Ford Mustang to keep V8 as long as possible

Ford has confirmed it will keep the Mustang’s iconic V8 engine layout around for as long as it can, in spite of increasingly stringent emissions standards.

Speaking to Australian media at the launch of the Mustang Dark Horse recently, Ford Performance Motorsports global director, Mark Rushbrook, said that Ford “has not identified an ending” for the V8.

“As long as we can [offer a V8], we will.”

Emissions regulations will likely change the formula from the current naturally aspirated, large-displacement engine, with Rushbrook adding: “The V8 is so iconic. We’re always testing everything – different things,” without directly answering questions about if the engine will gain forced induction, electrification, or reduce its capacity (or any combination of the three) to remain on sale.

“Regulations are going to get tighter and tighter and tighter and we’re going to keep working to keep pace with those… I’m not going to tell you what year we’ll stop, because I have no idea.”

That could mean the V8 is limited to certain markets like North America, with Europe’s more demanding emissions rules meaning the continent could miss out on future V8-powered Mustangs.

As it stands, the 5.0-litre Coyote V8 is set to produce a maximum of 373kW/567Nm in Dark Horse trim, up from the 345kW/556Nm in the previous-gen Mustang Mach 1.

Rumours were indicating a hybrid version of the Mustang would launch with the new seventh-generation, but that car has yet to surface. And it might not for a little while yet, as Rushbrook confirmed Ford considering it but didn’t push ahead with development.

At the same time, Rushbrook poured cold water on the claim that this Mustang generation is the last one. “People are always saying it’s the last one. But if I say Ford in a word association game, the next word for most people is Mustang. Mustang isn’t going anywhere,” he said.

New Zealand is set to receive the seventh-generation Mustang, with full local specifications expected very soon.