Ford Mustang to keep V8 power

The iconic performance car has been part of the Blue Oval line-up for decades, but the global push for electrification clouds its future.

2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

Ford is adopting a “first in, last out” approach to V8-powered muscle cars, promising that the Mustang will retain V8 power for the foreseeable future.

The Blue Oval launched its seventh-generation Mustang last week, telling Australian reporters its 5.0-litre V8 would outlive rival muscle cars such as the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro.

Chevrolet and Dodge are winding down production of V8 muscle cars, but Ford is committed to traditional power.

2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports, said the brand has invested in revised 5.0-litre V8 and 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder engines for the seventh-generation Mustang, and that it had not set an end date for petrol powered cars.

When asked how long Ford could continue to offer V8 power, Rushbrook said “who knows, honestly with the regulations … but as long as we can, we will”.

“We’re fully committed as you see here with combustion engines in Mustang for the road and for the track, the full line-up.

“But we also are committed to electric in our portfolio where it makes sense, and that’s what we’re betting,” Rushbrook said.

“We know that the future is full electric but we also know there’s certainly some life left in combustion engines and that way that’s what you’re seeing with our commitment here.”

Ford has a foot in each camp with the V8-powered Mustang GT coupe and electric Mustang Mach-E SUV.

Ford’s Mustang Mach-E delivers electric performance.

Though Dodge is likely to introduce an electric successor to the Hemi-powered Challenger and Charger, Ford is not in a rush to put electric motors in a traditional Mustang coupe.

Rushbrook said that although a battery-powered Mustang coupe was not an inevitability, the brand would move in that direction when customers demand it.

“I don’t know if it’s inevitable or not, but when that product makes sense, for sure,” he said.

Jim Owens, brand manager for the Ford Mustang, said Ford had a “first in, last out” approach to the V8 engine and was ready to sell Mustangs to customers from other brands “who are still interested in an internal combustion engine version of the sports car”.

Dodge looks set to replace the Charger with an electric coupe.

“This isn’t our first time that Camaro and Challenger have not been with us,” he said.

“There has been times when those products have not been in the segment and we’ve been here continuously.”