Often considered an unattainable car for the every-man, the new Ford Mustang is drifting out of the realm of fantasy into real-life aspirational status. The muscle car’s appearance in countless Hollywood films, such as Need for Speed and the John Wick franchise, has given it a somewhat mythical aura, but it’s good to remember that this car can be owned by actual everyday people. Of course, it carries a notable price-tag, but not so hefty that the highly successful amongst us can’t afford to park it in our double garage.
Ford is doing its darnedest to bring the Mustang into the forefront of the sports car market in South Africa. Their efforts in showing ordinary South Africans that this car is attainable for almost anyone with a healthy bank balance, have resulted in the Ford Mustang being the best selling sports car in South Africa at the moment… and for good reason. If you’ve ever driven a Mustang you’ll know, this isn’t just another car. Sure, there are loads of performance cars out there, but Ford’s pony car is something truly special.
It’s enormously good fun to drive and whether you’re cruising country roads with the top down in the fuel-efficient 2.3-litre EcoBoost, turning heads with the ultra-powerful 5.0-litre V8, or living out your teenage fantasies in the limited-edition Mustang Bullitt, this car always leaves you wanting more.
Everyone loves an upgrade
Both the 2.3-litre EcoBoost and 5.0-litre V8 Mustang GT models are available in Fastback and Convertible body styles, in a choice of nine bold exterior colours, and come complete with some pretty impressive upgrades in 2019. These newer iterations of the Mustang offer Ford’s advanced 10-speed automatic transmission, sleeker styling, as well as sophisticated engine and suspension enhancements.
Ford’s 5.0-litre V8 engine delivers more power and a higher rev-limit than ever before, with peak power climbing to 309kW on the previous model to 331kW, with an accompanying torque peak of 529Nm, in the 2019 version. The more fuel-efficient 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine delivers 213kW and 441Nm of torque – an increase of 11Nm.
Other cool additions on the performance front include new Active Valve Performance Exhaust technology, which enables you to adjust the intensity of the Mustang’s exhaust note. The car also has recalibrated shock absorbers, to improve stability through corners, and thicker anti-roll bars, to help to better control body-shifting for sharper handling.
New-look styling
But the improvements extend far beyond the under the hood. The new Mustang also boasts new styling upgrades in the interior and exterior of the car. The Mustang is packed with creature comforts like dual-zone AC control, as well as leather-trimmed, heated and cooled seats, complete with six-way electric adjustment for maximum comfort. A Bang & Olufsen audio system also comes standard across the models and is paired to Ford’s fully integrated voice activation system, Sync3.
Linked to a customisable 8-inch LCD colour touch screen, Sync3 allows you to connect your smart device to the car and use everything from Navigation and Whatsapp to Google and Apple Music, all without taking your eyes and focus off the road.
As far as the exterior goes, this car is definitely a looker. The exterior of the new Ford Mustang delivers a sleeker, more athletic appearance. Boasting a lower bonnet profile with integrated air vents, revised lower grille design, re-modelled back bumper, and restyled front headlight bezels, the new Mustang has a sharper, more aggressive look to it, helping you turn heads wherever you go.
PRICING
As far as performance cars go, the Mustang puts up a real fight on the pricing front. Coming in at just over R750,000 for the ‘entry-level’ Mustang 2.3 Fastback and topping out at under a million Rand for the 5.0 GT Convertible and Mustang Bullitt, Ford’s new Mustang offers plenty of bang for your buck. Check out the full price list below:
Mustang 2.3 Fastback 10AT: R768,000
Mustang 2.3 Convertible 10AT: R831,000
Mustang 5.0 GT Fastback 10AT: R915,800
Mustang 5.0 GT Convertible 10AT: R978,400
Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8 GT Fastback 6MT: R995,400
All models come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120,000km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A six-year/90,000km service plan is included, with 15,000km service intervals.
For more information on the new Ford Mustang visit the Ford South Africa website.
