Did Ford turn its back on enthusiasts? Yes. Yes, it did.
In 2015, the blue oval gifted enthusiasts the Shelby GT350, a Mustang that offered a symphonious V8 with a flat-plane crank and a 6-speed manual transmission. In 2016, Ford gave us the fire-cracker-of-a-hot-hatch Focus RS, and production began on the brilliant Ford GT supercar, the $500k MSRP predecessor of the legendary GT40 that won LeMans in '66, '67, '68, and '69. Then, in 2019, Ford dropped the new 755-horsepower Shelby GT500, the highest horsepower production vehicle the automaker has ever made, that's somehow also praised by journalists for its handling.
And now?
There's no more Focus RS, or any plans for cars, for that matter. And if that weren't enough, Hackett and the crew decided to make the new "Mustang" a 4-door electric crossover dubbed the "Mustang Mach E." Just writing this makes my heart sink, and I'm not even a "Ford guy" per se.
Now, there's nothing wrong with an electric crossover. They can be blistering quick to 100 miles per hour, utilitarian, handle decently, and luxurious, just like any sports car. However, to call one a "Mustang"? This has got to be some sick joke, or perhaps, Ford's suits forgot that Steve McQueen's1968 Mustang GT—the one he drove in the Warner Brothers classic Bullit—was displayed on the National Mall in D.C. for its status as an American icon. Regardless, I'm glad I'm not the only one who views this as a heinous insult to the car community.
In fact, there's a petition gaining thousands of signatures asking Ford to change the name to something other than "Mustang".
Jimmy Dinsmore, the author of the petition to Ford, put it simply:
"It goes against the essence of what Mustang stands for in automotive history. It's insulting to the tens of thousands of Mustang enthusiasts who love the Pony Car and support Ford" and that " As Mr. Iacocca put it, "The Mustang is a wild horse, not a domesticated racer." Because of this, the Mustang was intended to go against the flow of the competition. Turning the Mustang into an SUV is not going against the flow. It is not being innovative, nor is it keeping true to the Mustang's heritage. This vehicle may turn out to be a great product, but it does not deserve to wear the Pony emblem or name."
We couldn't agree more. It's likely an excellent car, but it's not a "pony car". You want to make a futuristic electric Mustang? Fine by us, as long as it's a powerful, easy-on-the-eyes, 2+2 coupe, with a rear-wheel-drive option, and it competes in at least one professional racing series.
Just because Dylan went electric doesn't mean he changed his essence, and the same should be true for the Mustang. Change the name, Ford, you've already done enough by killing your cars.
What do you think? Do you think it should be called a Mustang? Why, or why not? Let us know in the comments below.