Ford has upgraded the Mustang Cobra Jet every few years since its reintroduction in 2008, and it looks like the next generation turnkey drag racer is already under development. Autoblog’s spy photographers caught what appears to be a Cobra Jet development mule undergoing testing at one of Ford’s private tracks in Michigan. Most noticeable in the photos is the massive scoop planted on the hood. While this could be a new styling element, it’s also possible that the massive intake is being used to cover some other design feature.
Another interesting aspect of the Mustang in the photos is that it has been fitted with the Shelby GT500′s front end. This isn’t the first time that Ford has mixed and matched body parts. Last month, Inside Line’s photographers caught a Mustang that used both Boss 302 and Shelby GT500 components. Does this mean that more of the Shelby’s styling will make its way onto the standard Mustang for 2013? Perhaps, but it won’t be until at least the end of the year before we will find out for sure.