Gen 7 (?) Mustang getting electric motor augment model in 2020

[SpeedIsLife]

https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...t-by-2020.html

...

A hybrid version of the iconic Mustang that will deliver V8 power and even more low-end torque. The Mustang Hybrid, built at the Flat Rock Plant, debuts in 2020 and will be available in the North America to start

That's one way to solve the low end torque problem with the Coyote instead of adding more cubes.

[SS 1LE]

An electricly boosted muscle/pony car? No thanks. Electric motors make working on your car yourself a near impossibility too...hopefully this is not going to be on the V8 models.

EDIT: Seems it will NOT be on the V8 models as it says "will deliver V8 like power". I sure hope this isn't going to replace the Coyote in the GT, as that will be a major fail. The demographic will not want that...

[SpeedIsLife]

Originally Posted by SS 1LE

No thanks. Electric motors make working on your car yourself a near impossibility too...

Yeah..

I think this is attempting to appeal for a younger more urban crowd who just take the car to the dealer.

I mean..it's cool as an option, but I'm sure there will remain the normal RWD "traditional" models for the majority.

[KMPrenger]

Its interesting though...as this would be a big leap for the segment whether one likes it or not. I didn't really expect to see electric/hybrid on these cars in the next generation. What I did expect to see (possibly) was the introduction of a turbo V6 option to replace the V8....especially in the case of the Mustang.

A hybrid performance option sounds expensive....and also heavy.

[FenwickHockey65]

The way Ford's wording this screams EcoBoost Hybrid.

[SpeedIsLife]

Well the Gen 7 Mustang is going to be on a new platform(DC5X or some crap) so I could see the weight staying about the same even with the hybrid stuff.

Some are saying that it's going to be the 3.5TT that gets stuffed in with hybrid augment..if that's the case, it's gonna have bonkers low end torque.

[ChefBorOzzy]

Sounds cool.

[snizzle]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

A hybrid performance option sounds expensive....and also heavy.

THIS. I don't get it for this vehicle in particular (or the Camaro).

[xc_SS/RS]

Guess this was bound to happen, but it does suck knowing the (potential) end of the V8 is closer than anticipated... in mass produced cars that is.

If that does happen, and they drop the V8, it will be fun to watch the reactions. Everyone will lose their minds, and then journalists will drive it and say its amazing. But I bet it won't sell anywhere near as well as it has in the past.

[crysalis_01]

Originally Posted by xc_SS/RS

Guess this was bound to happen, but it does suck knowing the (potential) end of the V8 is closer than anticipated... in mass produced cars that is.

If that does happen, and they drop the V8, it will be fun to watch the reactions. Everyone will lose their minds, and then journalists will drive it and say its amazing. But I bet it won't sell anywhere near as well as it has in the past.

The non-enthusiast vehicle buyer of today is not so hung up on "tradition" aka v8's. Look at the shift in F-150 sales breakdown between the EB's and the 5.0.

They look at vehicles as carrying cases for ever more "new" tech. Like big iPhones, they just want more "apps" stuffed into them then the last version. So adding something new while still offering the "old" stuff in limited forms to us, the enthusiasts, seems to be the best marketing angle.

Originally Posted by SS 1LE

An electricly boosted muscle/pony car? No thanks. Electric motors make working on your car yourself a near impossibility too...hopefully this is not going to be on the V8 models.

EDIT: Seems it will NOT be on the V8 models as it says "will deliver V8 like power". I sure hope this isn't going to replace the Coyote in the GT, as that will be a major fail. The demographic will not want that...

This is also spoken to by looking at major players in performance halos moving to hybridization; 918, P1, and the Ferrari The Ferrari.

While our pony cars are definitely not on the level of these supercars, giving the owner the chance to read that their new car incorporates tech similar to them will be a key selling point.

Will this hybrid system,be as aggressive as their supercar counterparts? Most likely not. Will John Q. public know difference behind advertising spin? Most likely not.

[Egon]

Hybrid does not mean no or low performance, if anything it opens up opportunities for a lot more performance than anything currently out there at this time, and if Ford does it correctly and Chevrolet does not follow along the next Gen Camaro is going to get curb stomped by a performance hybrid Mustang.

