We can only imagine how people must have reacted to the first three-speed transmission. Were they incredulous? “Two gears is enough!” Were they in awe? “Three speeds? Technology is marvelous!” Chances are, most people didn’t know or care though. But we’re different. We’re car enthusiasts. And as automakers continue to strive to deliver both performance and fuel efficiency, there seems to be no ceiling on how many gears a transmission needs.

So hot on the heels of Chrysler’s announcement that its four-door muscle cars, the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, would be receiving eight-speed automatic transmissions comes this rumor from The Mustang News. Is the 2015 Ford Mustang going to pack an eight-speed automatic as well?

To be sure, the current six-speed slushbox is a huge improvement over the ancient and unrefined four-speed automatics that have been stuck in Mustangs for the past two decades. In the V6 coupe, the six-speed auto even helps deliver a best-in-class 31 mpg on the highway. But is it enough? Probably not, considering that new CAFÉ regulations require automakers to get an average fleetwide fuel economy 34.5 mpg by 2016. And Ford has already announced its intentions to build an eight-speed automatic transmission for front-wheel drive applications like the Ford Fusion. A Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is also reportedly in the works.

But that doesn’t mean the Mustang won’t be due for a transmission upgrade by 2015. And with rumors floating that the next Mustang will get an EcoBoost four-cylinder engine as an option – coupled to an eight-speed transmission – could we see a 40 mpg Mustang in our lifetime that isn’t an absolute dog to drive? We do live in some pretty impressive times…