From an online job site listing comes the first confirmation Ford will produce an all-new Mustang in 2022 as a 2023 model. Posted on LinkedIn is a job listing for engineers to be the “final sign off on the Ford 2023 Mustang S650 program.” We’re thinking S650 is internal lingo for this next-gen ‘Stang. We’re pretty smart that way…

Anyway, this confirms Ford’s intentions to change up the Mustang. But if you’re still in doubt further down on the listing is this description discovered by a Mustang6G forum member. It lists just some of the responsibilities of the inquiring candidate, “on-site launch lead for Wind/Road Noise and Air Leakage attributes when S650 launches in 2022 as a 2023 MY.” So there ya go.

Ford’s all-new Mustang could be based on the Explorer’s CD6 platform

The current Mustang launched in 2014 as a 2015 model. It is the sixth-gen with a facelift in 2018. Rumors suggest the Mustang will get larger especially if it’s true it will share the CD6 platform with the Explorer. We were hoping it would get a bit smaller and lighter, not the other way around. 

It is also rumored that since the Mustang will share the CD6 platform that it will also be available with all-wheel-drive as an option. We understand that Ford wants the Mustang to be available in more flavors, with the Mach E being just one of them. That also makes sense as this will be the only brand of car Ford will continue making. Ford, as per usual, does not comment on future products so it is not confirmed one way or the other. 

The Mustang is the last car Ford builds

Mustang is the last car Ford builds in its arsenal of products so it’s nice to see it plans on continuing to produce it. There was always the thought Ford would just throw in the towel on anything unrelated to SUVs and trucks especially after the Mach E “Mustang” was hyped last year. 

But the brand is very strong, and Ford still needs to cater to those that want a car. Toyota and VW sure haven’t abandoned cars, nor have many other manufacturers. So there is still a big car market to crash and this gives Ford a way to stay in the parade. 

The Mustang’s sales have been ever so slowly decreasing over the years. There was a time when Mustang sold over 160,000 per year in the early 2000s. Now, it hovers around 70,000 losing a few thou each year. 

As for Mustang’s rivals, it is unclear what’s coming from Challenger but Camaro is toast

As for rivals, it is unclear what Fiat Chrysler will do with the Challenger now that its merger with PSA Group is continuing. It’s 12 years old with very little done in terms of refreshing the design. There are a lot of question marks for the company.

GM’s segment participant is the Camaro. There appear to be no future plans based on UAW labor agreement documents. It is expected to end production in 2022 or 2023. 

When an all-new Mustang arrives sales jump up for a year and then slowly level out. Because of that, it would behoove Ford to step on the gas a little and come out with the Mustang quicker than 2022. With this schedule, we would expect heavily camouflaged mules sprinting around Dearborn before the end of the year. It will be interesting once they do to see how large or small the Mustang will be.