The next generation of the Ford Mustang is expected to launch in 2022 as a 2023 model and bring the legendary pony car into the age of electrification—if you don’t count the all-new Mustang Mach-E electric crossover, of course.
Ford is still not saying much about a future Mustang Hybrid, which opens the door for plenty of rumours and speculation to spread. A few clues also raise a number of questions.For instance, a Ford engineer by the name of Pedro Maradei claims on his LinkedIn profile that he worked on pre-production versions of the 2023 Mustang last year with not one but two different hybrid powertrains: one based on the 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine and another based on the 5.0-litre V8.
It’s entirely possible that Ford simply wants to test various combinations to see which one would best fit the gas-electric Mustang. Otherwise, we would have to assume that the company is pretty serious about its commitment to electrification.
To be clear, there’s no reason to believe at this point that the gas-only Mustangs will disappear with the next generation. However, start getting used to the new reality, because it appears the Mustang will go all-electric by the end of the decade.
Whatever the powertain options, a Mustang Hybrid looks like the ideal candidate for the rumoured all-wheel drive system, with the gasoline engine driving the rear wheels and an electric motor spinning the front wheels. Hopefully Ford will give us more details sooner rather than later.