Ford invests $715 million to keep Mustang, F-150 V8 alive

Ford has never shied away from its intentions to keep V8 power going for as long as it can, and it’s now backing that up with its wallet, investing US$500 million (A$715 million) in one of its main engine plants to keep production alive.

The Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada was today announced as being the subject of a US$500 million/CA$700 million (A$715 million) investment, to be spent on upgrading the facility and its tooling to keep supporting the current generation of Ford’s main V8 engines.

Currently, the Essex plant produces the 5.0-litre ‘Coyote’ V8 which powers the most popular variants of the Ford Mustang (such as the GT and Dark Horse), as well as a closely related version of the V8 available in the F-150 pickup.

As reported by Ford Authority, this investment is a part of a larger labour agreement which runs until September 2029, effectively locking in the V8 to power the two models until at least that time.

The investment also provides coverage for a forecasted third shift at the Essex plant, and to also produce the mechanically unrelated ‘Godzilla’ 7.3-litre V8 engine at the facility.

While Ford also offers the Mustang (Dark Horse SC and GTD) as well as the F-150 (Raptor R) with a supercharged 5.2L V8, this engine is made closer to the brand’s US headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.

“This agreement is about investing in our people and Canada’s future,” said Ford global CEO, Jim Farley.

“With this agreement and our continued investments in Oakville, Windsor and Essex, we’re building on more than a century of manufacturing leadership in Canada and strengthening Ford’s ability to compete and win for years to come.”

Ford executives have also previously spoken of their desire to keep the V8 alive for as long as possible.

Though the US is now no longer issuing emissions penalties, many markets such as Australia fine carmakers for exceeding CO2 targets – which has already seen the Mustang cop a price increase – while others simply won’t allow certain engines to be sold there.

“I love the V8s, but you know, we will progress as the world moves on, but I’d like us to keep the V8 as long as possible and we will,” Ford Motor Company executive chairman Bill Ford told Torquecafe last year.

Mr Ford also said it’s “very important” for the Mustang to remain as American as possible, with the V8 being one of the leading pillars of its character.

“I think it’s why people buy it. It’s not like another sports car out there that you could get from, you know maybe a Japanese make or a European make. I mean, it’s distinctly American.

“It looks different. It sounds different. It feels different. And I think that’s really important that we keep that. People expect it to be an American muscle car and it will always be that.”

Previous reports have claimed that the current S650-generation Mustang will be facelifted in 2026, before a new eighth-generation model launches in 2029.

Back in 2017, Ford earmarked US$700 million (A$1 billion) to make an electrified version of the Mustang in 2020, though this never eventuated.