When can I order a 2023 GT500?

You better act quickly because the GT500 won't be around much longer.

Last week was a significant one for the Blue Oval as it unveiled the all-new, seventh-generation Ford Mustang. There is much to pore over here, such as the hardcore Dark Horse variant and many cool new features like the remote rev function. The fact that the Coyote V8 lives on in its most powerful form ever is another reason to celebrate.

But none of this means that the sixth-generation Mustang has suddenly become irrelevant, not least of all because the 'old' Mustang will still be on sale for another year. Some will prefer the S550's looks and its more analog interior, and for those who want one before the S650 arrives, there is some new information to take note of - but not all of it is good.

We now know that the S550 model will continue to be produced for the 2023 model year, but not for a full calendar year as S650 production is due to begin in the summer of 2023.

"Demand [for the S550] is there," said brand manager Jim Owens when speaking to Muscle Cars & Trucks a few days ago. "Supply is not, and we're working towards it. We were down nine weeks this year, thirteen weeks last year," he said when referring to production of the S550 at the Flat Rock Assembly plant in Detroit.

While the 2023 Mustang will extend the life of the sixth-gen model for a while longer, this doesn't apply to the entire lineup. The big news here is that the current Mustang Shelby GT500 won't continue into the 2023 model year.

The Shelby GT500 is the king of the S550 lineup with its 5.2-liter supercharged V8 making a monstrous 760 horsepower. Together with a dual-clutch automatic transmission, it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in below 3.5 seconds. It's not confirmed if the S650 will come with a replacement for the GT500, and this news means that there will be a gap at the very top of the Mustang lineup for at least a year or so, leaving Ford without a direct rival to the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. It also means that the new Mustang Dark Horse with its 500-hp V8 will be the most powerful seventh-generation derivative for the time being.

Fans who want one of the quicker S550 models and who might miss out on the GT500 will be happy to know that the Mustang Mach 1 will still be around for 2023. Its 470-hp V8 isn't far off the output of the newer Dark Horse.

As the S550 nears retirement, it will be remembered as the first Mustang to be marketed and sold globally. Its independent rear suspension did wonders for the handling of the car, making it much more than just a dragster, and the 2.3-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine saw the Mustang join the downsizing trend without making the car a dud to drive. The S550 was one of the most complete Mustangs yet, and the S650 has big shoes to fill when it arrives.

For those craving the Shelby model, however, your time is limited, so we'd suggest tracking one down ASAP.

Ford's current-generation Mustang will soldier on for one more model year, but it will do so without the fire-breathing Shelby GT500.

The information was first reported on Wednesday by Muscle Cars and Trucks and since confirmed to Motor Authority by Ford spokesman Mike Levine.

The current Mustang will have a shortened 2023 model year before finally bowing out to make way for the redesigned 2024 Mustang that was unveiled on Wednesday at the 2022 Detroit auto show. The current car will continue to offer the Mach 1, which will be the new range-topper in lieu of the Shelby GT500.

2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Ford hasn't said when production of the current car will cease, though we know the redesigned car arrives next summer. Speaking to Muscle Cars and Trucks, Jim Owens, Ford Performance's marketing manager, said Ford was still busy catching up building 2022 Mustangs due to various production setbacks in the past year, and that there was still plenty of demand for the current car.

While there's a good chance the Shelby GT500 (and the GT350) will return, there might be a gap of several years as the Mustang's Shelby variants aren't typically available at launch. It means if you've been planning to buy a Shelby GT500, now would be the time to act.

Even if you wait for the arrival of the redesigned Mustang, there will be plenty of performance on offer straight out of the box thanks to a new Dark Horse model that will likely replace the Mach 1. It will share a 5.0-liter V-8 with the Mustang GT but see power rise to around 500 hp.

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