SPY PICS: Ford Mustang SVT

These Automedia images provide the best look yet of Ford’s upcoming Mustang SVT (Special Vehicle Team), which had previously been seen wearing much heavier camouflage.

Although still substantially covered up, the high-performance credentials of this prototype are clearly evident via its bespoke front fascia with larger air intakes and lower air dam, plus a bonnet scoop to feed cold air to its still secret engine.

There are also aggressive side-sill extensions and a winglet just ahead of the rear wheel-arch. Meanwhile, out back sits a hardcore rear diffuser, through which protrude a quartet of fat tailpipes.

This test mule rides on a set of blacked-out 10-spoke alloys (they look to be 19- or 20-inchers), behind which lurk dinner-plate-sized cross-drilled stoppers.

Despite its obvious go-faster orientation, it’s still not known exactly what sort of powerplant is stuffed beneath its mean looking snout.

Some US sources are speculating the Mustang SVT will be equipped with an EcoBoost V6 engine, but a more likely bet seems to be that it will be a V8 displacing either 5.2 or 6.2-litres.

As a reference, the outgoing Shelby GT500 was equipped with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8 kicking out a monstrous 494kW, so it’s possible a variant of this motor could be what the SVT is packing.

Whatever the case, expect a healthy power boost over the 313kW served up by the standard Mustang GT, although the output is still likely to fall some way short of the ludicrous 528kW cranked out by the recently revealed Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat.

But unlike the Dodge, which was conceived more as a straight-line bully, this ’Stang is likely to be a sharp handler in the mould of the lauded previous-gen Boss 302 – and hence the hot-lappery at the Nordschleife to hone its dynamics.

The standard Mustang coupe will be launched in the US in September and goes on sale here next year in 2.3-litre EcoBoost and 5.0-litre GT forms.

It’s possible the SVT version, which will effectively replace FPV's Falcon-based GT as Ford's performance flagship in Australia, will surface at November’s Los Angeles motor show or at Detroit next January – at least in ‘concept’ form.

The Mustang SVT may not be the hottest Ford for long, however, if a recent US report proves correct.

American racing website Sportscar365.com has speculated the Blue Oval is developing a born-again Ford GT supercar that could be launched in 2016 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original GT40's first win at Le Mans.