Tag Archives: Ford

News

Ford Says No to an All-Electric Mustang—for Now

The automotive industry’s rush to electrification isn’t unfolding as smoothly as automakers once envisioned. EV adoption is slower than anticipated, and recent policy shifts—particularly in the U.S.—threaten to further complicate the transition. Amid that uncertainty, Ford is sending a clear signal: don’t expect an all-electric Mustang anytime soon.

According to a recent report from Automotive News, Ford plans to continue producing the traditional gas-powered Mustang well into the 2030s. The automaker had previously toyed with the idea of an electrified next-generation model, but those plans appear to have been shelved—for now.

The report doesn’t pin down a timeline for an electric Mustang, but CEO Jim Farley’s 2024 comments make the company’s stance unmistakably clear. “One thing I can promise, however, is that we will never make an all-electric Mustang,” Farley said earlier this year.

That’s a bold declaration, and history suggests it might be the right move. Dodge’s electric Charger experiment shows that translating the V-8 muscle car experience to an electric drivetrain is far from simple. For Mustang enthusiasts, the thrum of a naturally aspirated engine remains sacrosanct, and Ford appears committed to preserving that legacy as long as regulations allow.

That isn’t to say the Mustang will never see any form of electrification. Farley has acknowledged that Ford has been testing partial electric powertrains, which the company believes “work well for performance drivers.” While a hybrid version seems unlikely for the current, seventh-generation Mustang—launched in 2024—the possibility remains for the eighth generation, expected in the early 2030s.

A hybrid Mustang could be a thrilling proposition. The current 5.0-liter V-8 in the Dark Horse model produces 500 horsepower, and pairing it with an electric motor could easily add another 100 hp or more. Meanwhile, Ford’s 5.2-liter Predator V-8 in the GTD makes a staggering 815 hp; a bit of electrification could bring the Mustang dangerously close to the 1,000-hp mark from the factory.

Perhaps the future of the Mustang isn’t purely electric but a hybrid blend of old-school muscle and modern technology. If done right, the Mustang could retain its soul while embracing the performance and efficiency benefits of electrification—a compromise that might satisfy both purists and performance enthusiasts alike.

For now, though, Ford’s Mustang remains proudly gas-powered, and the roar of a V-8 isn’t going anywhere soon.

Source: Automotive News

News

Ford Puts Productivity in the Fast Lane: Farley Rallies America’s Essential Economy at Michigan Central

The “Essential Economy” doesn’t grab headlines like AI or semiconductors, but without it, nothing in America moves. It’s the 95 million workers who pour concrete, weld steel, ship freight, wire grids, fix HVACs, and keep factories humming. It’s 3 million businesses across construction, manufacturing, logistics, energy, and services—the backbone of the country.

And according to Jim Farley, Ford’s outspoken CEO, this backbone is straining. Labor shortages, sagging productivity, and snail-paced infrastructure projects are throttling growth. If essential industries had matched the productivity gains of the past two decades, the U.S. economy could be 10 percent larger today. Instead, the gap between digital sectors and physical industries keeps widening: while information-sector productivity has surged 5.3 percent annually since 2015, construction, transportation, and manufacturing have been flat—or worse.

Farley isn’t content to watch from the sidelines. On September 30, he’ll host Ford Pro Accelerate, a high-stakes working session at the newly restored Michigan Central Station in Detroit. The event will bring together business leaders, policymakers, and disruptors to hash out solutions. The Aspen Institute is backing the initiative, framing it as an urgent call to action for the economy’s often-overlooked core.

“We need to summon the best ideas and put innovators to work on problems right under our noses,” Farley says. “This isn’t just a smart investment in America’s future—it’s essential.”

For Ford, the message is personal. While Mustang Mach-Es and F-150 Lightnings light up the press, it’s Ford Pro—the commercial arm that serves work fleets—that carries the lion’s share of America’s Essential Economy. With more than 40 percent of U.S. fleet share across all segments, Ford’s vans, trucks, and upfit solutions are as common on job sites as hard hats. The company’s strategy now goes beyond sheet metal, offering an integrated platform of vehicles, software, and services aimed at helping businesses do more with less.

That “less” is the issue: fewer skilled workers, shrinking margins, and long regulatory delays. In some cases, it takes a decade or more to get a new transmission line permitted. That means more strain on utilities, more bottlenecks in logistics, and more costs passed on to everyone.

Dan Porterfield, CEO of the Aspen Institute, says the partnership with Ford underscores the stakes: “Through these conversations, we share Ford’s commitment to building an economy that embraces innovation and ensures essential industries can thrive.”

For Car and Driver readers, here’s the throughline: this isn’t just about policy wonks in a restored train station. It’s about the future of the trucks, vans, and tools that make the modern world go. Whether it’s an F-Series Super Duty towing a generator to a job site or an E-Transit van hauling goods across town, the Essential Economy runs on wheels—and Ford wants to keep those wheels turning faster, smarter, and stronger.

September’s Detroit summit won’t solve the productivity puzzle overnight. But by convening the right voices under the vaulted ceilings of Michigan Central, Farley is betting that America can, once again, build its way forward.

Source: Ford

NEW CARS

The Ford GT Mk IV Bows Out After an Eight-Year Run

Ford has officially announced the last production wave of the track-only GT Mk IV, bringing the iconic American supercar’s improbable eight-year run to a definitive end.

The GT Mk IV first appeared in 2023 as the ultimate evolution of the GT lineage, a no-compromise, track-exclusive weapon built in partnership with Multimatic. While most of the planned 67 cars are already spoken for, Ford will open order books for the final handful of examples in the coming weeks. How many are left? Ford isn’t saying.

What we do know: each Mk IV is a monster. Under its elongated, aero-sculpted carbon-fiber bodywork lies a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter EcoBoost V-6 pushing out more than 820 horsepower—an even more aggressive setup than the road-going GT’s 660-hp 3.5-liter V-6. Ford claims a 0–60 time of about 3.0 seconds, but in reality, it’s the cornering numbers that raise eyebrows. Thanks to a radical aero package producing over 2,400 pounds of downforce at 150 mph and grip levels exceeding 3 Gs, the Mk IV bends physics more than most production-based cars have any right to.

Handling duties are taken care of by Multimatic’s Adaptive Spool Valve dampers, which can be adjusted from inside the cockpit—because even on a $1.7 million car, sometimes you need to fine-tune things between hot laps.

The GT Mk IV isn’t just another Ford halo car; it’s a rolling farewell to one of the most celebrated American supercars of the modern era. When this final batch of Mk IVs leaves Multimatic’s Ontario facility, the GT nameplate will retire with it. No encore, no revival—this is the end of the line.

If you want one, now’s your last chance. Just make sure you’ve got $1.7 million and a track to call home.

Source: Ford