Ford Is Still Working on What Could Be Its Most Divisive Pony Car Yet

About a month ago, Ford confirmed that its gas-powered Mustang wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Considering the electrification of the Charger and the discontinuation of the Camaro, it was cause for a huge sigh of relief among muscle car fans — especially given that the Blue Oval’s Mach-E has proven to be such a strong seller in recent years.

That said, the company didn’t rule out the possibility of a hybrid. Quite the contrary, as Ford has made announcements before that such a Mustang was in development. 

Ford

While the lack of progress made it seem like the company had abandoned the project, it turns out that the Blue Oval may have more than a few hidden away in its stable. 

Mustang mule, wild hybrid?

According to a recent Ford Authority report, “sources familiar with the matter” have stated that there is currently an S650 Mustang hybrid model in operation that is known internally as the S650E. 

Ford

While the exact type of hybrid powertrain wasn’t disclosed (i.e., a mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid or some sort of range-extending variant) and the future of the vehicle wasn’t made clear, supposedly, several prototypes have entered the ‘Technology Prove-Out stage.’

In other words (and at the risk of making more horse puns), there are most likely Mustang mules out there that have some sort form electrification under the hood. Ford certainly has reason to be considering such a car before putting the idea out to pasture.

After all, plenty of exotic and aspirational performance car brands — Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche, for instance — have embraced hybrid technology as a means to boost performance and skirt emissions requirements. A hybrid Mustang doesn’t have to mean an economical sipper. 

Ford

Closer to home, Chevrolet has recently bested the Blue Oval’s supercar-slaying Mustang GTD on the Nürburgring with its Corvette ZR1 and ZR1X. While the former sticks to good old-fashioned internal combustion, the latter bested Ford by nearly three seconds thanks to its incorporation of a front-mounted electric motor.

As such, Ford could be testing a Mustang hybrid as an alternative to its EcoBoost and Mach-E offerings. It also might be investing in something even more potent than the GTD. 

A possibility packing controversy

Regardless of how it may take shape, a hybrid Mustang is bound to ruffle some feathers among the muscle car crowd — assuming, of course, that it sees the light of day.

Ford

For starters, the decision to give the Mach-E the famous pony car moniker is one that still raises eyebrows even today. While a hybrid would likely stick to the coupe body style, it would still stretch the definition of a muscle car in the eyes of most purists.

Moreover, hybrids are notorious for their depreciation. Because of their novelty, they tend to experience dramatic reductions in value, be it something domestic like a Corvette e-Ray or something exotic like a Ferrari F80. Even if it’s not a concern for Ford, owners aren’t likely to enjoy taking the hit.

Ford

Ultimately, however, it could be a matter of politics. Given the current administration’s efforts to relax emissions standards, Ford has considerably less cause to electrify its icon.

In that case, is it even worth it for the Blue Oval to make such a gamble? If it comes down to a matter of performance (read: pride), anything is possible.

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

Related Topics