Ford Mustang has alternative as rivals abandon V8 engines

DETROIT — Ford Motor sees alternative to develop Mustang gross sales because it turns into the final American muscle automobile with a conventional V8 engine, enjoying to generations of gearheads who’ve been drawn to the efficiency autos.

The optimism comes after Mustang’s closest American rivals ended manufacturing of their muscle vehicles in December. General Motors stopped producing the Chevrolet Camaro, and Stellantis ended manufacturing of its Dodge Challenger V8 forward of a brand new all-electric muscle car later this yr, adopted by gas-powered fashions with twin-turbo, inline-six engines which are anticipated in 2025.

Their exodus (and that of others within the muscle automobile market) is the results of altering client demand away from two-door vehicles, in addition to tightening fuel economy standards and the emergence of all-electric autos able to unmatched acceleration.

Jeff Marentic, basic supervisor of Ford Blue merchandise, which incorporates the Mustang, stated the horse automobile stays good enterprise for the automaker each domestically and internationally. Mustang marks its sixtieth anniversary on April 17.

“We’re excited to proceed to supply Mustang. It is unhappy to see competitors leaving however that is helpful to us,” Marentic informed CNBC. “For people who find themselves in search of a real American sports activities automobile, it is accessible to them. … We’re trying and speaking about the way forward for Mustang, and the way far we are able to develop it.”

Marentic declined to debate particular gross sales expectations for the automobile however famous the corporate has added a brand new V8 mannequin for the seventh-generation automobile called the Dark Horse — a not so refined reference to Ford’s ambitions for the V8-powered automobile.

Each the 2024 Darkish Horse and Mustang GT are powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine, with the brand new mannequin producing as much as 500 horsepower and 418 foot-pounds of torque. Ford additionally has introduced a 2025 Mustang GTD with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine that is anticipated to reach as early as later this yr with greater than 800 horsepower.

Ford has been in a position to proceed to promote Mustang V8 fashions partially as a result of it has invested in making the autos extra environment friendly and it was early to undertake smaller, turbocharged four-cylinder engines that now make up about 48% of Mustang gross sales within the U.S.

Ford additionally provides an all-electric Mustang Mach-E crossover that options related design cues and badging to the two-door coupe, nevertheless it shares little to no different traits aside from the identify.

“I can perceive the inexperienced motion, however we’re so pleased with our V8s,” Marentic stated, including the mannequin accounts for a majority of Mustang gross sales in Europe. “It helps outline who Ford is outdoors of the US.”

The seventh-generation Mustang, which Ford revealed in September, lately began transport outdoors of North America. It should finally be offered in 85 markets on each continent other than Antarctica, in accordance with Ford.

Non-U.S. gross sales have assisted in holding the Mustang, which is completely produced at a plant in metropolitan Detroit, in manufacturing amid declining home demand for two-door sports activities vehicles.

U.S. gross sales of the Mustang have declined from a latest peak of greater than 122,000 models in 2015 to fewer than 49,000 final yr.

Internationally, Ford studies there have been greater than 235,000 Mustangs registered since 2015. That is when the automaker started producing right-hand drive fashions for nations equivalent to the UK, Australia and Japan.

The highest markets for Mustang outdoors of the U.S. are Canada, Australia and Europe, in accordance with Ford.

“Folks relate extraordinarily strongly to Mustang,” Marentic stated. “The pull is superb.”

Marentic declined to debate future product plans for the Ford Mustang, together with a hybrid that was reportedly canceled for the seventh-generation automobile or the potential for an all-electric model of the two-door automobile.