DETROIT — Ford Motor sees alternative to develop Mustang gross sales because it turns into the final American muscle automobile with a conventional V8 engine, enjoying to generations of gearheads who’ve been drawn to the efficiency automobiles.

The optimism comes after Mustang’s closest American opponents ended manufacturing of their muscle automobiles in December. Common Motors stopped producing the Chevrolet Camaro, and Stellantis ended manufacturing of its Dodge Challenger V8 forward of a brand new all-electric muscle automobile later this yr, adopted by gas-powered fashions with twin-turbo, inline-six engines which are anticipated in 2025.

Their exodus (and that of others within the muscle automobile market) is the results of altering shopper demand away from two-door automobiles, in addition to tightening gasoline economic system requirements and the emergence of all-electric automobiles able to unequalled acceleration.

Jeff Marentic, normal supervisor of Ford Blue merchandise, which incorporates the Mustang, stated the horse automobile stays good enterprise for the automaker each domestically and internationally. Mustang marks its sixtieth anniversary on April 17.

“We’re excited to proceed to supply Mustang. It is unhappy to see competitors leaving however that is helpful to us,” Marentic instructed CNBC. “For people who find themselves on the lookout for a real American sports activities automobile, it is obtainable to them. … We’re wanting and speaking about the way forward for Mustang, and the way far we will develop it.”

Marentic declined to debate particular gross sales expectations for the automobile however famous the corporate has added a brand new V8 mannequin for the seventh-generation automobile known as the Darkish Horse — a not so refined reference to Ford’s ambitions for the V8-powered automobile.

Each the 2024 Darkish Horse and Mustang GT are powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine, with the brand new mannequin producing as much as 500 horsepower and 418 foot-pounds of torque. Ford additionally has introduced a 2025 Mustang GTD with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine that is anticipated to reach as early as later this yr with greater than 800 horsepower.

Ford has been capable of proceed to promote Mustang V8 fashions partially as a result of it has invested in making the automobiles extra environment friendly and it was early to undertake smaller, turbocharged four-cylinder engines that now make up about 48% of Mustang gross sales within the U.S.

Ford additionally provides an all-electric Mustang Mach-E crossover that options related design cues and badging to the two-door coupe, nevertheless it shares little to no different traits apart from the identify.

“I can perceive the inexperienced motion, however we’re so happy with our V8s,” Marentic stated, including the mannequin accounts for a majority of Mustang gross sales in Europe. “It helps outline who Ford is outdoors of the US.”

The seventh-generation Mustang, which Ford revealed in September, lately began transport outdoors of North America. It is going to finally be bought in 85 markets on each continent other than Antarctica, in keeping with Ford.

Non-U.S. gross sales have assisted in preserving the Mustang, which is solely produced at a plant in metropolitan Detroit, in manufacturing amid declining home demand for two-door sports activities automobiles.

U.S. gross sales of the Mustang have declined from a current peak of greater than 122,000 models in 2015 to fewer than 49,000 final yr.

Internationally, Ford studies there have been greater than 235,000 Mustangs registered since 2015. That is when the automaker started producing right-hand drive fashions for international locations akin to the UK, Australia and Japan.

The highest markets for Mustang outdoors of the U.S. are Canada, Australia and Europe, in keeping with Ford.

“Individuals relate extraordinarily strongly to Mustang,” Marentic stated. “The pull is wonderful.”

Marentic declined to debate future product plans for the Ford Mustang, together with a hybrid that was reportedly canceled for the seventh-generation automobile or the potential for an all-electric model of the two-door automobile.