Is Ford planning diesel- and hybrid-powered Mustangs? You bet

By Nick Jaynes December 9, 2013

think four cylinder mustangs sacrilege wait diesel hybrid variants ford mustang 2015 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ford, as I am sure you know, unveiled the 2015 Mustang last week and it, like we presumed, will be offered with V6, a new 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder, and a 5.0-liter Coyote V8.

This is not where Ford is planning to stop with its powertrain options. Bob Fascetti, Ford’s powertrain boss, told GoAuto that the American automaker has pondered both diesel and hybrid variants of the world’s most iconic pony car.

“We’re not looking at diesel at the moment, but given where we need to go with fuel consumption we are looking at all our options,” he revealed. “And diesel is one of those options, along with hybrids and electric.”

If an automaker says its not considering something like diesel at the moment but that it has considered it in general, you can believe that it’s absolutely seriously considering diesel. A diesel Mustang – especially for the global markets Ford aims to conquer with the Mustang – makes a lot of sense, especially given the increasingly stringent Federal fuel economy standards coming down the line.

Diesel is the most affordable option in the global markets outside the U.S. Not only is it economical, it’s also torque-y. Pony cars have always benefited from a lot of rear-wheel drive torque. A turbo diesel could be a perfect source of penny-pinching torque.

As for hybrid, it’d be ideal for the U.S. where diesel is more expensive. Just like diesel, hybridization adds torque and boost acceleration while also cutting down on fuel consumption.

Add to those drivetrains Ford’s forthcoming 10-speed automatics that it is working on developing with hometown rival General Motors and the 2015 Mustang could be brilliant looking, powerful, and eco-friendly – all in one.

We’ll be watching this story closely so be sure to check back for more on this and any news on the all-new Mustang.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Ford

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

Cars

Ford’s electric 1,502-hp Mustang dragster burns tires, not race fuel

ford introduces electric mustang cobra jet 1400 prototype

Ford defiantly argued a Mustang doesn't need to have a turbocharged four-cylinder engine or a big V8 under the hood to honor the nameplate's heritage when it introduced the electric Mach-E. It took the emblematic model even further into electrification territory by building a battery-powered, Mustang-based dragster named Cobra Jet.

Hardcore, dyed-in-the-wool Mustang fans will recognize the Cobra Jet name because it denoted a mighty, 7.0-liter V8 engine in the late 1960s. Fast forward to 2020, and it proudly designates an electric dragster whose output checks in at a monstrous 1,400 horsepower and 1,100 pound-feet of instant torque, though Ford revised the first figure in September 2020. Its total output is 1,502 hp, a jaw-dropping number that puts it on par with the Bugatti Chiron.

Cars

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E will offer Active Drive Assist hands-free driving tech

Ford Active Drive Assist

Ford is serious about making the 2021 Mustang Mach-E its most tech-forward vehicle to date. The electric crossover will inaugurate a technology named Active Drive Assist that will allow drivers to safely and legally take both hands off the steering wheel when the right conditions are met. It won't turn the Mach-E into an autonomous car, however.

Bundled into a suite of electronic driving aids named Co-Pilot360, Active Drive Assist is an evolution of adaptive cruise control with lane-centering designed to take over on divided highways. The system relies on cameras, radars, and sensors to scope out the road ahead, but Ford's approach to the technology is similar to Cadillac's because it only works on pre-mapped highways. This safety-first solution ensures the car knows exactly where there's a bend or a hill, but it also means motorists won't be able to use Active Drive Assist if they're traveling on a road that the technology doesn't know. Ford already mapped over 100,000 miles of highways in all 50 states and in Canada.

News

Ford’s plan for Rivian-powered, electric Lincoln SUV canceled due to coronavirus

Rivian R1S on the road

Ford’s plan to add an all-electric Rivian-powered SUV to its Lincoln model lineup has reportedly been canceled due to the coronavirus.

The companies announced the decision to cancel the car’s production on Tuesday, April 28, Automotive News first reported. The electric SUV was supposed to be ready for release by 2022.