Ford has teased a hybrid Mustang before, but it has been almost a decade since the automaker started talking about the car with no results. That could change, as a new report from Ford Authority notes that Ford is developing a hybrid version of the current-generation car.
The project is codenamed S650E, and Ford has reportedly already built prototypes, though we don’t know anything about their configuration. Ford Authority also said that the car’s future is uncertain due to changing trade and emissions rules.
While the Mustang Mach-E raised eyebrows, a hybrid Mustang would need to hit every mark to survive. Ford would need a performance-tuned hybrid system that helps boost acceleration and power while preserving fuel economy in the process. If it’s successful, the new car could help prolong Mustang sales in Europe, where most buyers prefer a V8 but emissions regulations make it nearly impossible.
Ford wouldn’t be the first mover with a hybrid sports car. Chevrolet has already embraced the technology with the Corvette E-Ray, and supercars have been rocking hybrid tech for years. If Ford is able to hit the right balance of efficiency and performance, a hybrid Mustang may also help prolong the car’s presence here, though the recent relaxation of fuel economy and emissions standards may make hybrids a moot point here, at least for a while.
[Images: Ford]
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