2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1

Ford has confirmed that the next generation Mustang will debut at the Detroit Auto Show on September 14th, 2022.

The confirmation came via Twitter, where Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company, shared the date for the 7th generation pony. It was paired with a short video sprinkled with various bits of foreshadowing.

First up is the most obvious; the unmistakable sound of a V8 revving in the background. It hasn’t been confirmed, but we suspect the venerable 5.0-liter V8 will make a return, as will a lower displacement option-- more than likely the 2.3-liter Ecoboost turbo inline-four. We're happy to hear a V8 coming with the 7th generation's launch.

Speaking of, the next detail is in the word “generation,” in which the “o” is filled with the shift pattern of a six-speed manual transmission. It was previously confirmed that a manual transmission would return, so this isn’t too shocking. The question, however, is whether the MT82, the six-speed manual used for the last 10-ish years, will come back or if it will be replaced by a more potent transmission, like the ex-GT350’s and current Mach 1’s Tremec TR-3160. We also suspect the current model’s 10-speed automatic will make a comeback.

We’ve recently covered the upcoming Mustang in our Eye Spy segment, where we discussed the inevitable re-upping of Ford's pony car. Not much can be seen, but certain elements seem to remain: the tri-bar taillights, LED headlights and a general Fastback set of proportions, for example.

We can’t wait for the reveal this September. We’ll saddle up and bring you all the details here on MotorWeek!