Ford has already received more than 13,000 orders for the new, seventh-generation 2024 Mustang, and enthusiasts are well represented among early buyers. Evidence for that comes from the types of Mustangs being ordered.
Among the orders Ford has so far received, 67 percent (or more than two-thirds) of buyers have opted for the big V8 engine. Moreover, roughly a quarter of buyers have said they would like the manual transmission.
However, it’s hardly a surprise that manual-loving enthusiasts who want a big engine are well-represented among early buyers. Jim Owens, the Mustang brand’s manager, told The Detroit News that car lovers are always among the first to put their orders in when Ford introduces a new generation of America’s favorite sports car.
Read: Here’s How America Is Speccing Its 2024 Ford Mustangs
When you think about it, that makes sense. While buyers who just happen to want a Mustang might be willing to wait until they can walk into a dealership and drive away with a car, enthusiasts are eager to get their hands on the latest model. That leads to a natural inflation in terms of manual orders.
That may not account for the strength of interest in the powerful, 486 hp (362 kW/493 PS) V8 engine. Analysts believe that the uncertain future of the combustion engine (not just the V8) have made car fans come out in droves.
The Ford Mustang has actually become quite lonely in the pony car segment, as its main competitors, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger, have been discontinued. Although reports suggest that they may return, it is widely expected that whatever replaces them will be powered with electricity.
That lends the V8 Mustang a certain cache, as the last of a dying breed of affordable V8 American sports cars. Ford has yet to announce whether the car will be replaced (or even joined) by an electric alternative. But for now, the internal combustion Mustang may be enjoying a sales boost because of the specter of a changing future.
