Clearly, Ford is pushing its iconic Mustang in new directions, and we’re not just talking about the GTD, the Dark Horse, the Dark Horse SC, or the RTR. These variants pay tribute to generations of past Mustangs, from the Boss 302 and SVT Cobra to both old and new versions of the GT350 and GT500. Let’s not forget the 1968 Highland Green Bullitt fastback.
The original 1968 Ford Mustang R390 that starred in the movie Bullitt sold for more than $3 million in 2020.Meccum Auctions
That’s a lot of horsepower over the course of 62 years, but the common thread among them all was performance, style, and power, enhanced with a tailpipe soundtrack of unmistakable high-RPM internal combustion. Is this formula all that is necessary to sustain the Mustang for decades to come?
Apparently not, given the heated discussions in Dearborn about whether to call the all-electric four-door Mach-E a Mustang. Even Executive Chair Bill Ford Jr. was conflicted, but he eventually agreed it deserved the Mustang nameplate. But what about the polarizing car that comes next?
Hybrid Chatter For Quite A While
We just reported a few days ago about Ford showing their dealers a prototype of a four-door Mustang at a private event in Las Vegas, and sources in attendance later told the Wall Street Journal that it would be a hybrid, too. The idea of a hybrid Mustang is not exactly news.
Exterior detail shot of a 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E Ford
Ford has already said its entire lineup will be electric or hybrid by 2030, including Mustang. Numerous times over the last couple of years, the company reiterated its promise that everything would have some measure of electrification available. That doesn’t mean every vehicle must be electric or hybrid. But rather, every Ford model will give buyers that choice.
John McElroy, host of the Autoline automotive webcast, says he thinks a hybrid Mustang is a good idea.
“Hybrids are the hottest segment in the market and will probably be hot for years. Why not a hybrid Mustang?”
–Autoline Host John McElroy
2018 Ford Mustang GT finished in orange with black interiorFord
Maybe Mustang GT enthusiasts who can’t live without a V8 would steer clear of a hybrid, but McElroy tells CarBuzz via email, “the majority of Mustang buyers would likely love to have one that gets 40 mpg, as long as it still offers performance comparable to the base 2.3-liter (four-cylinder) Ecoboost.”
Ford already developed a hybrid version of the previous-generation S550 Mustang in the late 2010s, but analyst Sam Abuelsamid says it was dropped when Ford pivoted to the all-electric Mach-E. “Most of the work would fit right into the (current) S650, which despite Ford’s protestations is basically an S550 under the skin,” Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at Telemetry Insights, tells CarBuzz via email.
If You Want A Mustang With 40 MPG…
2024 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Coupe Rear AngleFord
Abuelsamid heard years ago that the hybrid concept was “amazing, with fantastic performance,” and that some of that hardware could still work today. For instance, the 75-kWh motor from the previous 494-horsepower Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring plug-in hybrid could be paired with a newer, smaller battery in a Mustang hybrid, with either a V8 or a four-cylinder engine that “could do better.” While V8 Mustangs are popular, there’s a core of shoppers who find the Ecoboost four-cylinder more than satisfying.
And while V8 power is certainly associated with Ford’s enduring pony car, it’s easy to forget the wide range of engine options that have served under Mustang’s hood all these decades. The car actually launched with an inline-six; the V8 option didn’t come until later in that first model year. Since then, V6 and four-cylinder engines have been plentiful, sustaining Mustang sales so the V8 could live.
Abuelsamid says what matters most is how well a Mustang hybrid is tuned for performance and that it sounds appropriately throaty. The transmission will also disappoint certain hybrid Mustang shoppers. “You can’t get (a hybrid) with a manual gearbox, so it’s gonna be automatic only,” Abuelsamid says. “The most hardcore V8 fans are going to choose a big supercharger over an electric motor every time.”
Trick Rides Ford Mustang Shelby GT350TRTrick Rides
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Is there a risk of diluting the Mustang brand image if a four-door body style and hybrid powertrain end up compromising the Mustang’s singular focus as the quintessential two-door American pony car? Of course, but Ford wouldn’t be floating these tradition-breaking concepts if behind-the-scenes marketing research didn’t reveal the potential to sell more cars. Expanding the Mustang fold could be good for the bottom line, but the incremental gain in sales volume might not be worth the anguish caused to generations of Mustang lovers.
Source: CarExpert
