New Ford Mustang SVO is Generating a Lot of Buzz

There is now more fuel to the rumour of a new mid-level Mustang that Ford is apparently planning to launch soon, possibly as early as the New York Auto Show next week.

Ford Authority photographers captured spy photos of a Mustang prototype that could very well be the so-called Mustang SVO, although the Mustang ST name has also been thrown around.

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The SVO moniker was originally given to a 2.3-litre turbocharged Mustang produced in the mid-80s.

Sources say the blue-oval company is looking to bridge the gap between the base 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder Mustang, which delivers 310 horsepower and retails from $30,699, and the up-level 5.0-litre V8-equipped GT, which offers 460 horsepower in exchange for $40,289.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Mustang SVO would add a new powertrain option (maybe Ford’s 2.7-litre EcoBoost V6) or simply push the 2.3-litre engine into the 350-400 horsepower range, as was the case with the departed Focus RS.

In any case, a mid-level Mustang variant would allow Ford to offer a direct response to the Chevrolet Camaro’s 335-horsepower 3.6-litre V6.

The prototype spotted on the test track featured an aggressive front splitter, a raised trunk spoiler and quad exhaust tips that hint at an active exhaust system. The badges on the front fenders and the trunk were covered, further suggesting that this is a different model.

We’ll keep a very close eye on this development and hopefully look for an official reveal at the New York Auto Show on April 17.