Photo: Guido ten Brink / SB-Medien
Yes, folks, hybrid pony cars are becoming a thing. Faced with a changing market, the Ford Mustang is forced to adapt or become extinct. The key is hybridization, but it's not for the same of becoming a Prius rival.
We already know about the project, which is supposed to come out in 2020. The first of its kind? While it's true that rear-drive American hybrid sports cars haven't existed before, we don't see Chevy standing idly by on this one.
According to a new report from Motor Trend, the hybrid Mustang will arrive in a few years with a combination of 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo and electric motor. In a way, this contradicts what Raj Nair said earlier - that there's more than one electric motor.
We even have some numbers, as the output will be around 400 horsepower and "well over" 400 lb-ft (541 Nm). We have a sneaking suspicion this powertrain will directly replace the V6 and be found in other Ford or Lincoln models. It should get you to 60 in about 5 seconds without stepping on the toes of the V8.
The electric motor will be sandwiched between the four-cylinder turbo engine and a new a 10-speed automatic gearbox. It should fill out the torque gaps left by the 2.3-liter's lag while also boosting performance in specific drive modes. Unfortunately, the electric driving range will be non-existent or very limited.
While we're eagerly waiting to see the massive scoops of the GT500 monster, it's likely that the hybrid will also suffer cosmetic changes reflecting its new-found green attitude. A revised instrument cluster, badging... maybe even a streamlined body.
The hybrid will happen towards the end of the current model's lifecycle. However, even more significant changes are planned for the next one. Ford is looking into both all-wheel-drive and a pure-electric model. But neither has been approved for production yet.
There's also the small matter of that Mustang crossover EV rumor, which has recently sparked a debate about the possibility of a Camaro crossover.
According to a new report from Motor Trend, the hybrid Mustang will arrive in a few years with a combination of 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo and electric motor. In a way, this contradicts what Raj Nair said earlier - that there's more than one electric motor.
We even have some numbers, as the output will be around 400 horsepower and "well over" 400 lb-ft (541 Nm). We have a sneaking suspicion this powertrain will directly replace the V6 and be found in other Ford or Lincoln models. It should get you to 60 in about 5 seconds without stepping on the toes of the V8.
The electric motor will be sandwiched between the four-cylinder turbo engine and a new a 10-speed automatic gearbox. It should fill out the torque gaps left by the 2.3-liter's lag while also boosting performance in specific drive modes. Unfortunately, the electric driving range will be non-existent or very limited.
While we're eagerly waiting to see the massive scoops of the GT500 monster, it's likely that the hybrid will also suffer cosmetic changes reflecting its new-found green attitude. A revised instrument cluster, badging... maybe even a streamlined body.
The hybrid will happen towards the end of the current model's lifecycle. However, even more significant changes are planned for the next one. Ford is looking into both all-wheel-drive and a pure-electric model. But neither has been approved for production yet.
There's also the small matter of that Mustang crossover EV rumor, which has recently sparked a debate about the possibility of a Camaro crossover.
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