The fact that Ford has decided to drop V8 engines in two models that have been only offered with V8s so far (the GT supercar and the F-150 Raptor), may speak volumes about the automaker’s intentions.

If a report from Horsepower Kings citing an unnamed Ford insider is true, then the V8 engine is approaching its final days at Ford, and the fact that an iconic product like the all-new GT supercar has adopted a twin-turbocharged V6 i could be an indication of things to come. After all, if the Ford GT isn’t offered with a V8, what chances do other future models have to get a V8?

A source from Ford told the website the V8 will be gone for good after 2017. “Ford is definitely phasing out the V8 motor altogether. CAFE and EPA are working very hard discreetly to make sure of that,” the source said.

Apparently, Ford wanted to continue its V8 program, but things have recently taken a new direction, presumably because of CAFE/EPA pressure in mid to late 2013. “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 unnamed Ford official added.

So does this mean we will have a Mustang GT without a V8 engine in the future? That’s what the report claims, and there won’t be V8-powered F-150s either, with 2017 rumored to be the last year Ford will sell V8 models. “It would be foolish to expect to see any new V8 cars coming out of this new Performance Division. Ford Performance is going to be cranking out some very fast cars for some time, but even if the new Shelby GT500 gets the green light, it will likely be the last gasoline V8 that Ford will ever produce,” the source said.

Still, we’re going to take all this with a grain of salt and wait for something more official.

Ed. Note: We just talked to Paul Seredynski, Ford Global Powertrain Technology Communications Manager, and he told us that there’s “No basis of truth in that report”. Read our update here. 

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