $67,770 and the Dark Horse SC at $108,085, while the new model's roughly $80,000 entry price remains unconfirmed.
The players
Ford Motor Company
Ford is the American automaker that builds the Mustang and the Shelby GT350, and has not officially announced the reported successor model.
The details
The new model reportedly uses the Dark Horse SC as its starting point with similar widebody styling, sending power to the rear wheels through a manual transmission. Reported upgrades include additional cooling capacity, larger brakes, and an upgraded suspension.
Timeline
Early 2025: Ford filed a trademark for Dark Horse Boss.
Next year: the new Mustang is expected to reach dealerships as a 2027 model-year vehicle.
Roadmap
The reported successor would carry forward the Shelby GT350's naturally aspirated V8 approach, which stands apart from the supercharged Dark Horse SC now in Ford's lineup. Its reported coupe-only body would continue the Shelby GT350's pattern of never having been offered as a convertible.
A coupe-only, naturally aspirated Mustang would limit buyers to a fixed-roof body and a non-forced-induction engine. Reported pricing near $80,000 would place it between the 2026 Dark Horse and Dark Horse SC, but none of these figures are confirmed.
The takeaway
Readers considering a high-performance Mustang should weigh the reported naturally aspirated option against the supercharged Dark Horse SC, but should wait for Ford's official announcement before making plans.
Further reading
Explore more Performance Vehicles coverage for context on high-output American muscle cars.
