6 Things We Know About the 2023 Mustang
1. First, we now know for sure that a 7th generation Mustang is coming.
This generation brings new technology and a variety of firsts for the Mustang platform. For starters, we’ll see a fully-electric version and a hybrid version. The hybrid version will be less like ta Prius and more like a Porsche 918 where the hybrid electric motor will be harnessed to provide more power.
2. There’s an All Wheel Drive version coming.
In 2017, Ford’s Chief Technical Officer Raj Nair disclosed a few details about the upcoming hybrid Mustang in an interview with a CNET Roadshow reporter while at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Nair was asked whether the Mustang Hybrid would be more like the Porsche 918 rather than the Toyota Prius, Nair confirmed this in no uncertain terms: “that’s exactly right. We’re talking about using electrification to give our consumers more, and in the Mustang it’s all about performance. So we’re talking about V8-like performance and at the low-end even more torque is available with the electric motors. So it’s going to be a very, very fun hybrid to drive.”
Although the hybrid will not feature an all-electric launch from a stop, the system will add torque from a low RPM. “You couple that with an EcoBoost type engine and you have a great combination,” said Mr. Nair. To pair with the electric motor, will Ford offer a four-cylinder or a six-cylinder turbocharged motor? Perhaps both will become available? With the possibility of enormous power from a hybrid configuration, will this mean the end of the road for the V8 Mustang? That question was not asked or answered.
3. We’ve learned that the 7th gen, 2023 Mustang will be built at the Flat Rock Michigan, plant.
This makes sense since this plant has been the home of the Ford Mustang since 2005 and will most likely continue to be the factory for the 7th-generation Mustang. Although the Ford job posting did not confirm the factory location, the job posting called for the employee to be stationed at the Flat Rock assembly plant, likely because the car will continue to be produced in Flat Rock.
The Flat Rock assembly plant stretches more than 2,900,000 square feet on over 400 acres of land, employing more than 2,300 people building the Ford Mustang and its Shelby counterparts.
4. The 7th Gen Mustang has been given the S650 designation internally.
Remarkably, this was accidentally released by an errant Ford job posting on LinkedIn that was quickly removed by Ford after enthusiasts first noticed the posting. In that posting, there was a reference to the upcoming 2023 Mustang program under the model code “S650.” This nomenclature logically follows Ford’s history of model codes for the Mustang, with the current generation Mustang known as “S550” among Ford employees.
5. More information about the electric Mustang has recently trickled out
We know that the first fully-electric Mustang is in the works, previewed by the Ford Mustang Lithium concept that debuted at the 2019 SEMA show. Packing a whopping 900+ hp and more than 1,000 ft-lbs of torque, the electric Mustang concept promised astonishing performance. Imagine taking two 2020 Mustang GT engines and combining them together—insane right? If the rumors are true, Ford will offer a high-performance all-electric Mustang sometime in 2023 or 2024 that will likely be priced over $60,000.
6. The 7th-Gen Mustang? Confirmed: 2022
In the above-referenced job posting from LinkedIN, it was also mentioned that the “S650 launches in 2022 as a 2023MY.” There you have it, straight from Ford—the new Mustang is less than a year away. Expect to see exciting special versions of the current Mustang, like the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1, before the new generation arrives. Earlier rumors led some enthusiasts to believe the S650 Mustang had been delayed to 2026, but those rumors were dispelled by the job posting. When Ford begins accepting reservations for the 2023 Mustang, we will report the news here.
What’s Beyond the 2023 Mustang?
While the 2023 Mustang represents great advancements in technology, will it be enough to compete in a crowded field of contenders?