The world loves the Ford Mustang V8 more than Americans

The Ford Mustang doing it’s pony thing in the Austrian Alps.
Photo: James Lipman / jameslipman.com

Yesterday Ford Motors unleashed this nugget: According to IHS Markit global registration data, the Ford Mustang is the best-selling sports car in the world. Exports of the Made-in-U.S.A. pony car have doubled each year over the last two years to 17.5% of cars made in 2016. This year, Ford thinks nearly a third (30%) of all Mustangs rolling off the assembly line will be exported. Sales in China were up 74% last year. All told, the blue oval moved 150,431 ‘stangs worldwide last year, a 101% increase in registrations over 2015. Nice work, guys!

But what caught our eyes was what Mustang the world craves and buys most. It’s classic American muscle in the form of its 435-hp, 5.0-liter V8. To which we say, “Duh.”

THE STATS: Here’s how the V8 sales numbers break down according to IHS.

U.S. & Canada 40%
Mexico 62%
Europe 65%
Asia Pacific 59%
Middle East & Africa 75%

 

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON: In North America, Mustang’s sold with the mighty-mite, 310-hp 2.3-liter EcoBoost is coming close to equalling the number of V8’s sold at 38%. But everywhere else? Not so much.

For a sneak peak at what’s under the hood of the 2018 Mustang, check out Roman’s video report from the Detroit Auto Show below.