Is Ford About to Botch the S650 Mustang Rollout? (Here’s What They Need to Fix First)
The next-generation Mustang is set to arrive in dealerships this summer, and right now, Ford is being battered by unforced errors.
From a product perspective, Ford has been killing it of late. Sure, arch-rival GM garnered attention with the C8 Corvette and the Hummer EV, but the Blue Oval has been far more prolific when it comes to mainstream hits. The original Raptor was a shot across the bow of every other truck maker, and it took over a decade for Ma Mopar to parry with the TRX. Of course, the reborn Bronco was another dazzling success. Though it faced an almost unbelievable amount of pre-reveal hype, the retro-styled rig delivered, with the press and the public becoming equally enthralled.
Even Ford’s entries into the electric segment have been well received. Because despite enthusiast pushback over the name, the Mustang Mach-E immediately became one of the hottest vehicles of 2019. CEO Jim Farley even admitted that the company was “blindsided” by demand for high-priced GT models, which isn’t exactly a terrible problem to have. Finally, it’s impossible to forget the Lightning. Because given how historically popular the F-150 has been, the all-electric pickup has the potential to transform America’s roadways as dramatically as the Model T did over a century ago.
So Dearborn is clearly designing vehicles the public wants. The problem is follow-through, and in that regard, the company has been in a tailspin. Because for the last two years, the automaker has led its competition in one unenviable category: Recalls.
Raptors sporting 37-inch tires were recalled due to lug nuts not being properly tightened — meaning the wheels could fall off. Along with having issues with airbag sensors being improperly secured, many Broncos faced issues with the paint on the hardtop peeling. The Mach-E had bad rear axle shafts, and last week, Ford halted production on the Lightning because a battery issue caused one to burn up in the post-assembly parking lot.
This week, another massive recall was announced, this one covering the Bronco, Mustang, Explorer, and F-150. Due to an issue with the transmission, they could all roll away after being placed in park. Yikes.
Now, the S650 Mustang isn’t scheduled to arrive in showrooms until this summer. And while that certainly feels like an eternity to folks with their names in the pre-order books? From an institutional standpoint, it’s an instant. So the Blue Oval needs to get its act together in a hurry, or the launch of its prized Pony is going to be a horror show. Because if it can’t get the basic stuff right? How is it supposed to handle tall orders like the shape-shifting paint of the Dark Horse?
Photos: Ford
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