True, batteries can be heavy and add a lot of weight to the vehicle, but we are not talking about a Tesla sized battery that needs to provide 200+ miles of range on electric alone. The systems that would work well in a performance environment would more closely resemble an F1 KERS system with a smaller battery and multiple smaller electric motors that can be placed at each wheel to provide instant torque from 0 RPM to redline. In addition the battery can be located anywhere in the vehicle so it would be most advantageous to place it low and in the middle of the vehicle to aid weight distribution and keep the center of gravity low.

These numbers are educated guesses, but a high performance hybrid system would add anywhere from 200-350 lbs of weight to a vehicle but could provide anywhere from 150-400+ hp of performance and efficiency. Take the low side 200lbs and 150hp and add it to a 6th Gen SS and you have a vehicle that is lighter than the ZL1 but has almost as much power and the ability to provide epic torque from 0 RPM. The maximum torque that electric motors provide even from 0 RPM is why a 5000lb Tesla can do the ¼ mile in the high 10s.

All of that performance comes with additional irrefutable benefits that I guarantee every vehicle manufacturer is currently looking into. (if they wish to stay in business) Fuel economy improvements in EPA city cycles could be enormous along with big reductions in emissions. We may not really think of that as a big deal but with a lot of attention to climate change the last thing we want to do as performance enthusiasts is paint a target on our backs, especially when the benefits of systems like this are obvious. There is a reason that Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren and others all chose hybrid power trains for their flagship vehicles, and it wasn’t because they all turned into environmentalists overnight.

TLDR: Hybrid platforms are the future of performance, jump on board or get steamrolled.

[hotlap]

Originally Posted by Egon

Hybrid does not mean no or low performance, if anything it opens up opportunities for a lot more performance than anything currently out there at this time, and if Ford does it correctly and Chevrolet does not follow along the next Gen Camaro is going to get curb stomped by a performance hybrid Mustang.

True, batteries can be heavy and add a lot of weight to the vehicle, but we are not talking about a Tesla sized battery that needs to provide 200+ miles of range on electric alone. The systems that would work well in a performance environment would more closely resemble an F1 KERS system with a smaller battery and multiple smaller electric motors that can be placed at each wheel to provide instant torque from 0 RPM to redline. In addition the battery can be located anywhere in the vehicle so it would be most advantageous to place it low and in the middle of the vehicle to aid weight distribution and keep the center of gravity low.

These numbers are educated guesses, but a high performance hybrid system would add anywhere from 200-350 lbs of weight to a vehicle but could provide anywhere from 150-400+ hp of performance and efficiency. Take the low side 200lbs and 150hp and add it to a 6th Gen SS and you have a vehicle that is lighter than the ZL1 but has almost as much power and the ability to provide epic torque from 0 RPM. The maximum torque that electric motors provide even from 0 RPM is why a 5000lb Tesla can do the ¼ mile in the high 10s.

All of that performance comes with additional irrefutable benefits that I guarantee every vehicle manufacturer is currently looking into. (if they wish to stay in business) Fuel economy improvements in EPA city cycles could be enormous along with big reductions in emissions. We may not really think of that as a big deal but with a lot of attention to climate change the last thing we want to do as performance enthusiasts is paint a target on our backs, especially when the benefits of systems like this are obvious. There is a reason that Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren and others all chose hybrid power trains for their flagship vehicles, and it wasn’t because they all turned into environmentalists overnight.

TLDR: Hybrid platforms are the future of performance, jump on board or get steamrolled.

This Al Oppenheiser quote from June 2015 Hot Rod speaks to the future. I suspect Chevy is already looking at it.

HRM: ...is this a performance bubble or will we see performance cars continue to improve over the next few years?

AO: Let's see. You've heard Mark Reuss say many times that Chevrolet has the most capable performance lineup we've ever had at Chevrolet. The things we do on Z/28 and ZL1 with magnetic ride and DSSV dampers. The Corvette has so much technology. We're going to incorporate much more of that to comply with future fuel economy. We're going to always be able to do performance, it's just how you define performance and the tools you have to do that. It may change to more technology-based down the road. Hey, look at it realistically, electric motors provide instant torque. That's pretty cool.

[SpeedIsLife]

Apparently they've been working on this drive train concept, along with the F150 model, since 2014..

Just goes to show that they can keep the lid on stuff pretty well these days.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by hotlap

This Al Oppenheiser quote from June 2015 Hot Rod speaks to the future. I suspect Chevy is already looking at it.

It has been, an eAssist 6th gen was under consideration and I believe the ATS 2.0T was supposed to get eAssist as well.