Passenger cars, much like manual transmissions, have been steadily disappearing from North American showrooms over the past few decades, and it seems like nothing can stop the decline. The sand keeps running through the hourglass, and eventually it will be empty.
Or so it would seem.
Over the past 18 months or so, reports have started to bubble up – based on rumors – that suggest passenger cars could make a bit of a comeback as we get closer to the end of the decade.
These reports have said GM might bring the Camaro back. But it might be a sedan, and it could be built on a platform that will spawn not only a new Cadillac CT-5 sedan (which GM has confirmed is coming), but also a new Buick sedan. The latter would be particularly surprising huge since Buick has sold nothing but SUVs since its last sedan, the Regal (which was a rebadged Opel Insignia), went out of production in 2020.
So far, GM has remained silent on those rumors, but there are some others circulating online that might be close to being confirmed. And these involve the Ford Mustang, and the potential of an expanded Mustang family.
A Mustang sedan, which is rumored to be in development, is reportedly to be called Mach-4. According to a recent report in MotorTrend, Ford has already trademarked the name. Given the Mach-E already exists, Mach-4 makes some sense. Adding extra credence to this report, the website says, is the fact that the Mach-4 has been shown to Ford dealers.
Note: We're using Mustang coupe photos here as Mach-4 photos aren't available.
So, would Ford just take the current S650 Mustang chassis and stretch it so two extra doors can be put on it? Essentially, yes. As MotorTrend points out, modifying the Mustang architecture to accommodate a sedan layout won’t be cheap, but it would be dramatically less expensive than developing an all-new platform.
The cost-saving would likely extend to powertrains, which MotorTrend speculates would be carryovers from the coupe – 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder, and 5.0L Coyote V8 engines, and 10-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmissions. The website suggests the 2.3L paired with the automatic would be the standard Mach-4 powertrain, while the optional V8 could be paired with either automatic or manual transmissions. This would mirror how the Mustang coupe is sold.
The thought of a rear-wheel drive, V8-powered sedan with a manual transmission is an exciting prospect indeed. Hopefully, it will one day be joined by a Camaro sedan, and even a V8-powered Dodge Charger, which is rumored to be getting its HEMI engines back.
As for timing, MotorTrend says the Mustang Mach-4 sedan is expected to arrive in fall 2028. If that’s the timeline then a reveal should happen soon. The Detroit Auto Show, which returns next January, could be the venue where the 2029 Mustang Mach-4 breaks cover.
Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company
