Are the Rumored Ford Mustang Sedan and Off-Road Variants Sacrilege or Genius Moves?
Recent news seems to indicate that a Ford Mustang sedan, off-road model, and other variants are coming, which could be a profitable boon for The Blue Oval.
Rumors of the possibility that we might one day see a Ford Mustang sedan have swirled for years to this point, and just a few months ago, CEO Jim Farley added a little fuel to that fire by noting that such a machine was, in fact, a real possibility. The mere mention of a Ford Mustang sedan has long been a divisive topic as well, with many saying that it’s pure sacrilege for an iconic model celebrating 60 years of existence, while others see it as a smart move on The Blue Oval’s part.
Now, it seems like we’re closer than ever to seeing a Ford Mustang sedan put into production, as well as multiple other pony car variants, following a rather explosive report from Automotive News. Recently, Ford reportedly hosted a meeting with its dealers and showed them renderings, photos, and actual mockups depicting a handful of future Mustang models, including a four-door, an EcoBoost model modified by RTR with a reported $40k price tag, and off-road-focused “Baja” model with a lift and beefy tires, as well as a Shelby-like high-performance convertible with a manual transmission, but no Shelby badging.
With the gas-powered Charger, Challenger, and Camaro disappearing (at least temporarily) from the marketplace, Farley reportedly has a “vision for how the company could double down on a key vehicle line while competitors dial back.” The automaker didn’t share any timelines as to when these potential Mustang variants might launch, but dealers apparently left this meeting with the sense that Ford is serious about putting them into production.
Thus, with a Ford Mustang sedan, off-road variant, and other models seemingly a pretty sure bet at this point, it’s no surprise to see some fans celebrate the move, while others are obviously rather angry that FoMoCo wants to slap the legendary Mustang nameplate on something other than a sporty coupe/fastback or convertible. We saw this just a few years ago with the Mach-E, which continues to draw its fair share of moans for that very same reason.
However, there is a very good business case for expanding the Mustang lineup and turning it into a family of vehicles, too. We don’t have to look far to see a great example of that, as Porsche has made its fair share of controversial moves in recent years. It wasn’t too terribly long ago that Porsche’s decision to build its first four-door model – the Panamera – sent shockwaves through the industry, and fans quite literally revolted then, not to mention some time later, when the sports car maker began selling SUVs, too.
Though enthusiasts didn’t like it at first, those moves quite literally saved Porsche from extinction, and its competition has quickly followed suit – heck, you can even buy a Ferrari or Aston Martin SUV these days. Ford obviously already sells those sorts of things with different nameplates, folks will argue, meaning that they don’t have to “soil” the Mustang name in that regard. Regardless, that same name has a ton of appeal and built-in brand recognition, and we’ve already seen enthusiasts clamor to buy the 911 Dakar, in spite of its massive price tag – so why wouldn’t Ford at least consider doing precisely the same thing?
Photos: Ford
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