New Balance Brings A Concept Car To Life With The $400 Made In USA 2040v5

We’ve spilled plenty of ink on the huge quantity of new New Balance models the brand has introduced in recent seasons. Perhaps none are as important as the one we have before us today. New Balance is adding to its longstanding Made in USA premium line with the 2040v5, the Boston brand’s most technically complex lifestyle silhouette to date, carrying a whopping price tag of $400.

The New Balance 2040 series has been around since 2012 but isn’t widely known, certainly not as much as the ubiquitous 990 series. While earlier editions could be compared to models like the 990v3 and v4 in some capacity, this one’s a far cry from anything we’ve seen from the Made in USA lineup, sort of akin to the 9060 speaking purely in terms of aesthetics.

The technology backing the New Balance 2040 reads more like the description of a marathon supershoe than a lifestyle offering. Hidden within the interior are two carbon fiber plates: one that runs the full length of the shoe, and another that sits on the medial side. FuelCell, ABZORB SBS, and ENCAP cushioning (essentially all three of New Balance’s proprietary cushioning technologies) are looped into an aggressive, rather large midsole that looks as techy as it actually is. The upper features an elaborate ensemble of mesh and layered Horween® nubuck leather, the material used in NFL footballs, NBA basketballs, baseball gloves, and all sorts of premium designer goods.

All that, combined with meticulous Made in USA craftsmanship, justifies an MSRP of $400. Such is alluded to in New Balance’s 2040v5 marketing materials, the model placed under a message that reads “put your money where your feet are.” New Balance’s Made in USA and Made in England lines have long served as go-tos for those drawn to quality and craftsmanship over hype, but even still, a $400 lifestyle shoe comes as a real test. Thankfully, it won’t take long for us to get a general feel for public perception.

The New Balance 2040v5 launches exclusively in North America on August 20th, 2026 via New Balance and select retailers for $400. A global launch will follow come May 2027. See official images below if you’re considering going for a pair.