Ford Mustang Could Go Hybrid Before Switching To A Full BEV

Aug. 24, 2023 5:05 PM ET by塞巴斯蒂安岑izo Engine /6 Comments

We think it would be foolish not to go this route.

For a long time before the reveal of the seventh-generation S650Ford Mustang, several rumors pointed to the imminent introduction of a hybrid variant, but then they werequashed by insiders, and now they're back again, thanks to Ford CEO Jim Farley. Speaking withBloombergat the launch of the unexpected but amazingMustang GTD supercar, Farley was asked about electrifying the Mustang coupe.

"We cannot keep saying [companies are] all-electric or all-hybrid, and there's nothing in between. That's baloney," said Farley. "There's going to be lots of grey degrees of partial electrification that's still good for the planet. You can still have that emotional experience. I think that's where we're going to be for a while. So when you say, 'Could it be a fully electric Mustang coupe?' No, probably not. But could there be a partially electrified Mustang coupe - and it be world-class? Yeah."

Naturally, Farley did not go into detail, so it remains to be seen if a Mustang hybrid would see an electrification element added to the V8 of the GT or the four-cylinder EcoBoost of the regularMustang Coupe. Or would it be offered on both? That may be expensive and even somewhat risky, but the risk would be low because competition from Dodgeis going all-electric, and General Motors' ChevroletCamaro is still up in the air.

Either way, we're just glad to see that the gas-powered Mustang will live on in some form, something that Farley has beenvery clear about in the past. We also think it's prudent, as the state of the automotive legislature is continually in flux, and committing to an all-electric future for what Farley calls a "passion brand" (Mustang) could deny the Blue Oval a massive source of income. In addition, hybridization rather than full electrification can have several knock-on effects.

Keeping a V8 alive for as long as possible will be a unique selling point, and further development will make the engine more powerful and efficient. The electric component of the potential hybrid would be immensely power-dense and compact, and lessons learned in its integration would surely contribute to more engaging EVs when the Mustang nameplate does eventually become exclusively electric.

It could be much like the strategy that Lamborghini is employing with theRevuelto. Hybridization has allowed the V12 to live on, and on the side, electric products likethe future Lanzadorwill keep politicians at bay. Similarly, Ford has theMustang Mach-Eto learn all about making good EVs, and the V8 Mustang remains a halo model.

Finally, hybridization will have benefits for other niches beyond sports cars. A performance-focused hybrid system could well lead toimproved F-150 hybrids, allowing the country's most popular pickup truck to remain a firm favorite all over the nation.

Will the hybrid still arrive as part of the S650? Time will tell, but we suspect so, likely after a facelift.