Ford Talks Future, Including Keeping a Manual in the Mustang - For Now

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

Dearborn has big plans in store, committing to adding more than six thousand jobs to its manufacturing concerns in the Midwest while bringing half that many again into the fold as full-time workers from their current roster of temporary employees. Also of interest to this site? Mention was made of the imminent arrival of the new Ranger – already shown in other markets – and the next Mustang.

And good news gearheads: The next iteration of the Blue Oval pony car will keep its manual transmission.

We’re not Luddites around here (well, ok – there’s one or two) and we recognize there are plenty of world-class automatic which can trip the lights fantastic more quickly than just about every human driver on the planet. This helps explain why so many extremely high-performance machines are available only with paddle-shifted auto boxes or, if a manual transmission is actually available, the optional stick is frequently slower to accelerate than the automatic. Nevertheless, a row-yer-own gearbox offers a level of driver engagement many of us still enjoy.

This explains why we were gratified to see an icon for a manual transmission as part of a graphic presented to investors when talking about the upcoming 7th-generation Mustang. News about the next Glass House filly has been scarce but it is expected to retain a honking big V8 – at least early in its product cycle – along with at least one smaller engine choice. Expect a hybrid down the road after its initial debut, if the talking heads are to be believed. Wild speculation has placed an electric motor on that car’s front axle, creating an all-wheel-drive ‘Stang, but we certainly won’t hold our breath on that one lest we perish from asphyxiation.

As for the new jobs, Ford says they are supported by $3.7 billion of investments in manufacturing facilities across Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri.

“Ford is America’s Number 1 employer of hourly autoworkers, and this investment only deepens our commitment to building great new vehicles – from an all-new Mustang to new EVs – right here in the U.S.,” said Bill Ford. “I am proud that we are investing in the Midwest and taking real action to provide better benefits and working conditions for our workers on the plant floor.”

Specific investitures include $2 billion at various locations around Michigan and the creation of nearly 2,000 jobs throughout three assembly plants in the state. Product shoutouts at the financial event included a commitment to increase production of the all-new F-150 Lightning electric truck to 150,000 per year at Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, the production of their new Ranger at Michigan Assembly in Wayne, plus the new Mustang at Flat Rock.

[Image: Ford]

Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • Cicero Cicero on Jun 05, 2022

    The Mercury brochure is one for Freudian analysis. What's with the two fedora-wearing guys in the car, and why are they scoping out the army of prowling women with umbrellas? Are they shopping for hookers? Why is the cop leaning on the front fender grinning like a fool? And since when do a couple of guys tool around in a sedan that's painted Pepto-Bismol pink? Are they selling cosmetics? So many questions...

  • Funky D Funky D on Jun 08, 2022

    This one is on my radar, as I will be in the market for what will probably be my final "my ride" purchase that I will drive into retirement. It needs to be a spiritual successor to the 2006 GTO that I had so much fun with for 10 years until it became a parts orphan. I'm saving lots of pennies for this one, but when the time comes to buy what my be the last of its breed, a tire-smoking V8 RWD convertible with a DIY gear jammer, I will be more than willing to go into as much hock as required!

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
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