A while back, we shared information about a C8 Corvette being benchmarked on Ford grounds, in Dearborn, Michigan. This was preceded by a trademark for the Thunderbird name, filed by Ford, in January 2021. Recent reports suggest that Ford has moved to the next step in developing a C8 rival. Ford Authority shared information about at least one Ford GT roaming around Ford test facilities. Moreover, the car spotted reportedly had a mysterious new engine that sounded nothing like the 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost.

In a previous article, we talked about what Ford’s C8 rival could be powered by. Although we expected it to have a de-tuned version of the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 found in the current Ford GT, reports indicate that the prototype’s engine sounds quite different. They haven’t confirmed it’s a V-8 either, so what could it be? A logical explanation would be a flat-plane V-8 engine, most likely based on the “Voodoo” that’s powering the Mustang Shelby GT350.

This mysterious prototype could also mark the end of the current Ford GT. The mid-engine supercar came out in 2016 with 647 horsepower and 550 pound-feet (746 Nm). This allowed for a 2.9-second sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h), a quarter-mile time of 10.8 seconds at 134 mph (216 km/h), and a top speed of 217 mph (349 km/h). In 2020, the production of the Ford GT was extended. The updated car now made 660 horsepower and the same 550 pound-feet (746 Nm).

We have to accept that Ford’s mysterious test mule could potentially mean another version of the Ford GT, this time with an engine more similar to the original car. However, given all other pieces of information, gathered over the last months, this is almost certainly the C8 Corvette rival, Ford is working on. In the meantime, we’ll keep our eyes and ears open and share any updates about what Ford is up to.