With a few teasers and at least a couple of prototypes spotted on public roads, it's no longer a mystery that a brand-new Shelby GT500 is underway. However, official information about the drivetrain is still slim beyond the rumors. Word has it that the new Shelby GT500 will hit the road with a twin-turbo V-8 under the hood mated to a dual-clutch transmission for extremely fast shifts and sprints to 60 mph, but new spy shots suggest that the muscle car may also get a manual transmission.

The news comes from Ford Authority, which got its hands on a bunch of new spy shots of the beefed-up Mustang. The photos also include new shots of the interior, which has the shifter of a manual transmission. This is the first GT500 prototype to sport one, and it's direct evidence that the coupe will also get a manual transmission. The unit in question is probably the familiar six-speed TR6060 from Tremec, so it should be able to handle the massive power of the new V-8 engine and help the car hit 60 mph from a standing start in well under four seconds.

Definitely great news for old-school enthusiasts who prefer to row their own gears.

The next-generation Mustang Shelby GT500 is scheduled to debut by the end of 2018 as a 2020-model-year vehicle. The muscle car will feature an aggressive exterior and a turbocharged V-8 engine with more than 700 horsepower.

References

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.

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