‘Murica Rejoice! Ford Pledges Allegiance To Manual V8s

Ford confirms its commitment to producing manual V8 Mustangs until they’re outlawed, much to the delight of tire-smoking petrolheads.

Drifting fans are delighted to hear that Ford confirms it’ll keep the rumbling heart of America’s pony car alive by promising to build manual V8 Mustangs until they’re outlawed. The V8 has been the soul of the Mustang since its inception sixty years ago, and Ford, thankfully, isn’t ready to let the legacy die.

Their rivals took a different approach to please the likes of Greta Thunberg, with Chevrolet opting for the eco route when it bid farewell to the Camaro in 2023. Dodge also shifted gears by opting for an electric Charger. Meanwhile, Ford doubled down on what makes the Mustang a rear-wheel-drive legend.

However, Drive reported that the Mustang’s global chief engineer, Laurie Transou, at the Australian launch of the seventh-generation Mustang, said, “[Ford CEO] Jim Farley has mentioned, and we agree, that we’re doubling down on our V8. As long as we can possibly sell our V8, we’re going to.”

Ford also promises to keep the drift-friendly stick shift, stating, “The pure enthusiast loves the manual transmission, so [we] continue to offer it. As long as our customers are desiring manual transmission and there’s a market for it, we would continue to offer manual transmission.”

For drifters, the manual gearbox provides precise throttle and clutch control. Despite their popularity and convenience, modern auto and semi-automatic gearboxes have failed to replicate this.

While paddle shifters can be a good idea for daily use, they’re impractical for drifting when your steering wheel’s busy going lock-to-lock and won’t replace the good ol’ clutch-and-shifter combo anytime soon for us.

The paddle option is available for newer Mustangs if you want it, but we certainly don’t recommend it for sideways antics.

This news particularly pleases drift enthusiasts. Electric vehicles (EVs) still have a long way to go before they can match the controllable power and weight distribution that makes the likes of V8 Mustangs the perfect choice.

Plus, let’s face it – EVs will never be able to match the sound of a V8 being thrown to its limits sideways. Instead, you’re just greeted with a painful, soulless screech of tires. But… You could always play engine noises through the speakers, right? Good luck making that one entertaining for the fans at drift events!

Ford’s current lineup already caters to a wide range, from the fuel-efficient EcoBoost models to the all-electric Mach-E and, of course, the tire-shredding V8s we know and love. This covers all the necessary bases and still (hopefully) manages to keep the right people happy.

Whether you’re a Blue Oval fan or not, we’re sure we speak for all the petrolheads out there when we say we’re grateful for the bold choice while its rivals choose to shift towards electrification.

Now, all we need to do is work on the Mustang drivers’ infamous sidewalk-surfing escapades to help Ford’s case in the court of public opinion!

---