Four-door Mustang rumors swirl, along with whispers of a turbo V-8

Following a recent dealer backgrounder, there is rumor afoot that Ford will add a four-door Mustang to its lineup. Details are scarce, but Mustang forum Mustang6g.com is reporting that the four-door pony would use a turbocharged V-8 and push way upmarket to square off against the Porsche Panamera.

While the Mustang platform has historically been strictly a two-door affair, a more-door design could work in the context Ford’s future plans to move the Mustang to a shared, modular platform and add the option of all-wheel drive. Early murmurs are of a turbo V-8 seem unlikely given that the V-8’s appeal is that it’s naturally aspirated, but it might work for a more luxury-focused model that’s not trying to be a pure sports car.

The rumor suggests the longer and more practical ‘Stang would have the Porsche Panamera in its crosshairs, but that could be a stretch. The Audi A7 might be a more realistic target. Detroit manufactures have often struggled to deliver sales from big, sporty, upmarket-focused sedans (just look at the Chevrolet SS or Pontiac G8), but the Dodge Charger has managed to live a long and fulfilled life on the shoulders of its base model and AWD platform sales.

With the hybrid Mustang on the horizon, as well as a Mustang-inspired EV crossover in the works, Ford could be re-envisioning the Mustang as a kind of sub-brand for performance- and style-conscious buyers.