Ford Confirms Manual Option for the 7th-Generation Mustang

Mustang enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to now that Ford has announced the 7th generation of the pony car. Even though no official model has surfaced, many online users discovered a manual transmission shift pattern in Ford’s announcement art for the S650 Mustang.

This comes as a huge sigh of relief for many Mustang fans that were concerned that the next-generation model would be ditching the stick shift. Manual transmission has always been part of the Mustang’s legacy ever since its birth when it came in three and four-speed models. The third-generation featured a five-speed manual transmission from the factory, while the six-speed transmission first debuted with the 2000 Mustang Cobra R.

The current-generation Mustang first appeared in in 2015, and rumors for the 7th-gen Mustang began to ramp up in the last few years. More so with the launch of the EV Mustang Mach-E. But with a stick shift being available in the upcoming S650, Mustang purists will be able to continue the tradition of a manual transmission.

“In many ways, Ford is America’s automaker and our relationship with the UAW is essential to our success,” said Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue in a statement. “Our frontline manufacturing employees are the key to delivering what our customers want more of – amazing new electric vehicles like the F-150 Lightning as well as must-have internal combustion-powered vehicles like the forthcoming all-new Mustang coupe.”