It seems that Ford will take inspiration from the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato and the Porsche 911 Dakar.
According to a report by Car and Driver, Ford's engineers have "a mindset to Raptorize everything," and that includes the upcoming S650 Mustang. The publication claims that a Raptor version of the pony will "arrive in 2026" and will feature a 5.0-liter V8 developing 500 horsepower connected to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic transmission and an electronically controlled center differential. No manual option is predicted. Due to space constraints, a two-speed transfer case is not expected to feature either, but "a Mustang Raptor R with a 700-plus-hp supercharged 5.2-liter V8 will arrive sometime later."
This rumor seems ludicrous, but it's not necessarily without merit. The Ford Mustang was recently revealed to be the best-selling sports car on the planet for the last 10 years running, so why not capitalize on that popularity even further?
On the one hand, the publication does not cite any sources or provide any foundation for the report, implying that the entire story is speculative. But on the other hand, Car and Driver is a highly respected publication with no track record of creating and propagating unfounded rumors.
Ford has also expanded the formerly F-150-exclusive Raptor nameplate to several models, including the Bronco and the Ranger. Moreover, the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato and the Porsche 911 Dakar have proven that there is a demand for off-road-friendly two-door sports coupes. If Ford is seriously considering a Mustang Raptor, it would likely be offered as a limited edition, just as the Sterrato and Dakar are.
Car and Driver says that the Mustang Raptor would start at around $90,000, while the supercharged Mustang Raptor R would start at approximately $110,000, making it a true bargain alongside the sporty off-road coupes from Italy and Germany.
The idea of an all-wheel-driven Mustang is not entirely alien either, as splined front hubs have been fitted to the pony car since 2015, and several rumors suggested the S650 would power both axles as a hybrid. Perhaps those plans were scrapped to refocus on an off-road project, or perhaps an AWD Mustang production car will only arrive once the sports car is inevitably electrified.
Either way, it's an interesting thing to contemplate. Would you pay six figures for a Mustang off-roader, or is the idea too sacrilegious and outlandish to warrant a second thought?
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