Contrary to Rumors, the S650 Ford Mustang Won't Be Discontinued in 2028

It all started on November 30 due to a story published by Muscle Cars & Trucks. The story in question is based on a tentative agreement between Ford and the UAW for the period between 2023 and 2028. The final version of said agreement clearly states $8.1 billion in investments for production facilities by the end of the agreement, including a paltry $50 million for the Flat Rock plant where the Ford Motor Company assembles the seventh-gen Mustang.

The document in question, which is attached below for anyone to look over it, further states that Mustang production will continue. What's more, Ford is currently deciding whether to add a new product to the Flat Rock assembly plant. What kind of product? According to a roadmap from AutoForecast Solutions, a zero-emission Mustang will – reportedly – enter production at Flat Rock on May 1, 2029.

Referred to as S750 by the folks at AutoForecast Solutions, the all-electric pony is believed to replace the internal combustion-engined S650. From a historical standpoint, that may not be the case.

The first generation rolled out in 1964, with Ford ending production in 1973. The sixth generation, which is the second Mustang to feature independent rear suspension from the factory after the SVT Cobra, was discontinued in 2023. That's almost nine years after the S550 entered production, meaning that the S650 could be produced alongside the yet-unconfirmed electric model for a few short years.

That being said, you can bet your bottom dollar the S650 won't go the way of the dodo in 2028. One could also argue that Ford's product planners would make a huge mistake to discontinue the combustion-engined pony car so soon in this generation's life cycle. How come? First and foremost, both US fuel economy regulations and EU emission regulations allow automakers to sell new fossil-fuel passenger vehicles after the turn of the decade. In the European Union and the United Kingdom, synthetic fuels may also save internal combustion from the 2035 ban on the sale of new fossil-fuel passenger vehicles.

Another good reason why the Blue Oval should keep making the Mustang for as long as technically possible is the Mustang's competition. The internal combustion-engined Camaro is on its last legs, with General Motors expected to replace the Mustang's main rival with a four-door electric sedan. Over at Chrysler, both the HEMI engine family and two-door Challenger are on the chopping block in favor of a three-door Charger with either electric or turbo inline-six powertrain choices. Otherwise put, the S650 will become a legitimately unique proposition in 2024.

For the time being, you can get a brand-new Mustang with either the 2.3-liter EcoBoost or 5.0-liter Coyote. The four-cylinder turbo is exclusively automatic, whereas the naturally-aspirated V8 comes with Ford's 10-speed automatic or a manual transmission. If you're on the nerdy side of the spectrum, then you also know that the GT and Dark Horse feature different manual transmissions: Getrag for the GT and a Tremec unit for the GT-derived Dark Horse.

Not long now, the track-oriented Mustang GTD will join its sibling with 800-plus horsepower from an updated version of the 5.2-liter Predator supercharged V8 engine. Said lump is certain to be shared with the Shelby GT500. There's also hearsay about two all-terrain specifications powered by the Coyote and Predator. As opposed to the aforementioned rumor, this one actually holds water because Porsche and Lamborghini proved this concept with the 911 Dakar and Huracan Sterrato.