Ford today confirmed that it will build the next-generation Mustang at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan. As part of the announcement, the automaker published an image that suggests the new pony car will be sold with a manual transmission.
Although not a rendering of the vehicle, the image features the Mustang‘s pony logo with the words 7th Generation above it. In the O of the word “generation,” the gear pattern of a six-speed manual transmission can be seen.
Although this fall short of official confirmation, it is a meaningful and deliberate hint to Mustang fans that strongly implies the transmission’s availability.
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Our artist’s impression of what the 2024 Ford Mustang could look like in its final production form | Illustration Josh Byrnes / Carscoops
Despite concerns from enthusiasts about the transmission’s future, it does seem to have found its place in the current automotive landscape. With automakers like Nissan offering the three-pedal gearbox in its new Z, Toyota adding it to the Supra, and others making a point of offering it in vehicles designed for enthusiasts, it would be anything but a surprising decision for Ford to offer it on the new Mustang.
Still, with a hybrid drivetrain expected for the next-generation Mustang, it may come as a relief to some readers that the manual transmission is likely to be offered.
On an engineer’s LinkedIn page, it was suggested that the car will get hybrid versions of the 5.0-liter V8 and the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder. In 2018, meanwhile, Ford said that the “Mustang Hybrid will be all about delivering V8-like performance with more low-end torque.”
Whether Ford decides to offer a manual with certain models only or plans to sell a hybrid with the transmission remains to be seen. Unfortunately, we may have to wait a while before we find out because Ford isn’t expected to unveil the 2024 Mustang until spring 2023.
