Could 2017 Be the Last Year of the Mustang V8?
Like the rest of us, Horsepowerkings.com was at the 2015 NAIAS in Detroit and saw the lack of V8-ness in the new Ford GT as an alarming prospect for the future of Ford Performance cars.
Hopefully, they’re just being weirdly paranoid, but the website says they have a source inside Ford that states the company is looking to phase out the V8 among all platforms, including the Mustang by 2017.
According to the story:
“Ford is definitely phasing out the V8 motor altogether”, he said – word for word. “CAFE and EPA are working very hard discreetly to make sure of that. There is quite a bit going on at Ford that the public is in the dark about. The impression that I am getting is that Ford wants to continue its V8 program, but things have (rather recently) taken a new direction, presumably from CAFE/EPA pressure in mid to late 2013. Ford has invested quite a bit of money into the ‘Coyote’ program over the years, and even had plans of going DI (Direct Injection). The future development budget for the 5.2L FPC motor has dwindled, and there is talk that this motor may continue its life exclusively in the form of sanctioned racing series, not on the street. The next big thing for Ford at this point is weight savings. They are trying to lighten these Mustangs to get high performance numbers out of the EcoBoost, and whether we like it or not, that is the (near) future. It’s not Ford’s fault, and you can thank the Gov’t for this – not the consumer”.
While I’m still taking this report with a huge grain of salt, Ford’s Performance division has definitely taken a more EcoBoost approach in the last few years.
The new EcoBoost Mustang is a hell of a good car. But could Ford, even if they wanted to, continue the V8 program? Or is the V8 finally going to wave that long goodbye?
Honestly, I hope not, but I can definitely see where they are coming from.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
via [Horsepowerkings.com]