Ford’s pony car has typically made the most out of its platforms, eking out the maximum amount of longevity and profit before moving on to wholly new underpinnings. The Fox-body era saw that tradition taken to extremes.
Come 2022, the Mustang will don a new wardrobe, and Ford expects it to stick around for quite some time.
Who knows what “cars” will still exist when the next-gen Mustang completes its life cycle? According to sources who spoke to Automotive News, the upcoming Mustang will arrive in late 2022 with 8 years of production in its future — up from the previously agreed-upon 6 years.
At the outset, Ford expects production tallies to total just under 100,000 units per year, which is down a bit, understandably, from the 102,090 Mustangs Ford built in 2019. A year earlier, the automaker assembled 113,066 coupes and convertibles for the global market.
The product mix is pegged at 77,000 coupes and 20,000 drop-tops, sources say.
While sources told us last year that the next-gen Mustang would carry a re-worked version of its existing platform, AN claims the upcoming Mustang will borrow the CD6 platform found beneath the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator. Using this platform would certainly aid the automaker’s electrification ambitions, though it would necessitate some changes to the vehicle’s dimensions. The next Mustang is expected to arrive with a hybrid variant in tow, and both the Explorer and Aviator offer a gas-electric version (hybrid for Explorer, plug-in for Aviator; European customers get a PHEV Explorer).
It would also add the possibility of all-wheel drive, allowing the Mustang to better challenge its rival, the Dodge Challenger. As for General Motors’ Chevrolet Camaro, that model isn’t expected to live all that long. If you had to put money down on which pony car will be the last one standing (driving?), the Mustang seems the safest bet, by far.
As part of the new vehicle program, the model reportedly stands to see a refresh in 2025.
So, if this plan pans out, customers will still be able to buy the next-gen Mustang in 2030. What unspeakable horrors will that faraway year hold? Let your mind wander.
[Image: Ford]
This seems like a clear date for the last V8 Mustang.
Whatever form factor the 2031 model takes, I’d bet it’s EV only.
“I’d bet it’s EV only.”
Maybe, but I don’t think I’d take any bets on that one way or another right now. If some automakers manage to break through the Tesla hegemony in the BEV market then I could see that happening. However, I could just as easily see things like the Mach-E and Lyriq languishing on dealer lots moving under 2000 units a month.
I definitely hope to be wrong.
Actually V8 cars will be around for a long time, as long as there’s decent profits in V8 models.
The CAFE and CARB have proven to be corrupt bureaucracies just in it for the cash grab.
The part I don’t understand is why they don’t stick a 150hp motor onto a front axle on some of these, instead of the stupid mild hybrid systems. Turn off the ICE at low speeds and run off the electric, then use it for a big power boost at higher speeds. Doesn’t even need a big battery, low speeds are super efficient.
By 2030, EVs will be faster, cheaper to build, and cheaper to maintain. Gasoline stations will start to thin out. The only thing going for V8s will be the noise and smell, for those intrigued by such.
” AN claims the upcoming Mustang will borrow the CD6 platform found beneath the Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator.”
I’m personally happy about that. I was hoping the next Mustang would be a little larger and more Thunderbird-y. The track people probably won’t like that though.
“I was hoping the next Mustang would be a little larger and more Thunderbird-y.”
The Mustang doesn’t need to be any larger, it needs somewhat altered proportions for more interior space. It’s already pretty huge (like the Camaro) for what is, essentially, a 2-seater.
Ewwww… I’m happy with the current size car since it fills the slot between the full size T-bird and a traditional pony car.
Mustang is an electric SUV. Was there a Mustang before this? I’m confused.
166,045 Ford Fusion sold in USA only in 2019.
Ford cancelled it.
100,000 total Ford Mustang are produced and it’s a success.
Go look at the transaction prices and you will likely see your answer. All of the special editions and higher trimmed cars are printing money with respect to the Mustang. The fleets buying all those Fusions at the end arent so friendly to the margins.
Actually one of the big reasons that the Fusion sales dropped as much as they did was that had been limiting fleet sales for the last couple of years.
Look at the both the prices and the profits involved. The Fusions sell with lots of cash on the hood. Also there was, in the past, a large fleet sales. IDK if Avis and Budget will still be buying, but I am sure that Hertz won’t. As to prices, I was shocked when I looked on build/price and Mustang drop tops are $35K and UP, UP, UP!
I am old enough to remember the 4 door Thunderbird and it looks like Mustang may be headed there. I don’t think that the long hood, short rear deck and minuscule back seat scale up.
@gasser With suicide doors. Now that’s classic.
Yeah but sales of the Fusion, like all midsize sedans have been on a downward trajectory, while the Mustang is more or less holding flat, is a consistent winner in the segment and is gaining in sales in areas outside of the US.
The Fusion had small margins while the Mustang has large margins.
So yeah Ford didn’t think it was worth investing in a new generation for the Fusion because they expect sales and margins to continue to shrink.
There was a stillborn Continental riding on this platform. Would be cool to see that make a comeback, even if it was just a more traditional sedan of some sort. The Mustang DNA should support a healthy performance aftermarket (though a larger Mustang would be on my radar at that time as well…I can use the Challenger’s back seat on the occasions I need it and this was not the case with the Mustang.) CD6 could become the modern incarnation of the Fox Chassis. Either way, the fact that there will be a next gen Mustang is good news to all with its spiritual rival, if not so much on the sales floor the Camaro getting the axe again.
The Challenger has certainly proven that you don’t need the frequent refreshes. The longer design cycles make these cars more likely to stick around. That is a win.
From the Falcon to the Fairmont, there were always passenger cars with which to share development costs. Those days are gone. I’ve been surprised they created a bespoke turbo 4 for the Mustang, when the EB 2.7 turbo from the F-150 was ripe for picking into the Mustang.
But they are literally using a volume platform under it and thus sharing the development costs. The Mustang’s “bespoke” turbo 4 is also available in the Ranger and did time.in the Focus RS and I believe some other models.
I’d love to see the 2.7 in a Mustang though, but it is an iron block motor too and was specifically designed for the F150 so it may just be too tall.
I feel like they are sharing the costs though…CD6 was also designed to underpin cars.
The only way you’ll get “buy in” of hybridization of the Mustang is to make it he electric power be an “on demand” feature that allows you to get a massive power boost.
Do that for a few years, get people hooked…then go conventional.
See Aviator Hybrid, it will certainly use a similar system as will the F-150 and Bronco, they all use a version of the 10sp automatic in non hybrid versions and the Hybrid Aviator and Explorer add an electric motor. In the Aviator and upcoming F-150 Hybrid they are positioned as the most powerful version, that just happens to get better MPG. I suspect they will go that route with the Mustang too.
Platform change has been discussed awhile, right?
I believe that it may also include some sort of 4-door Mustang as well right?
Honestly, this probably makes sense. These modern platforms are pretty amazing. Ford is gonna get a lot of mileage out of this and the Explorer, Lincoln vehicles etc.
Speaking of the devil. My buddy has 15K miles 2016 California edition GT. Beautiful car. And he wants me to buy it. My problem is that he upgraded HP (ford factory), suspension (ford approved), huge wheels with rear different from the front, modified exhaust. I mean… there is 0 practicality in this thing vs stock. I love stock because you can go and buy replacement parts cheap. But positive – this car wasn’t tracked. I am thinking with 75% – no way