ICONS, it’s been said, are often so because they stand apart from mediocrity as objects of unattainable beauty and desire.
In the automotive world, the term is bandied about far too much, but it was the bedroom poster-starring muscle-car appeal of the first Ford Mustang for millions of Baby Boomer boys and girls during the 1960s that helped make the series the legend it is today.
That’s doubly true for Australians, since the Blue Oval Pony Car has only been available sporadically at best, and – original first-gen 1965/6 model notwithstanding – the version we did end up seeing more recently Down Under was one of histories lamer iterations.
The latter, by the way, was the Fox-bodied late-in-life fourth-generation version that cost a whopping $85,000 plus on-road costs when it launched in early 2001, at a time when the infinitely superior Holden V2 Monaro CV6 started off from $48,000 – or $57,000 in CV8 form.
This time around, however, Ford is serious about finding new fans for its new Mustang. And, in a first for the 51 year-old nameplate, the all-new sixth-generation model has been engineered from the beginning to be right-hand drive. No more expensive aftermarket conversions, even if the ones carried out in Australia have often been better quality than what left the factory originally…
The fact is, priced from $44,990, plus on-road costs, the American two-door coupe is now well within reach of the sort of buyer that might have otherwise bought one of the now-sadly defunct FPV F6s or GTs. Clearly, when the FG X Falcon XR8 goes out of production with the rest of the locally-made Fords later next year, there will be a hero performance model awaiting.
Additionally, even though it will stand as the cheapest Mustang ever offered in Australia when it lands in October, the base Fastback model is certainly not the slowest.
Under that fabulously long bonnet is a 233kW/432Nm 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo EcoBoost engine, driving the rear wheels via a standard six-speed manual gearbox or an optional (at $2.5K more) six-speed automatic transmission.
According to US data, the latter will sprint to 100km/h from zero in less than 5.9 seconds, on the way to a 259km/h top speed. In the old quarter-mile parlance, that four-pot turbo ‘stang will scream past the 400-metre marker in 13.9s flat. Not bad at all for an entry-level four-seater Fastback tipping the scales at a not-inconsiderable 1600kg.
After that, it’s a $6500 jump to the Convertible version with slightly slower reaction times due to its heavier mass and less aero-friendly form, while stretching to the V8 isn’t too strenuous after all when you consider what it can do. Note, by the way, that no V6 exists for Australia. We are a country deeply out of love with six-cylinder engines it seems…
Anyway, the muscle car version of the Mustang is the GT, brandishing a 303kW/525Nm 5.0-litre V8 in $54,990 Fastback manual guise, going for the self-shifter will set you back $57,490, while the rag-top version is all out at $63,990 in auto-only flavour.
The fastest of the GT V8s is the cheapest, and it will hit 100km/h in under 4.5 seconds, manage 280km/h-plus, and flash by the 400m post in a barely believable 12.5 seconds in North American specification.
And, if you’ve become used to the brilliant steering and handling afforded to every performance Falcon since the 2002 BA series gained a Control Blade independent rear end, don’t worry, because the latest-gen Mustang is the first-ever to do the same, after half a century of a crude live rear axle.
Similarly, to harness all that GT performance, the V8 includes a Performance Brake Boost package, that sees larger front discs and Brembo six-piston 36mm fixed aluminium callipers replace the usual single-piston floating iron items.
Finally, the Mustang will offer plenty of kit for the cash.
All models come with safety features like seven airbags, stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes with Emergency Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist and a limited-slip differential.
You’ll also find goodies like an alarm system, GPS, cruise control, keyless entry and start, climate control air-conditioning, heated/cooled front seats, a powered driver’s seat, central touchscreen with reversing camera and voice control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, MyKey parental lockout system, ambient lighting, High Intensity Discharge headlights, daytime running lamps, fog-lights, automatic lights, rain-sensing wipers, heated exterior mirrors, tyre pressure monitors, and 275/40R19 tyres on 19-inch alloys.
Ford is confident that the newcomer will attract a sizeable following in Australia, with over 1200 “firm orders” in hand despite the car being more than half a year away from launch.
We reckon it might have priced the Mustang too cheaply for what will clearly remain an iconicic machine. Do you?
Byron Mathioudakis goauto.com.au
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