It’s time to get excited, folks. Ford just released an audio clip as a teaser for a new Mustang, and it sure sounds like it could be equipped with a flat-plane crank V-8.The teaser suggests this new Mustang is to be called Cobra—but it seems more than likely to us that it’ll actually boast the Cobra R name, on account of the “R” being highlighted in blue after Ford spells out “Cobra” in the video.
Of course, Ford has some serious history with the Cobra R name, with its last appearance being in the mighty-special 2000 SVT Cobra R.As for the sound in the video, listen above and make up your own mind, but it sure sounds Voodoo-esque to us. That said, it’s not a dead wringer for the 5.2-liter naturally aspirated flat-plane crank in the old Shelby GT350. What could account for the change?
Our best guess is more displacement: if Ford is borrowing the Cobra R name, it would stand to reason that it would also borrow the 5.4 liters of displacement that car had.
This would not only honor the past, but substantially move the game forward from where the GT350 left off.This line of thinking follows a report from yesterday that suggested Ford is cooking up a GT350 successor with power output in the 600-horsepower range and a naturally aspirated V-8. And just like the GT350, this new muscle car is supposedly going to be manual-only.
Listening to the audio clip, the vehicle accelerating and revving to the moon is clearly shifted via a manual transmission.Ford confirms in its text for the teaser that this Mustang is for the purists. “You’ll want to hear this. For the drivers, with an all-motor heart born from racing. Ford Mustang Cobra, a Legacy Reborn.
The story continues in 2027.”If that doesn’t get you a little giddy for the next chapter of the S650-gen Mustang, we’re not sure what would. Ford doesn’t supply a reveal date, but it suggests we’ll get to learn more next year. With 2026 being the year of the Dark Horse SC, it stands to reason that 2027 will be the year of the Cobra R.
