In a little over a month, the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) will allegedly be returning to Detroit for the first time since 2019. But the really big news is that there will be a brand new Mustang for everyone to look at if everything goes according to plan this time.
While not yet verified by the Ford Motor Co. as official business, the company has said that the car was forthcoming in the past. Meanwhile, Automotive News has cited numerous insiders as reporting that the next-gen Mustang will indeed make its worldwide debut at the returning auto show this fall. Details are limited, but the outlet claimed at least two relevant sources had told it that the code-named “S650” model would arrive equipped with the EcoBoost and V8 powertrains found in the current sixth-gen Mustang. Assuming that’s the case, we’d be surprised to see them abandoning the six-speed manual and 10-speed automatic transmission when it comes time to show off the new edition.
Rumors have also suggested that Ford will debut a hybridized variant of the Mustang. Earlier Ford patents have shown that the company was working on a V8 with twin electric motors as part of an all-wheel drive system. But there hasn’t been any confirmation that technology would be going into Ford’s pony car.
Officially, Ford has only confirmed that the all-new Mustang is on the way. A June announcement likewise saw the company stating that the assembly would persist at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan. But that’s just about all the automaker has been willing to commit, though we can certainly speculate.
Since it doesn’t look like we’re getting a new platform for the car, odds are good that the upcoming generation won’t be all that different from the sports coupe that’s available today. Production is assumed to commence early in 2023, with limited factory downtime since the facility is unlikely to need significant retooling. Earlier teasers from Ford have already shown the car sporting a manual transmission, aiding in the assumption that the six-speed will stick around. And disguised prototypes have also shown that the car will keep its basic shape and dimensions, even if Blue Oval decides to tweak the styling.
The North American International Auto Show will be returning to Detroit on September 14th. Expect the event to lead with the Mustang, as it will be nearly impossible for Ford to keep it under wraps for very long once the only thing standing between it and the public is a thin piece of fabric and some velvet rope.
[Image: NeydtStock/Shutterstock]
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