FORD HAS UPDATED its iconic Mustang for the European market. These new versions gets sleeker styling, more advanced tech and some mechanical tweaks.
On the outside, the updated Ford Mustang sports a lower bonnet profile with integrated air vents and a revised lower grille design said to improve aerodynamics. The front headlight bezels also have been restyled to reflect the trapezoidal shape of the upper grille.
Around the back, a re-modelled bumper and diffuser element accommodate the V8′s quad-tailpipes and there is the option of a boot spoiler.
The headlights, DLRs, indicators and three-dimensional tri-bar tail lights are now all-LED with LED foglights also available.
Three new metallic paint colours are available – Kona Blue, Orange Fury and Royal Crimson along with new 19-inch forged alloys offered in a variety of finishes including Nickel, Ebony Black and Polished Aluminium.
The interior gets some added soft-touch materials and leather-trimmed, heated and cooled seats, and a heated steering wheel come as standard and there is the option of Recaro racing seats in Ebony Black leather.
The cabin also features a personalisable, digital 12-inch LCD instrument cluster, which displays info that is optimised to match the selected Drive Mode and can be programmed to display a range of gauges in one of seven colours. There’s even a video-game-style animation when the Electric Line Lock feature is activated.
There is also an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Ford’s SYNC 3 which features voice activation and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
For much needed added safety (the previous Ford Mustang scored poorly in the Euro NCAD safety tests), the new Ford Mustang comes as standard with Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection – designed to reduce the severity of and, in some cases, even mitigate frontal collisions involving vehicles and pedestrians.
Adaptive Cruise Control and Distance Alert, as well as Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Aid, will also be offered.
Mechanically, the suspension has been updated, with recalibrated dampers (‘Magnaride’ adaptive dampers are an option), stiffer rear suspension and thicker anti-roll bars.
The 5.0-litre V8 engine gets a new high-pressure direct fuel injection system which ups the power to 450hp. This engine is mated to Ford’s six-speed manual gearbox which has been uprated to manage the added power of the V8.
The new 2.3-litre EcoBoost has lost power though and delivers 290hp which is down from 310hp. It features a transient overboost function for the turbocharger, which, when triggered under heavy acceleration provides an extra burst of boost following each up-shift. This engine is mated to a new ten-speed automatic gearbox.
The V8 comes with Launch Control as standard – for maximum traction and consistent standing starts.
While the ever fun Electronic Line Lock now comes as standard on the EcoBoost engine as well as the V8.
Electronic Line Lock applies only the front brakes, allowing the driver to spin the rear wheels and warm the tyres while stationary. This essentially means you can perform smoky burnouts without the car moving if that’s your type of thing.
Two new Drive Modes are now offered to help drivers match electronic stability control, throttle response, automatic gear-shift patterns, steering and Active Valve Performance Exhaust settings to the driving scenario. In addition to Normal, Sport, Track and Snow/Wet Modes there is now a fun sounding ‘Drag Strip Mode’, which optimises performance for maximum acceleration from standing starts – plus a customisable ‘My Mode’.
Deliveries of the new Ford Mustang will begin in 2018.
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