Batteries not included! 2023 Ford Mustang retains old school V8 formula: Reports

When the seventh-generation Ford Mustang is revealed, don’t expect a hybrid V8 or all-wheel drive to be part of the specs sheet.

Reports from the US point to previously teased plans for electrification having been scrapped in favour of keeping the traditional rear-drive, unassisted V8 recipe for Ford’s iconic pony car.

According to a series of indications from various industry sources compiled by Autoblog, the Ford Mustang Mach-E is expected to fill the need for electrification, leaving the traditional Mustang mostly as-is.

This update, which conflicts with a 2017 promise of a hybrid by 2025 by then-CEO Mark Fields, comes from industry planning and analysis company AutoForecast Solutions as reported by AutoWeek. Automotive News also cites three sources close to the plans who say the Mustang will stick to its traditional recipe.

With the hybrid system ditched, the all-wheel drive layout that was rumoured to result from front-mounted electric motors is also left on the cutting room floor.

Speaking to CarsGuide earlier this year, Ford Performance chief engineer Carl Widmann said the V8 would be present for some time to come, though there are still question marks over what to do in the future.

“We know we can make a V6 with twin turbos that would be faster and more powerful than any V8 nowadays, but is that what Mustang fans really want?” Mr Widmann said.

“What do we do about Mustang buyers who insist on the 5.0-litre V8? It's what buyers want.”

With Ford aiming to go fully electric by 2035, time is running out to develop a hybrid system to keep its pony car running on petrol.

According to AutoForecast Solutions, Ford plans to run the next generation Mustang for five years before replacing it with something fully electric, however closely related to the Mach-E that may be.

What we do expect to see when the new Mustang is revealed on September 14 is a more powerful version of the Mustang, with a power output at about 373kW, up from the current generation’s 339kW Coyote 5.0-litre V8.

Ford CEO Jim Farley also added a hashtag (#savethemanuals) signifying the mustang would remain available with a manual gearbox upon the announcement of its Detroit Auto Show reveal.

Here in Australia, there’s not yet confirmation that the next Mustang will be sold here by Ford Australia, but given it has consistently remained the most popular sports car in the country since its introduction in 2016, we’d be surprised to see it left on the shelf.

Officially, a spokesperson for Ford Australia told CarsGuide: “Ford Australia is excited for the reveal of the seventh-generation of Australia’s favourite sports car, the Ford Mustang, at the North American International Auto Show on September 14.”