“The 1990s called, they want their wheels back.” That quip, found in a recent Mustang forum, captures the playful controversy swirling around Ford’s latest retro move: the 2026 Mustang FX Package.
For many, the Fox body Mustang of the 1980s and ‘90s is more than just a car it’s a rolling symbol of youthful rebellion, a soundtrack of cassette clicks and exhaust burble. Now, Ford is drawing on that reservoir of nostalgia, mixing retro cues with contemporary engineering in a package guaranteed to ignite controversy among the hard-core and newcomers alike.
With the FX Package, Ford is not merely following trends. Rather, the automaker is asking enthusiasts to revisit an iconic period in Mustang history, with the performance and tech that consumers expect from a contemporary muscle car. Below is a rundown of the features, design elements, and engineering that make the 2026 Mustang FX Package an engaging, head-turning homage to Fox body heritage.
1. A Visual Tribute to the Fox Body Years
Ford’s FX Package borrows directly from the third-generation Mustang, lovingly referred to as the Fox body. The visual allusions are unmistakable: white wheels, aggressive badges, and a color palette that evokes the iconic colors of the late 1980s. The Adriatic Blue Metallic paint, which MotorTrend calls “a rad teal color,” is an obvious reference to the decade’s most iconic colors. Oxford White is used as accents throughout, from the 19-inch wheels to the Performance Pack nose grille nostrils, mirroring Fox body signature appearance.
It’s not simply a case of adding a few stripes. As Carscoops points out, “the package reintroduces white emblems and badges, and white taillight surrounds,” and the coupe even receives a gloss-white “MUSTANG” wordmark on the rear window in a font borrowed directly from 1987–1993. The effect is a package that is both recognizable yet new, calling to a fresh generation to enjoy the Mustang’s developing visual language.Adriatic Blue Metallic white emblems and badges.
2. Plaid Seats and Subtle Interior Throwbacks
In terms of interiors, the FX Package teeters between nostalgia and restraint. The most striking element is the plaid-patterned seat inserts, an unapologetic nod to the cloth seats in early ’90s LX trim. Ford went with perforated leather that approximates the vintage pattern, with contrast stitching in Adriatic Blue and City Silver to bookend the color story.
Other trim details include a Fox-generation Mustang logo on the instrument panel and rear glass and a “Mustang GT” badge on the passenger-side dash in script-like font of old-school cars. The retro theme continues on the digital gauge cluster, which has the option for a Fox body-style layout, so drivers can get completely submerged in a period-perfect cockpit complete with all the amenities of contemporary tech.plaid-patterned seat inserts Fox body-themed layout.
3. Oxford White Wheels: Love Them or Hate Them
No aspect has provoked more debate than the FX Package’s Oxford White wheels. Made available in two styles a five-spoke for base cars and a turbofan-inspired design for Performance Pack cars these 19-inch cast-aluminum wheels wear color-matched center caps and the “Mustang GT” wordmark in vintage font.
While some forum users have dubbed them “the ugliest rims I’ve ever seen,” others see them as a perfect tribute to the Fox body’s distinctive style. The wheels are more than just a visual callback; they’re a statement, designed to provoke strong reactions and cement the FX Package’s place as a true homage to Mustang history.Oxford White wheels two designs.
4. The 5.0-Liter Coyote V8: No Changes Needed
Underneath the retro exterior, the FX Package keeps the GT Premium’s 5.0-liter naturally aspirated Coyote V8 and more than 480 horsepower. As DailyRevs neatly summarizes, “No chassis or engine changes just throwback style wrapped around the same 5.0L V8 GT.” Customers can opt for either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic, with the Performance Pack adding a modest increase to 486 hp via the Active Valve Dual Exhaust.
This choice signals Ford’s faith in the existing powertrain, now the standard for new-school muscle. For those who want track-centric upgrades, the Dark Horse is still the best choice, with the FX Package appealing to enthusiasts that prioritze street presence and daily driveability.5.0-liter naturally aspirated Coyote V8 standard for new-school muscle.
5. Modern Platform, Vintage Attitude
The FX Package is based on the new S650 Mustang platform, so everything that’s good about the current generation rigid chassis, advanced electronics, and enhanced safety is there. That means that even though the car appears to be a time machine on the outside, it has the comfort, refinement, and handling of a modern performance coupe or convertible.
Cargo volume, seating, and fuel tank capacity are identical to the GT Premium, so the FX Package is an undeniably practical option for those who want their nostalgia without giving up on usability. As Ford themselves describe it, the FX Package “doesn’t try to be something it’s not. It doesn’t overhype the heritage. It just lets the details paint, wheels, stitching do the talking.”S650 Mustang platform.
6. Exclusivity and Ordering Details
The FX Package is a GT Premium trim-only offering in both coupe and convertible form. Official pricing is still to be announced by Ford, but estimates have the package at somewhere in the neighborhood of $2,000 above the base GT Premium MSRP of close to $46,500. Orders open in late June of 2025, and excitement is building among Mustang enthusiasts.
This focused strategy keeps the FX Package a unique offering, designed for true Fox body enthusiasts. While the nostalgia market is heating up, with Dodge and Chevy also launching heritage editions, Ford’s FX Package is unique in its specificity and period-correct detail.
exclusive to orders of the GT Premium trim will open in late June 2025.
7. New Colors and Customization Options
Aside from Adriatic Blue Metallic, the 2026 Mustang range brings back Orange Fury Metallic Tricoat, last seen in 2019. Orange Fury isn’t necessarily a direct reference to Fox body history, but its appearance opens up the options for customers who want something different. Both colors will be offered over the range of Mustangs, not merely the FX Package, providing additional choice.
Optional upgrades, including Recaro sport buckets with plaid inserts and seatbelts in a choice of colors, allow owners to personalize the interior to suit their individual tastes. These details follow through on Ford’s pledge to marry nostalgia with contemporary personalization, so that each FX Package Mustang will be as individualized as its owner.Orange Fury Metallic Tricoat personalization.
8. A Conversation Starter for the Next Generation
Maybe the FX Package’s biggest success is the way it stimulates conversation between generations, between enthusiasts, and among the wider car community. For Gen X and Gen Z, it’s an opportunity to rediscover the cars of their youth, while younger shoppers are encouraged to find the charm of Fox body style in a very contemporary context.
As Motor Trend notes, “If you wish to rock out with your 1980s out in a new-generation Mustang, you should definitely peep this one.” Whether the white wheels and plaid seats are bold or brash, there’s no question that the FX Package has succeeded in making the Mustang a center of automotive nostalgia and a canvas for memories yet to come. spark dialogue.
The 2026 Ford Mustang FX Package is not an exercise in style it’s a considered nod that spans the eras, challenging and inspiring criticism and admiration in equal proportion. For those for whom the Fox body is the shape of their formative years, or simply someone who wants a muscle car with heritage, the FX Package is a winning combination of heritage and modernity. Whether adored or questioned, it makes certain that the Mustang’s legacy is not only alive, but vibrantly applicable.
