Mustang V8, manual to prevail says Ford
BY MATT BROGAN | 10th Sep 2024
IN A rapidly electrifying world, where genuine muscle cars are few and far between, V8-powered gems with a manual gearbox option like Ford’s latest seventh-generation Mustang are officially on the endangered list – but the Blue Oval is determined to keep a recipe it has been serving up since 1964 alive for as long as it can.
Speaking with GoAuto and others at the launch of the seventh-generation Mustang in South Australia last week, Ford Mustang chief program engineer and long-time enthusiast Laurie Transou said: “As long as we can keeping making the V8 we’re going to.”
According to Ms Transou, manual gearboxes are also looking good for the foreseeable future.
“I would say what our customers want right now is a manual transmission,” she said.
“V8 enthusiasts love the manual transmission, so we will continue to offer it for as long as our customers are desiring the transmission, and there is a market for it.”
It could be argued that the Mustang is the sole survivor of its kind, with the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Charger (and Challenger) already well on the road toward downsizing, electrification or both.
“I would say we’re in a unique position in the market right now. Of course, we have the Mustang Mach E, the EcoBoost, and our 5.0-litre variants, but as our CEO Jim Farley has mentioned, we are doubling down on our V8 for as long as we can possibly sell it,” said Ms Transou.
“Like Australia, we love our V8 product … the V8 has a rich history, and beyond that it has an emotion you can feel and hear. It’s very distinctive. If you close your eyes you definitely know it’s a Mustang. It’s quite unlike any other vehicle.
“So, as long as we can keeping making the V8 we’re going to. We want to continue to bring that passion and excitement to our Mustang customers.”
Echoing Ms Transou’s comments, Ford Mustang brand manager Joe Bellino said the company was “very proud to still be making a V8 … and not everybody can say that”.
“As Laurie mentioned, we’re doubling down on it (the Coyote V8 engine), making it a priority of ours. It’s a hallmark of the Mustang.”
The comments made by both Ms Transou and Mr Bellino reflect those made earlier this year by Ford CEO Jim Farley.
Speaking at the opening of the Ford Performance racing season in May, Mr Farley said Ford will keep making V8 engines, even if it is the only manufacturer on the planet doing so.
“Mustang is going to celebrate its 60th anniversary coming up here. A lot of our competitors have left (V8 production). They’ve come and gone – we never did that. We’ve always been there with the Mustang,” he said.
“Sixty years, and it’s changed over time. We have EcoBoost and the Dark Horse now, and we’re going to continue to invest. And if we’re the only one on the planet making a V8 affordable sports car for everyone in the world, so be it.
“What other car in the world races on six continents on any given weekend? And that’s because we have a V8 engine.”
And while tightening emissions standards have already impacted V8 engine production elsewhere, Ford is confident vehicles including the Mustang Mach-E can help offset its overall CO2 totals to extend the life of its Coyote-series unit.
“Obviously we can’t comment on any future products, or pending government regulations. But we are super happy to continue building V8 Mustangs for as long as we’re able to,” added Ford enthusiast vehicles communications manger Brandon Turkus.
When asked if Ford would continue to offer a manual transmission behind its V8 engine, Mustang chief program engineer said that like the V8, the six-speed Tremec ’box will be offered for as long as customers want one.
“We are constantly looking at what our customers want and making sure we do everything we can to deliver what they want,” Ms Transou told GoAuto.
Locally, Ford Australia says uptake of manual models was exactly 50:50 on now-sold-out Dark Horse variants, with V8-powered GT variants running “less than 30 per cent”.
“The Tremec manual transmission is an amazing transmission,” added Ms Transou. “I’ve got a GT 350 that my husband and I own with the same transmission, and I can tell you that you’re going to love it ... It’s a great transmission.”
Interestingly, and despite a change in the profile of average Mustang buyers, the V8 and manual transmission combination continues to prove popular in the United States.
Younger buyers and an increasingly female skew have done little to shake the desire for the genuine muscle car experience, with buyers of all walks of life wanting the classic Mustang formula to remain an option for as long as possible.
“We are trying to skew younger with Mustang, a little more diverse, more female. We’re seeing Dark Horse bring in a new buyer for us that we haven’t seen before, someone who may not have considered a Mustang in the past is now considering a Dark Horse (and that is a) younger, more female (buyer),” continued Ms Transou.
“The amount of female buyers that I’ve seen and that we’ve talked to about buying a Dark Horse is through the roof – one buyer sold her house to buy a Dark Horse.
“Of course, we are still taking care of our traditional Mustang buyer. And that’s where Mustang is doing a really good job right now of not only brining in a new audience, but also catering to our core enthusiast who has bought a Mustang for the last 60 years or so.”
