There are certain things that ooze American patriotism – and one of them is the Ford Mustang. But
unlike any of the Mustang’s that have been available since its launch in 1964, this latest
model is pretty special – particularly for people in Europe, and in our case the UK – because
now, it’s in right hand drive, and available from your local Ford dealer.
So, we’re at Silverstone to see what the latest ‘stang can do – but let’s take
a look at its design first. Designer Moray Callum was tasked with redesigning
the Mustang and creating something contemporary that still pays homage to its muscle-car heritage
- not an easy gig. Available in both fastback coupe and convertible body styles, the result
is this “shark bite nose”, booted sequential taillights and a wide gaping grille brandishing
the iconic galloping stallion. Ford’s also ensured that engineering has
followed suit, with aerocurtains on the front bumper to optimise air flow and – for the
first time - fully-independent front and rear suspension to help it deal with ever-changing
European roads… So here we are, taking on the Silverstone
circuit – home to the British Grand Prix – and this is my first time driving it…
talk about a baptism of fire. But first things first – what’s under
the bonnet? So, the only engine on offer in the Mustang is a four-cylinder, 313bhp 2.3-litre
EcoBoost… nah I’m only kidding. Of course there’s also this eight-cylinder, 410bhp,
naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 – which smokes the 0-62 sprint in just 4.8 seconds,
and will, for obvious reasons, go down better with Mustang purists.
In fact the V8 has already gained more interest with UK buyers, and with its goose bump-inducing
soundtrack and 530Nm of torque throwing you back into the figure-hugging sports seats,
we’re not surprised. There are three driving modes to choose from
– Comfort, Normal and Sport – and like many other variable driving modes, you are
better going down the middle for Normal mode, as this offers the best levels of engagement
– with Comfort being too light and Sport being overtly heavy and a little artificial.
There are two gearboxes available, a six-speed manual, which is standard, and a six-speed
automatic – but if you are looking for that real man and machine connection, then we recommend
going for the manual. Those after the V8 will not be too concerned with fuel economy and
efficiency, but just so you know, it emits 281g/km of CO2 and realistically you’ll
get around 15 to 20mpg. One thing I will say about the Mustang is
that even though it’s so big, it still loves to eat up corners, thanks in part to its limited
slip-differential, which is fitted as standard. One of the key improvements to the Mustang’s
interior is the quality of materials used – there are still some cheap plastics, but
it’s still a massive improvement over previous iterations.
The in-car technology has of course been brought up to speed with the rest of the Ford range
with this SYNC 2 infotainment screen – as seen in the new Mondeo, C-MAX and S-MAX. There’s
also features that help remind you that you are sat in a sports car – like a speedometre
which also shows groundspeed, aviation-style switches and a commemorative Mustang plaque.
Standard kit on all models includes aluminium pedals, dual-zone climate control and the
new SYNC 2 system, which comes with built-in DAB radio and Bluetooth. There is just one
equipment level available, but kit will vary dependent on which engine you go for, and
of course, there is a shopping list of options to browse through.
Although the Mustang is a big car, it’s still a coupe at the end of the day, so its
2+2 seating arrangement won’t leave you much room – I mean leg room is okay, but
head room is terrible. The boot opening is a little narrow, but the
coupe model still offers up to 408 litres of storage space – this is reduced for the
convertible model to 332 litres. It’s as simple as this, Ford have successfully
revamped its biggest icon and it is now available in the UK for £30,495.
And Ford says “the Mustang is more than just a sports car. It’s the heart and soul
of the brand” – and when you are behind the wheel, listening to the engine rumble,
it’s hard to disagree with them. But what do you think of the new Mustang?
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