Photos courtesy of Ford press site.
We’ve been brainwashed to believe that a Mustang is supposed to be loud, fast, and aggressive.
From the ’69 Mustang Mach 1 to the nightmarish GT500, we’ve been constantly fed the narrative that a Mustang needs to be an outrageously powerful and commanding car, so when we laid eyes on the Ford Mustang Mach E, our mental image of what a Mustang was supposed to be was crumbled somewhat, and rightfully so.
We were brought up on the idea that the pony on the front of an American muscle car embodied that fierce, unchained power and ferocity. V8s, supercharges, sleek bodies, and muscular frames, Mustangs are awe-inspiring. According to CarandDriver, the next mustang could seek to “keep the pony-car spirit alive”. Spy shots of the next-generation of the Mustang lineage have sparked some thoughts about what lies in store for the famed moniker.
Ford has already moved forward with its plans to introduce more electric platforms into its fleet. The split of the Ford Blue and Ford Model E divisions signaled a change in the firm’s goals. Prioritising electric vehicles leaves one to worry about what the future may hold for some of Ford’s beloved vehicles that still have petrol-powered hearts. Reports suggest that we could see the next-generation Mustang, known as the S650, receive a hand-me-down engine sourced from the S550 models.
Photos courtesy of Ford press site.
The S550 is equipped with a four-cylinder motor in the EcoBoost variant and another variant is powered by the Cyclone V6. From a petrol-head’s point-of-view and considering what could be one of the last pure-ICE Mustangs before electrification takes over, it would be a marvel to see the S650 bestowed with the 566 kW V8 from the GT500. A hybrid powertrain variant is very likely and we could see it introduced down the line.
Despite the camouflaged exteriors, it’s safe to assume that the next iteration will remain true to the Mustang’s current design language. We have no confirmed date for the unveiling of this car, but consensus points towards the car heading into production sometime during the course of 2023 and on the streets by 2024. Take that with a pinch of salt, though.
Keyword: Will the next iteration of the Mustang nameplate be a true ‘Mustang?’