I would not read too much into the vinyl taped-on reflectors affixed to the bottom of the rear bra. They are required to be there for the prototype to be legally street driven. You have to remember they are disguising the new taillamps with mesh sewn into the bra that is probably hiding the actual reflectors built into the tailllamps. The actual reflectors are functionless behind the mesh with only light being able to show through during braking, turn signals and running lamps.

After our inside sources informed us that the 2013 Mustang would be getting several styling cues from the Shelby GT500, among other updates, we were left wondering what Ford and SVT would do to set the 2013 GT500 apart. The latest batch of spy photos give us a little bit of a clue, showing that the Shelby will be getting a makeover as well. A Shelby GT500 Convertible prototype was caught out testing, and a photo of the back end of the car reveals a set of quad exhaust tips protruding from the rear fascia. The extra set of exhaust tips could be a purely cosmetic change, but knowing Ford they could be functional as well. Our hope is that something similar to the Boss 302′s quad exhaust setup has been carried over to the Shelby.

In addition to a new look, which should be fairly extensive, the 2013 Shelby GT500 is also expected to get a significant increase in horsepower. Past reports have indicated a twin-turbo version of the 5.0-liter V8 could be under the hood, but most likely a reworked version of the aluminum block 5.4-liter V8 will remain in place, perhaps with an upgraded supercharger system or an increase in displacement to 5.8-liters. Finally, the suspension will likely be tweaked as well, with the 2013 Shelby having undergone testing at the Nürburgring in Germany earlier in the summer.

We will bring you more details about the 2013 Shelby GT500 as we get them, and expect to see the final production version at an auto show later this year, perhaps in Detroit in January.