The latest rumors surrounding the Ford Mustang sound almost surreal: a V8 engine coupled with a hybrid system driving all four wheels. The rumor, provided by UK publication Autocar, sounds about as far away from the late Lee Iacocca’s original 1964 Mustang model as it gets.
We’ve previously reported on the seemingly inevitable hybridization of the Mustang. So far, our expectations have been that such a model will arrive when the Ford completely overhauls the legendary muscle car on its new, rear-drive CD6 platform that currently underpins the all-new 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator crossovers. We also know that the next-gen Mustang will have at least one hybrid-electric variant in its lineup as well. In fact, spy shots from a year ago may have shown a (very) early prototype of the next-gen Ford Mustang Hybrid.
The report states that the all-new, next-gen S650 Mustang will arrive during the 2022 calendar year, making it a 2023 model. That time line means that the current S550 Mustang has roughly two and a half model years remaining in its lifecycle. The Ford Flat Rock Assembly plant in Michigan will reportedly receive a $250 million investment for the all-new pony.
Ford was initially planning on to arrive around 2020, but those plans were scrapped to bring other products to market first, such as the Mustang Mach-E.
Meanwhile, Ford is already giving the Mustang nameplate an electric variant in the forthcoming, all-new Mustang Mach-E. To that end, hybridization of the “original” Mustang doesn’t seem entirely necessary.
What say you? How do you feel about a Ford Mustang Hybrid? Sound off in the comments section below and be sure to subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Mustang news and arond-the-clock Ford news coverage.
Comments
Well Francisco, I certainly don’t have any issues with moving the power-train initially to a hybrid status then eventually to all electric…it almost seems inevitable based on automotive trends. We all are aware of the pros and cons of purely electric vehicles currently, which have more to do with travel range; certainly not performance. The S550 platform…of which I own, is a fantastic handling platform…something that has always been a bit of weak spot not only for the Mustang but “american muscle” category vehicles. We’ve all seen the myriad of comparisons with not only it’s American counterparts, with with many vaunted European marks with whom it has fared quite well. If there is any criticism that can be levied, it would have to be with the vehicles over weight. Certainly not when compared with its American competition, but some would point this out with it’s European counterparts. In all fairness though, the European competition in many cases outpaces the Mustang in the $$$ department but a large margin. All things considered, the thing I would miss the most about a move to all electric would be the visceral experiences. Sure they can try and create a facsimile of the sound and feel of a petroleum fueled V8, but it’ll never be the same. This has been a fixture since 1964 1/2, but like all things, one has to adapt to survive, and I’d certainly rather see the Mustang survive with it’s ever evolving performance repertoire, retaining most of the markers, like a two door coupe configuration and all the other markers that project teams have tried to retain over the six model evolution, than to see it waste away into obscurity. I’ve driven my neighbors Tesla S and personally, I could certainly accept it’s power-train in a Mustang. Long live the Mustang!!!
I might embellish an emotional response to the extinction of the sensations you describe, but ultimately I agree. What powers the vehicle is not as important as the driving experience itself – whether it be a 2.3L EcoBoost, 5.0L Coyote, battery packs, or a hybrid of sorts. Performance is performance!
The 5.0 hybrid AWD Mustang idea along with a Lincoln Continental Coach door model would be great for Ford & Lincoln brands. Hold nothing back, brake all the Rules build great cars for the American market that we want to dream about and buy. The imports clearly show the sedan market is not dead.
I also agree with FPVFan. It depends on whether something, in this case a truly iconic vehicle, which if there have been many in one’s family lineage, in my case a total of 12 from a 1964 1/2 down to a 2107 GT, there are many fond memories that are associated, old, new and hopefully more to come. I won’t go into the history of the car because many already know this, but because these cars were/are special, they provide anchors for special memories that last longer than the people associated with them. Sentimental? Yes, but that is what makes something, anything special and meaningful. If you don’t have some special marker(s) in your life that does this for you…that’s okay too…but millions of us do.
The original teaser of the “Mach 1” showed an Explorer and a Mustang convertible (oddly appears not to be a 5.0 as it has no side badge or GT logo on the trunk) going into the warehouse. After the lightning strikes (no, not the SVT Version of lightning) and the doors start to open you hear a V-8 rumble then the whooshing noise of this “Mach” vehicle. Many have said it was changed to the Mach E after complaints but I don’t believe Ford ever officially confirmed that. So, is it possible the Mach E was always the name and the Mach 1 is a traditional Mustang with this electrified engine platform? Just make the electric version of any Ford a Mach….so we can have a Mach F-150 too! This theory doesn’t explain why they insisted on keeping the Mach E a “Mustang.” Just some thoughts to chew on.