The Ford Mustang is a household name that now garners a legendary status. Starting its life back in 1965, the Ford Mustang gave birth to the concept of muscle cars and spawned rivals like the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger.
Mustangs of today have strayed away from being a true muscle car. That said, its sporty dynamics paired with a loyal fanbase is enough to justify its current market share. In this discussion, our focus lies in educating the enthusiasts about what to expect from the next-generation Ford Mustang.
Let’s be honest, the Mustang has transitioned into a mix between a sports and a muscle car, and Ford is currently milking its glorious heritage. It goes without saying that Mustang has not exactly been a model but a brand rather.
However, classic fanatics out there would agree that Mustangs of yesteryear pose way more value than anything of today. But, seeing as how electricity is taking over mobility, we are to expect fuel chugging generators to be a thing of the past.
Recent reports suggest that the next generation S650 Mustang wouldn’t give way to becoming an all-electric domestic hoover. At least, not anytime soon. A hybrid powertrain is to be expected, at the most.
Before we get to know more about the next-gen Ford Mustang, let’s go over a bit of history whilst touching on where the Mustang stands in today’s technology-driven market.
The Ford Mustang: An Icon
The Ford Mustang was nothing short of a masterstroke by the Detroit giant. Back when the industry favored long boat-like cars, it was during the ‘60s that the American automotive fraternity welcomed a massive revolution. Spearheading the movement was the Ford Mustang, with its never-before-seen styling paired with a sporty persona.
Initially, Ford execs were pretty skeptical, but the reception was so overwhelming that it blew past their expectations. A total of around 680,000 Mustangs were sold the first year, where Ford’s estimates stood around 100,000 units.
Establishing itself as the most successful Ford nameplate after the Model T, the Mustang soldiered on to multiple generations, with the latest being the sixth. The automotive industry has evolved quite a bit in the last decade, with sustainable alternatives replacing the good ol’ dinosaur juice.
Ford introduced the Mustang Mach E in an approach that hits two birds with one stone: joining the SUV bandwagon while stepping into the next era of motoring, EVs. Although the move to name an SUV after the iconic sports car sparked an outrage, it’s clear why they’ve done it. Mustang is far more than just a model, it’s a brand now, and Ford’s planning on expanding the portfolio.
In times like these, the safest bet is to invest in something that’s tried and tested. You could either embrace the new automotive era or stick to the ones that deliver emotion and drama through controlled explosions.
If the latter’s your choice, there are enough used Mustangs that wouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket whilst delivering oodles of joy.
Next-Gen Ford Mustang: Here’s What To Expect
With all that said, we cannot overlook innovation and progress. That’s what made us plow through times of turmoil and helped improve our lives. Sentiments aside, having a look at how the automotive industry has progressed gives us a good insight into what lies ahead.
No, it’s not entirely boring. For instance, Porsche’s bringing back bigger displacement engines and is developing a synthetic fuel. Hydrogen also found its way into a combustion engine as a proper fuel instead of a battery charger. Now, that should keep you excited.
As for the new Mustang, Motor1 reports that the S650 Mustang will be more or less a derivative of the S550 generation. The latter’s getting a bit old and starting to show its age. But, there’s good news.
For starters, all-wheel-drive might find its way into the next-generation Ford Mustang. Again, info that’s credited to the keen-eyed among Motor1’s line of photographers. Also, there won’t be drastic changes under the hood. The 2.3L Ecoboost four-banger will make its way into the seventh generation, as will the Coyote V8 and the supercharged Predator 5.2L. This info comes courtesy of a bloke who claims to have been a part of the S650 development program.
In other news, an all-electric Ford Mustang is anticipated to arrive in 2028 as part of the seventh-gen’s mid-cycle refresh.
As for the launch date, expect the seventh-generation S650 Ford Mustang to be unveiled sometime around 2023. Also, the new Mustang will likely arrive as an MY24 and not a ‘23 model.
For the curious ones, here’s TheDrive with some exclusive spy shots of the upcoming Mustang.
Sources: YouTube, Motor1, The Drive