Ford Motor Co. may have accidentally given away the launch date of the next-generation Mustang. Last month, the company issued a job posting in Flat Rock, Michigan for a “Wind/Road Noise and Air Leakage Plant Vehicle Team Engineer” who would see off the current model before becoming “the final sign off on the Ford 2023 Mustang S650 vehicle program.”
The current ‘Stang uses the internal code S550 for factory identification, so the S650 designation make a lot of sense for its successor. No one had to break out the Enigma machines and put in weeks of hard work to crack that code. The listing makes it clear as day that the position will involve shoring up the next Mustang until it’s airtight and ready for customers in a couple of years.
Shared by a contributor to the Mustang 6G forum, Ford’s list of responsibilities included the following: “On-site launch lead for Wind/Road Noise and Air Leakage attributes when S650 launches in 2022 as a 2023MY.”
If that sounds like the kind of job you’d be interested in and wish to check out the necessary qualifications, allow us to disappoint you. Ford has updated the post to indicate it is no longer taking submissions, which presumes the position has been filled. But, hey, at least you now know when to expect the seventh-generation ‘Stang.
There’s been no shortage of rumors as to what types of changes will accompany it, but it’s too early to do more than speculate. All Ford has said is that it wants to up the number of variants (helped by the Mach-E) and is considering adding a new hybrid model. We’ve not heard any updates for some time, making us wonder if the brand has restructured is powertrain priorities.
Sources from the factory have already confirmed the S650 code is being used for the seventh-gen Mustang (not that there was much doubt), telling us to expect well-camouflaged mules to start testing later this year. We’ve also been told the car will be a smidgen longer than the current model, though that was when everyone was operating under the assumption that the S650 would use the CD6 platform underpinning the Explorer. Ford hasn’t verified that this is the plan, however.
[Image: Wjarek/Shutterstock]
Rear drive? V 8
Nice !!!
If no.
BAD
Exactly!
Is it going to be EV-only?! Knowing the blithering-idiot furniture-salesman at the helm, it wouldn’t surprise!
I have a sinking feeling the 7th gen camaro is going to be EV only. Cadillac is going full EV, hummer etc.
I’m ready for an EV, just bring down the dollar cost! Maybe 3 years from now when the market gets flooded?
I’m guessing three different version:
EV (or maybe a hybrid) with AWD. A Corvette/Tesla/Porsche contender?
5.0 V8 for the old fellers
2.3 Ecoboost for the budget buyers
Some of the younger members of the FB Mustang group want a turbo 6, like the 2.7 or 3.5L Ecoboost instead of the V8. More of Nissan GT-R type of car.
I might be ready to trade in my 2018 Challenger GT awd by 2022-23. A hybrid awd Mustang sounds fine.