S650 Mustang: 2024–Present Guide
The S650 Mustang is the seventh-generation Ford Mustang, sold from the 2024 model year. It keeps the V8 and the manual alive while plenty of rivals quit, adds a screen-heavy cabin, and tops out with the 815-hp Mustang GTD. Here’s what you get, what’s changed so far, and how it rates for safety.
S650 Mustang at a Glance
Model years 2024–present Current generation
Revealed 14 Sept 2022 Detroit Auto Show
Built in Flat Rock Michigan, from 2023
Body styles Coupe, convertible Four seats
Power range 315–815 hp EcoBoost to GTD
Screens 12.4 + 13.2 in Digital cluster and center display
What’s New With the S650 Mustang
Underneath, the S650 Mustang is an evolution of the S550, so it keeps the independent rear suspension that made the last car so good. On top of that, Ford sharpened the styling, gave the GT a fourth-generation Coyote V8 and built a whole new cabin around two big screens.
The cabin is the part you notice first. A 12.4-inch digital cluster flows into a 13.2-inch center screen, and you can set the gauges to look like classic Fox-body dials if you want. Meanwhile, the electronic drift brake, developed with drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr., works like a hydraulic handbrake for slides on a closed course, then behaves as a normal parking brake everywhere else.
The biggest headline, though, is what Ford didn’t drop. While the Camaro and the gas Challenger went away, you can still get the S650 Mustang with a naturally aspirated V8 and a six-speed manual, and the manual GT even rev-matches your downshifts for you.
What we like
- V8 and manual still on the menu
- Dark Horse is a real track car
- Modern screens and driver-assist tech
What to watch
- Lots of recalls in the first years
- EcoBoost is automatic only
- Fewer physical buttons than before
S650 Mustang Engines and Power
Every S650 Mustang is rear-wheel drive, and the range runs from a turbo four to a hand-built supercharged V8. However, the transmission you can get depends on the engine, so check before you fall for one.
| Engine | Found in | Transmission | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L EcoBoost turbo I4 | EcoBoost | 10-speed automatic only | 315 hp / 350 lb-ft |
| 5.0L Coyote V8 (Gen 4) | GT | 6-speed manual or 10-speed auto | 480 hp (486 hp with active exhaust) |
| 5.0L Coyote V8 (Gen 4) | Dark Horse | Tremec 6-speed manual or 10-speed auto | 500 hp / 418 lb-ft |
| 5.2L supercharged V8 | Dark Horse SC (2026) | 7-speed dual-clutch | 795 hp / 660 lb-ft |
| 5.2L supercharged V8 | Mustang GTD | 8-speed dual-clutch | 815 hp / 664 lb-ft |
No mid-cycle refresh yet
S650 Mustang Changes by Model Year
The S650 hasn’t had a facelift so far, so a 2024 and a 2026 car look the same. Instead, Ford has kept adding new versions on top of the regular EcoBoost, GT and Dark Horse.
- 2024 Launch year. You can pick the EcoBoost, GT or the new Dark Horse, as a coupe or a convertible. Early cars have the most recalls, so check the VIN.
- 2025 The road-going Mustang GTD arrives with 815 hp and a price north of $325,000. In 2025 it also lapped the Nürburgring in 6:52.072, the quickest time yet for an American production car.
- 2026 The Dark Horse SC brings a 795-hp supercharged V8 at $105,485. Ford and RTR also announced an EcoBoost RTR package with a 350-hp tune, Brembo brakes and Dark Horse suspension parts.
Our verdict: since nothing big has changed between years, buy on condition and recall history, not model year. A well-kept 2024 can be the smartest buy.
S650 Special Models
The S650 Mustang has the widest performance range of any Mustang so far, from a drift-ready EcoBoost to an 815-hp supercar. Here are the four versions worth knowing.
2024–present
Dark Horse
500 hp 5.0 V8 Tremec manual
A new performance name for the S650. It gets 500 hp, a Tremec six-speed, extra cooling and track-tuned suspension, so it’s the S650 to buy if you do track days.
2026–present
Dark Horse SC
795 hp Supercharged V8 7-speed DCT
The GTD’s supercharged 5.2-liter V8 in a Dark Horse body, with 795 hp, 660 lb-ft and MagneRide dampers, for $105,485. A Track Pack adds carbon-ceramic brakes and drops the back seat.
2025–present
Mustang GTD
815 hp Supercharged V8 $325,000+
A road-legal supercar developed alongside Ford’s GT3 race Mustang, with a rear-mounted dual-clutch gearbox and a 202-mph top speed. It lapped the Nürburgring in 6:57.685 in 2024, then 6:52.072 in 2025.
2026 package
EcoBoost RTR
350 hp Turbo I4 10-speed auto
A drift-ready EcoBoost from RTR and Ford, with a performance tune, anti-lag, Brembo brakes, the drift brake and Dark Horse anti-roll bars. It requires the EcoBoost High package. Pictured: a regular EcoBoost.
