Next Mustang might offer AWD, and be Explorer based....

As reported in Automotive News..

A redesigned Mustang now is expected in 2021. The car rides on an exclusive rear-wheel-drive platform but could move to one of the company's five new modular architectures, presumably the rwd/all-wheel-drive unibody underpinnings it would share with utilities such as the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator. That would give Ford the option of building an awd pony car for better handling in winter and to compete with the awd version of the Dodge Challenger that launched in 2017.

Yeah, okay, so I guess it's more like the Explorer could be Mustang based? Either way, I'm still happier than ever I have an S197. Also, Ford decided naming a hybrid crossover the Mach 1 was a bad idea based on public reaction. Go figure.

AHHHH! AHHHH! The internet is intentionally trying to freak me out! AHHHH! Run for your lives! Lol. 

This would be like that time Ford and Ferguson got together and made a few AWD Capri's.  Only not as cool or lightweight or small or desirable.  

So either we're going to follow up a good Mustang with an awful one. Or the next Explorer is going to have potential for being a V8 sports wagon thing.

_ said:

AHHHH! AHHHH! The internet is intentionally trying to freak me out! AHHHH! Run for your lives! Lol. 

No kidding. They are coming out with a new clean-sheet RWD platform. It will be used for the Explorer and the Mustang. I'm sure there will be differences. I don't imagine the Mustang will have 10" of ride height and offer three rows of seats, for instance. 

Platform sharing is nothing new, guys, and it doesn't mean that this Mustang will be "bad". In fact, my money would be on it being very good if the last couple of generations are any indication.

Sort of like the 350Z / Q35 / FX35 platform mates, I'm guessing.

In reply to MadScientistMatt :

Right. And many people scoffed at the FX suv being on a sports car platform. Turns out, it makes for a really cool suv. 

Yeah, I think Ford probably knows what theyre doing and are too smart to mess up a Mustang THAT badly. 

But it makes for a hell of a shock headline, don't it? ;-)

I mean, the current Charger and Challenger have been on the same platform as the Durango and Grand Cherokee for a while now. 

I'm honestly curious about the possibility of a sporty rwd v8 explorer now.

ultraclyde said:

Also, Ford decided naming a hybrid crossover the Mach 1 was a bad idea based on public reaction. Go figure.

Yeah, I was kind of hoping the Mach 1 would be some kind of crazy hybrid performance Mustang, like a GT350 with electric motors on the front axles for NSX-style torque-vectoring AWD. That would have been wild, although it still would have pissed off the Mustang purists.

I still want this AWD Mustang. 

Ford Mustang 2021 WRC??

Daylan C said:

I'm honestly curious about the possibility of a sporty rwd v8 explorer now.

I don't think we'll get that. Rumor has it that the Explorer ST will be AWD and have the 400hp twin-turbo 3.0 from the Lincoln Continental. Which, honestly, is fine with me.

Maybe they wont pull towards the crowds any more

Daylan C said:

I mean, the current Charger and Challenger have been on the same platform as the Durango and Grand Cherokee for a while now. 

I'm honestly curious about the possibility of a sporty rwd v8 explorer now.

And the AWD versions of those cars are selling well from what I hear. May be that Ford wants in on that action. 

I stopped and looked at a new Mustang GT premium last night.  It was optioned almost exactly how I would have if I ordered one and was 4K off sticker.  Very tempting.

So, let's imagine just for a moment. The next Mustang will be based on the same platform as the new Explorer and Aviator. So does that mean a Lincoln personal luxury coupe could happen?

Call it the MkX (that's MARK 10 not Emm Kay Ecks).

One can dream!

I test drove an AWD Challenger GT with the V6 a few months ago. For a daily driver in places where it snows, it would work nicely. Power was decent, and it handled like a giant WRX, if that makes any sense. This one also had heated (and cooled!) seats and a heated steering wheel, making it a good winter bomber. I didn't hate it. 

I have no issue with them offering an AWD Mustang. I figure it would be a similar experience. Please offer it with a manual transmission!!!

stanger_missle said:

So, let's imagine just for a moment. The next Mustang will be based on the same platform as the new Explorer and Aviator. So does that mean a Lincoln personal luxury coupe could happen?

Call it the MkX (that's MARK 10 not Emm Kay Ecks).

One can dream!

It was considered during the current generation... hopefully they find a way to place both the Mustang and it's Lincoln variant.

I found the Lincoln render much more attractive. However, I'm kinda of doubtful both will exist since it seems like they want the Mustang to be more European and "Grand Tourer" already. If they decide to keep the Mustang "American" and "ponycar-ish", I can see room for a Lincoln version in the line-up. 

What is next, a mid-engined corvette?

In reply to Tony Sestito :

I had to go looking and I didn't know Ferguson was also pulled into this with a Mustang.  Interesting.

Ref: https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2017/04/17/four-wheel-drive-mustang

The headline is scary, but the underpinning concept is actually quite reasonable.  

The Explorer is going to a new RWD based chassis for the next iteration.  Most new SUV/CUV's are built from a modular construction which share their underpinnings and drivetrain with "regular" cars.  

i.e. The Alfa Stelvio is on same chassis as the Giulia.  The Camaro is built on the same Alpha chassis as the Cadillac CTS.  VW's MQB platform underpins everything from an Audi TT to the 3-row Atlas crossover.  

So, the headline reads like a fail, gearheads lose their minds, but the platform engineering could be done perfectly reasonably in reality.  They're not sticking a Mustang body on a 1992 Ford Explorer frame.  

xflowgolf said:

  They're not sticking a Mustang body on a 1992 Ford Explorer frame.  

 

Yeah, they already did that. It's commonly called a fox body.

xflowgolf :

They're not sticking a Mustang body on a 1992 Ford Explorer frame.  

I'm fairly certain atleast 3 of those exist in the wild already.

Level 10 spook factor in the headline but the Escape and Transit Connect are both based on the same platform that gave us the Focus RS.  No reason why it won't work in the opposite direction.

An AWD Mustang is probably still going to be lighter than a Scat Pack Challenger.