2015 Ford Mustang Mach 1 rendered

File this one under "harmless speculation we're hoping Ford execs are paying attention to": Top Speed has rendered the 2015 Mustang Mach 1, giving an idea of what to expect if/when the Blue Oval trots out a hotter version of the newest pony car.

The heat extractors on the hood get beefed up, and there's no missing the gigantic, adjustable front splitter. The lip spoiler on the trunk would be subtle if not for the contrasting black paint. Retro badges and black decals on the sides, hood and rear end recall earlier Mach 1s. Given the looks of the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, a track-ready body treatment this aggressive on a Detroit production car would hardly be unprecedented.

Of course, the renderings don't show what's under the hood, but we're guessing the car will pack a bit more punch than the "preliminary" 420 hp figure Ford claims the 5.0-liter V8 will be good for in the upcoming 'Stang.

Rumors of a new Mach 1 are fueled by more than just our over-active imaginations: as Ford Authority noted back in October, Ford is in the process of trademarking the "Mach 1" name.

The Mach 1 moniker was first used in 1968; it survived until the end of Mustang II production in 1978, and was revived briefly between 2003 and 2004. We're sure the Mustang crew is feeling nostalgic what with the pony car's 50th anniversary nearly upon us, and we're eager to see if a production Mach 1 can live up to both its bad-ass ancestors and the tastefully aggressive Top Speed renderings.

By Graham Kozak