---
title: "New Ford Mustang Coming in 2021 Might Get Optional AWD"
description: "It will also reportedly sit on a shared platform with the Ford Explorer."
date: "2018-08-29"
modified: "2018-08-29"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui.md"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/23220/new-ford-mustang-coming-in-2021-might-get-optional-awd"
categories:
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "American Cars"
  - "AWD"
  - "Coupe"
  - "Ford"
  - "Muscle Cars"
  - "Mustang"
  - "sports car"
---

# New Ford Mustang Coming in 2021 Might Get Optional AWD

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/08/orange-fury-mustang-gt-coupe-with-performance-pack-1-e1535508873121.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Ford is cooking up a seventh-generation of its famous muscle car and, like [Dodge and the Challenger GT](<https://www.thedrive.com/muscle-cars/6380/the-2017-dodge-challenger-gt-is-the-first-awd-muscle-car.md>), might be offering it with all-wheel drive.

According to a report by [*Automotive News*](<https://www.autonews.com/article/20180827/OEM04/180829810/mustang-sedan-ford>), the next-gen Mustang is scheduled to drop in 2021—allegedly a year later than originally intended per CEO Jim Hackett's instruction. The report also says the new 'Stang will ride on a modular architecture shared with the Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs which means that while core models will stay rear-driven, an all-wheel-drive variant is a strong possibility. Should make leaving Cars and Coffee in Ford's pony car less of a, y'know, [ordeal](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/19349/multi-mustang-pileup-officially-kicks-off-car-meet-season-in-dubai.md>).

Unless Ford built some obscure, one-off, special edition, all-wheel-drive Mustang in the '80s we don't know about, this would be the very first Mustang to send its power to all four wheels.

When *The Drive* reached out to Ford for comment, however, a company spokesperson said rather cryptically, "All-wheel drive doesn't apply to Mustang as much as it does SUVs, which is one reason why we're moving into performance utilities." Ford unveiled the [Edge ST](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/17578/ford-gets-edgy-adds-performance-suv-to-its-st-lineup.md>) in January.

Echoing [previous company statements](<https://www.thedrive.com/muscle-cars/6778/ford-to-build-hybrid-mustang-f-150-models-by-2020.md>), a hybrid 'Stang is said to be coming in 2020.

"Mustang is still going to be a strong, well-proportioned vehicle," Ford Chief Designer Darrell Behmer told *Automotive News*. "The modular architectures will still give us flexibility; it's not going to bastardize Mustang."

Earlier this month, Ford built its 10 millionth muscle car, a GT manual convertible model finished in Wimbledon White. Back in April, the company announced that it would be [discontinuing anything that wasn't a crossover, SUV, or pickup truck](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20415/ford-sedans-are-dead-in-the-u-s.md>) with the sole exception of the Mustang.

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)

## More

- [The Next Ford Mustang Will Launch in 2022 With AWD and Hybrid Power: Report](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/33079/the-next-ford-mustang-will-launch-in-2022-with-awd-and-hybrid-power-report.md>)
- [UPDATED: Ford Just Built Its 10 Millionth Mustang](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/22721/ford-just-built-its-10-millionth-mustang.md>)
- [Ford Might Have a New Mustang Bullitt Coming](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/7372/ford-might-have-a-new-mustang-bullitt-coming.md>)
- [Is a New Boss 302 Ford Mustang in America’s Future?](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/7410/is-a-new-boss-302-ford-mustang-in-americas-future.md>)
- [The 2018 Ford Mustang GT Is an 11-Second Car From the Factory](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/17401/the-2018-ford-mustang-gt-is-an-11-second-car-from-the-factory.md>)
- [The Ford Mustang Is the New Dodge Challenger](<https://www.thedrive.com/culture/the-ford-mustang-is-the-new-dodge-challenger.md>)
- [Ford Mustang GT AWD Build Is the Work of a Mad Mechanical Genius](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/43999/ford-mustang-gt-awd-build-is-the-work-of-a-mad-mechanical-genius.md>)
- [Upcoming Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Might Ditch Manual Transmission: Report](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/23287/upcoming-ford-mustang-shelby-gt500-might-ditch-manual-transmission-report.md>)