Ford appears determined to keep the Mustang name alive for the long term, even as the market for traditional sports cars reportedly continues to shrink. However, the future of the muscle car’s V8 engine may be less certain than that of its manual transmission.

 

Ford CEO Jim Farley has been a strong advocate for the Mustang, as well as the company’s renewed focus on performance cars, motorsport, and V8-powered vehicles. He has also highlighted the Mustang’s importance to Ford’s performance-car strategy, particularly in the US market, where the V8 remains popular.

 

When Farley was asked earlier this year whether there could ever be a time when Ford no longer produces a Mustang, his response was unequivocal: “No, not while I’m at the company.”