Both the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro will be discontinued within the next six months. Dodge has already confirmed that the Challenger will have an electric successor, while Chevrolet has hinted that the Camaro could move to an electric platform when it is redesigned.
There has been speculation about whether the Ford Mustang will also go electric in its next redesign. However, Jim Owens, the global brand manager for the Mustang, recently stated that Ford will continue to build Mustangs with a V-8 engine as long as regulations allow. He also mentioned that buyers who are interested in an electric Mustang can already opt for the Mustang Mach-E.
Owens emphasized that Ford is still investing in the development of V-8 engines to ensure that they can be used in future models. This statement was supported by Mark Rushbrook, the global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. In an interview, Rushbrook mentioned that Ford is currently on the fourth generation of the Coyote V-8 engine and that a fifth-generation design is possible if regulations permit. The current V-8 engine delivers up to 500 horsepower and is found in the Mustang GT and Mustang Dark Horse grades.
Rushbrook also revealed that Ford considered making the current seventh-generation Mustang electric but ultimately decided against it. He cited the strong demand for sports cars with exciting sounds and available manual transmissions as a factor in this decision.
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It is worth noting that Ford is not the only automaker with this philosophy. Porsche has expressed a desire to keep the gas engine alive in its 911 sports car. The company is also developing carbon-neutral fuels, known as e-fuels, with the intention of offering them to customers in the future.
In Europe, there has been a recent agreement to allow vehicles with internal-combustion engines designed to run on e-fuels to be sold beyond 2035. This exemption was made in response to Germany’s request and means that the V-8 engine could potentially continue to be sold in the European market beyond the next decade.
The remarks from Ford officials and the exemptions granted in Europe indicate that there is still a market and demand for vehicles with V-8 engines. While there is a growing trend towards electric vehicles, there remains a significant number of enthusiasts who appreciate the power and sound of a V-8 engine in their sports cars.
In conclusion, while the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro are transitioning to electric successors, Ford has expressed its commitment to continuing the production of V-8 Mustangs as long as regulations permit. The company is actively investing in the development of V-8 engines for future models. The decision to stick with V-8 engines is driven by strong demand from consumers who value the performance and sound that these engines offer. Additionally, Europe has recently agreed to an exemption that allows the sale of vehicles running on e-fuels, potentially extending the lifespan of the V-8 engine in the European market beyond 2035.
