---
title: "Report: Next-Generation Ford Mustang Could Use Platform Shared with Crossovers"
description: "A recent investor meeting reveals Ford will be joining the party by paring down its current crop of nine platforms—and according to Automotive News, the next-generation Ford Mustang could wind up sharing a base with the company's incoming court of crossovers."
date: "2018-08-13"
modified: "2018-08-13"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/22841/report-next-generation-ford-mustang-could-use-platform-shared-with-crossovers"
categories:
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Coupe"
  - "crossovers"
  - "Ford"
  - "Modular"
  - "Mustang"
  - "platform"
  - "sports car"
  - "suvs"
  - "trucks"
---

# Report: Next-Generation Ford Mustang Could Use Platform Shared with Crossovers

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/08/gettyimages-1013289544.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

From [Volkswagen](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/19705/volkswagen-introduces-atlas-tanoak-pickup-truck-concept>) to [Toyota,](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/20514/2019-toyota-corolla-hatchback-review-the-not-boring-corolla-is-back-better-than-ever>) the world's biggest automakers are turning to the magic of modular car platforms to cut costs, increase efficiency, and make it through the cobra's nest of emissions and safety regulations without getting bit. A recent investor meeting reveals Ford will be joining the party by paring down its current crop of nine platforms—and [according to *Automotive News*,](<https://www.autonews.com/article/20180808/OEM04/180809771/ford-evolving-mulallys-one-ford-plan-with-move-to-5-modular-platforms?AID=/20180808/OEM04/180809771>) that means the next-generation Ford Mustang will wind up sharing a base with the company's incoming [court of crossovers.](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20463/ford-promises-new-line-of-more-authentic-off-road-suvs-as-it-ditches-sedans-in-the-u-s>)

Ford raised two important questions when it announced [its plans to stop selling everything](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20415/ford-sedans-are-dead-in-the-u-s>) that isn't a pickup, a crossover, or a Mustang in the American market. One was just how the company planned to build an entirely new lineup in the next five years; the other, how the Mustang would soldier on as the brand's sole representative of low-slung fun. On Wednesday, Ford executive Hau Thai-Tang seemed to answer both during a presentation to investors in New York when he announced the automaker will move from nine to just five shared platforms across the Ford and Lincoln brands.

[*Automotive News* reports](<https://www.autonews.com/article/20180808/OEM04/180809771/ford-evolving-mulallys-one-ford-plan-with-move-to-5-modular-platforms?AID=/20180808/OEM04/180809771>) the platforms will be designated as follows: rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive body-on-frame, front-wheel-drive/AWD unibody, RWD/AWD unibody, commercial van unibody, and a separate unibody platform for electric and electrified vehicles. This would mean the [Ford Mustang,](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/22762/2018-ford-mustang-gt-premium-convertible-review-all-you-wanna-do-is-ride>) which has enjoyed its own exclusive platform since the last days of the [Fox body](<https://www.thedrive.com/muscle-cars/6780/the-soul-crushing-cost-of-free>) in the early 1990s, will be folded into the modular RWD/AWD unibody structure along with everything else that fits that category.

It obviously wouldn't be the first time the Mustang shared its DNA with other cars in the Ford lineup. The pony car launched in 1964 with a bunch of Ford Falcon parts under the skin, and let's not forget the Mustang II was essentially a Ford Pinto. The Fox platform underpinned half the Ford and Lincoln lineups in the early 1980s. But this *would* be the first time it rode on the same basic structure as an SUV; the next-generation [Ford Explorer](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/18083/2020-ford-explorer-rumored-to-be-rear-wheel-drive-with-st-and-hybrid-variants>) and planned [Lincoln Aviator](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/19698/lincoln-aviator-gives-a-glimpse-at-the-future-of-lincoln-in-new-york>) are reportedly moving to rear-wheel drive, making them likely "RWD/AWD unibody" cousins with the future Mustang.

![message-editor%2F1534192006060-lincoln-aviator-05.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1534192006060-lincoln-aviator-05.jpg>)
*Lincoln Aviator Concept, *Lincoln**

We reached out to Ford for comment and we'll update if we hear back. Using a common architecture for both a sports car and an SUV isn't impossible—Volkswagen's MQB platform underpins both the nimble [Audi TT RS](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/8950/2018-audi-tt-rs-to-debut-at-new-york-international-auto-show>) and the bus-like [Volkswagen Atlas](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/9083/the-2018-volkswagen-atlas-finally-solves-vws-america-problem>)—but considering the Mustang's historical significance and its importance to Ford's bottom line, it's still a bit of a surprise. For a crosstown reference, the [Chevrolet Corvette](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/21016/2018-chevrolet-corvette-carbon-65-grand-sport-edition-review-into-the-clouds-in-a-100000-vette>) still utilizes its own Y platform, while [the Camaro](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/22152/2018-chevrolet-camaro-ss-hot-wheels-edition-review-solid-muscle-car-weird-option-package>) currently shares the Alpha platform with Cadillac's smaller sedans. There's been no indication that the next generation of either will consolidate into a modular platform that could also carry a crossover.

Even if this news has a few Mustang loyalists in a twist, there's a significant silver lining: at least this means more rear-wheel-drive crossovers, which is a thing [that should happen more often.](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/20761/2018-dodge-durango-srt-durango-citadel-review-the-3-row-2-box-crossover-with-a-muscle-cars-heart>)

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)