S650 Mustang Recalls
We won’t sugarcoat it: the S650 Mustang has racked up a lot of recalls for a young car, especially 2024 models. Most are software fixes, but a few are serious. The good news is that every recall repair is free at a Ford dealer, no matter who owns the car.
| Model years | NHTSA no. | What’s affected |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24V593000 | Rear suspension knuckles may have a casting defect and could fail, so you can lose handling and steering control. |
| 2024 | 24V394000 | Manual cars: the clutch pressure line can touch hot exhaust parts, melt and leak fluid. |
| 2024 | 24V634000 | Fuel injectors may be missing O-ring support discs, which can cause a fuel leak. |
| 2024 | 24V802000, 25V516000 | The instrument cluster may not light up at startup or while driving. Fixed with a software update. |
| 2024 | 24V496000 | After a module update, the low brake fluid warning may not work correctly. |
| 2024–2025 | 25V546000 | Water can get into the body control module, so the tail, side marker and license plate lights may fail. |
| 2024 and newer | 25V315000 | The rearview camera image may freeze, lag or go blank. Fixed with a software update. |
| 2025 | 25V164000 | Automatic transmission valve body may be machined incorrectly, so reverse can fail or the car can roll unexpectedly. |
| 2025 | 25V519000, 26V122000 | Headlight LED driver failure, and an EGR valve fault that can cut drive power. |
| 2026 | 25V828000, 26V205000, 26V548000 | Engine faults: cylinder head ball plugs that can leak oil, wrongly fitted piston circlips, and badly made piston domes. |
| 2024–2026 | 26V418000, 26V547000 | Wipers that only run on high in the cold, and engine-bay ground connections that can crack and cut power or lights. |
S650 Mustang Safety Ratings by Region
The S650 Mustang does well in the one full crash program that has tested it. Elsewhere, though, the picture is patchy, because most programs simply haven’t rated it yet. Here’s what’s published as of late 2026.
| Region | Program | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | NHTSA | ★★★★★ | Five stars overall for the 2024 model, with five stars for frontal and rollover. Some rear-seat side results were four stars. |
| United States | IIHS | Partial | IIHS hasn’t run a full test series on the S650. Its listed small overlap score (Acceptable, with a Marginal structure) carries over from a 2016 car, and child-seat anchors are rated Marginal. |
| Canada | NHTSA and IIHS | As above | Canada doesn’t run its own crash-star program, so Canadian buyers use the US results. |
| Europe | Euro NCAP | Not rated | We couldn’t find a published Euro NCAP rating for the S650. |
| Australia and New Zealand | ANCAP | Unrated | ANCAP lists Mustangs built from 1 January 2024 as unrated. Its three-star rating applies only to earlier S550 cars. |
The good news: unlike early S550s, every S650 comes with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping and blind-spot monitoring as standard. That’s exactly the tech whose absence sank the old car’s European score.
Buying an S650 Mustang
The S650 Mustang is still young, so most used ones are under warranty. That said, owner reports so far point mostly at electrics and software, so here’s what to check.
- Recall history first. Run the VIN and ask for dealer paperwork. On a 2024, make sure the rear knuckle and clutch line recalls are done.
- Screens and electrics. Electrical faults are the most-reported owner complaint. Check that the cluster, center screen, camera and lights all work on a cold start.
- Pick the right gearbox. Want a manual? Then you need a GT or Dark Horse, because the EcoBoost is automatic only.
- Track-day cars. A Dark Horse may have seen a lot of laps, so look closely at tires, brakes and service records.
Our picks
- Best overall: GT with the manual
- Best on a budget: EcoBoost
- Best for the track: Dark Horse
Think twice
- A 2024 with open recalls
- Tuned cars with no paperwork
- Paying far over sticker for limited models
Other Mustang Generations
The S650 is the newest Mustang, and it grew straight out of the S550. Go back one generation to compare, or see all seven.
S650 Mustang FAQ
What years are the S650 Mustang?
The S650 Mustang started with the 2024 model year and is still on sale. Ford revealed it in September 2022, and production began at Flat Rock, Michigan, in 2023.
Can you still get a manual Mustang?
Yes. The GT and Dark Horse both offer a six-speed manual, and the GT’s manual can rev-match for you. However, the EcoBoost, the Dark Horse SC and the GTD are automatic or dual-clutch only.
How much horsepower does the 2024 Mustang GT have?
The GT makes 480 hp, or 486 hp with the optional active-valve exhaust. The Dark Horse makes 500 hp from the same 5.0-liter V8.
What is the fastest S650 Mustang?
The Mustang GTD, with 815 hp from a supercharged 5.2-liter V8. It lapped the Nürburgring in 6:52.072 in 2025, the quickest lap so far by an American production car.
Is the S650 Mustang safe?
In the US, NHTSA gave the 2024 Mustang five stars overall, and automatic emergency braking is standard. However, IIHS, Euro NCAP and ANCAP haven’t published full ratings for this generation yet.
Is the S650 Mustang reliable?
It’s too early for long-term data, but it has had many recalls, especially for 2024 cars. Most are software or electrical fixes, so a car with all recalls done and a clean service record is the one to buy.
Sources
- NHTSA recalls database
- Cars.com: 2024 Mustang recalls
- Cars.com: 2026 Mustang recalls
- Ford Authority: 2024 Mustang NHTSA five stars
- IIHS: Ford Mustang ratings
- ANCAP: Ford Mustang
- CJ Pony Parts: S650 specs
- The Drive: Dark Horse SC review
- Motor1: Mustang GTD specs
- TFL: GTD 6:52.072 lap
- TFL: EcoBoost RTR package
- Owner complaints, 2024–2026
Keep Exploring
See every Mustang generation side by side, or head back to the full Ford lineup.
Photo credits
- Header image: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 2024 Ford Mustang 2.3 EcoBoost in Race…: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Ford Mustang S650 5.0 GT interior with…: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Ford Mustang GTD on display at the…: Prova MO, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 2024 Ford Mustang GT Premium convertible at…: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, front three-quarter…: UltraTech66, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped and resized.
- Blue 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC…: Charles from Port Chester, New York, CC0, cropped and resized.