Ford Motor Co. this week showed dealers plans for a four-door Mustang sportscar, according to a source familiar with the situation, the latest move by the automaker to squeeze value from its passion models.The envisioned four-door pony car was a gas model with the potential for a hybrid — but not a fully electric version, according to the person who wasn't permitted to speak publicly on the topic. The vehicle would appear to be a direct competitor to the Dodge Charger that comes in two-door and four-door variants.The Mustang move is another example of the Dearborn automaker leveraging the power of a few core nameplates from its 123-year history — Mustang and Maverick, Bronco and F-150, to name four — to boost sales, fatten profit margins and expand the Blue Oval's appeal.A Ford Mustang convertible used at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City is being added to the National Historic Vehicle Register, a distinction bestowed upon automobiles of extraordinary American cultural and historical significance."We do not comment or speculate about future products," Ford spokesperson Mike Levine said.AdvertisementAdvertisementProduct plans can change before announcement and launch. Ford in recent years has canceled future models, particularly an all-electric three-row SUV, full-size truck and commercial van due to lower-than-expected EV demand. Although the federal government under President Donald Trump has pulled back on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions regulations and their enforcement, another administration could reverse course.A coupe, the "pony car" that debuted in 1964, has become a cultural icon that's outlasted competitors. General Motors Co. discontinued the Chevrolet Camaro in 2023. The Dodge Charger and Challenger exited the market before returning in the 2000s and then being discontinued again in 2023. Parent Stellantis NV relaunched the Charger last year with an internal combustion engine after an all-electric Charger failed to gain traction.Ford executives in recent months have signaled interest in returning to the sedan segment if it can so do profitably. The company announced in 2018 it was exiting passenger cars with the final Ford Fusion rolling off the assembly line in 2020, ceding the market to foreign manufactures like Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd.The Mustang model shown to dealers at the dealer meeting in Las Vegas evokes the sedan traits of a Porsche Panamera, the person familiar said. But Porsche has found success in branching out from its origins with SUVs, which are now the German sportscar maker's biggest sellers.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Wall Street Journal first reported that Ford showed dealers the four-door Mustang.A four-door production Mustang car would be the first of its kind. The badge has appeared on coupes and convertibles, save some prototypes and concepts that never made their way to the assembly line. The exception is the all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUV that at the time of its debut in 2019 stirred up controversy.Although the Mustang holds the title of the world's bestselling sportscar, sales have declined in recent years. It sold more than 45,000 in the Untied States last year, and sales are up almost 16% through July in 2026. A decade prior in 2015, it sold more than 122,000 copies. The Mustang's all-time peak was in 1966 when Ford sold about 607,500 of the pony cars.Other variants of vehicles were shown during the meeting, but there was especially heavy emphasis on the service side of the business, including performance parts, accessories and other aftermarket offerings, dealers said. Farley, Executive Chairman Bill Ford and members of his family employed at the company all attended, with dealers describing the meeting as one of the most upbeat in many years.AdvertisementAdvertisement"I've never seen that group so energetic," said Dave Wilson, chairman of the Preston Automotive Group with Ford stores in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.[email protected]X: @BreanaCNobleThis article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Four-door Mustang unveiled before dealers at Ford Vegas meeting
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