Ford’s Mysterious Mach E Mustang May Be All-wheel Drive
New patent suggests the Blue Oval’s rumored HEV pony may be a Nissan GT-R and Porsche 911 competitor.
Some things don’t mix. Oil and water. Cats and dogs. Crossovers and fun. And until very recently, big muscle cars and hybrids. Just a few years ago, the idea of a hybrid Mustang seemed ridiculous. Then Ford announced that one is coming for 2020, and, well, the idea still made us a bit nervous. Introducing this new technology into such a proven package can be incredibly risky. Then we came across this patent application from Ford, and needless to say, we’re feeling a lot brighter about the semi-electric future.
The patent, titled “Twin Motor Drive System For Hybrid Electric Vehicle” was published on January 24, 2019. Now, the document doesn’t specifically mention the Mustang, but considering that we’re supposed to see a hybrid version in a matter of months, and the patent illustration is a big, honking 5.0 liter V8, it’s safe to assume that this has something to do with the pony car. And the abstract, frankly, sounds great. “In one example,” it says, “the rear-wheel drive system includes an internal combustion engine configured to drive rear wheels of the vehicle, and the front-wheel drive system includes a first electric motor and a second electric motor mounted directly to opposite sides of the engine.”
So what does it mean?
Translation: Watch out Dodge Challenger GT, because there’s a new all-wheel drive muscle car coming to market. And this one’s got a V8.
In short, this idea – should it be the one that arrives in dealerships in 2020 – is the best-case scenario for a hybrid Mustang. A V8 driving the rear wheels as the car gods intended, along with two electric motors up front putting down instant torque when you drop the hammer. And yes, probably improving fuel economy, being better for the environment, and so forth.
For those of you who are still wary of a hybrid ‘Stang, think of it this way: When the S550 hit dealerships five years ago, plenty of people were wary of a new four-banger Mustang. Today, the EcoBoost-powered Ponys are one of the best performance cars on the road. Plus, hypercars like the Porsche 918, McLaren P1, and La Ferrari have proven to the world that hybrid systems can be used for jaw-dropping performance, not just hypermiling in the passing lane at rush hour.
So let us be among the first to welcome the prospect of a hybrid, all-wheel drive, rear-wheel biased Mustang. Could this be the Pony car that leaves Camaros and Challengers in the dust for good and gives Nissan GT-Rs and Porsche 911s a run for their money? We hope so.
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