What is it?
What do you mean “what is it”? It’s a freakin’ Mustang! Everyone knows what a Mustang is…
The original Pony car gets an upgrade for the 2018 model year and, thankfully, Ford have been smart enough to only tweak the bits that matter and leave the rest alone.
More power, more noise, more gears and more tech. We drove it over to Wahi for the Beach Hop warm up party to check it out.
How much does it cost?
Mustang prices have risen slightly over the old model, with the four-cylinder EcoBoost fastback now kicking off the range at $62,990, while the convertible lands at $67,990.
The EcoBoost cars have yet to arrive, so for now at least, all you can get is the V8 GT, with the fastback staring at $79,990 and the convertible topping the range at $84,990.
What is its opposition?
Locally? Nothing really.
Seriously, while Ford may like to throw around names like the Toyota 86 as a competitor of sorts (for the EcoBoost), there is literally nothing sold new in New Zealand that stacks directly up against the Mustang in V8 form. Especially since the Commodore V8 is no more.
So that leaves the traditional American competitors that have to be imported (and converted) privately, like the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger. And good luck getting that done anywhere near the Mustang’s local price.
Hell, even when HSV kicks off its conversion of the Camaro it still won’t be close to the Mustang’s factory RHD price.
And, really, you buy a Mustang because you want a Mustang. And that is just how it should be.
What powers it?
Only the GT has arrived locally so far, and that is powered by a rather lovely 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8 that now produces 339kW of power and 556Nm of torque – that is up 33kW and 26Nm on the 2017 car.
The EcoBoost will arrive with the same 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo engine that produces 224kW of power and 441Nm of torque.
Both engines are now hooked up to Ford’s all-new ten-speed automatic transmission or, if you really want, the Gt fastback can also be had with a six-speed manual.
What has it got?
For its 2018 upgrade, the Mustang gets a new face with new LED headlights, a new bonnet and a new lower fascia with a new style of fog light, making for a sleeker, more aggressive look.
The ten-speed auto is standard across the range, as are 19-inch alloy wheels (although the Gas get 19.5-inch alloys on the rear).
Standard levels of equipment remain largely the same as before, with the addition of a new 12.3-inch LCD virtual instrument cluster in the dash.
This is fully customisable with you personal favourite layout and colour combination able to be saved to the “MyMode” function.
For the first time on the standard Mustang Ford’s MagneRide adjustable suspension is available as an option on the GT, and is tied to the car’s selectable drive modes, which include Normal, Sport, Track and Snow.
Following its embarrassing 2 Star ANCAP performance last year, Ford has also injected the Mustang with a whole host of new safety and assist tech, with the addition of adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and emergency brake assist.
It is not clear how much this will help the Mustang’s rating, but given ANCAP, EuroNCAP’s heavy weighting on electronic aids, it should see at least one, maybe even two stars added to the Mustang’s score, although we would prefer to see more…
But perhaps most importantly to Mustang buyers is the fact that the Mustang is louder for 2018, but also quieter, thanks to the addition of Track and Quiet settings to the exhaust system settings.
“Quiet” mutes the Mustang to be considerate to the neighbours on early morning starts, while the full-noise track mode (which even comes with an on-screen warning that it is for track use only!) is sensationally shouty.
What’s good about it?
Well, that noise for a start – the Mustang GT roars mightily when in loud mode, and is even surprisingly loud in normal settings. The quiet mode is very quiet, however, so the neighbours will only be annoyed if you REALLY want them to be.
The new digital instrument display is fantastically good as well, with some brilliantly retro-inspired touches too. Some of the possible colour combinations are rather horrific however, but that is on you…
The new ten-speed automatic is a thoroughly sensational shifter that is fast, smart and silky smooth.
The inside is better with the addition of some nicer quality plastics and finishes (but is still very American-plastic), and the seats are brilliantly comfortable, and probably a better choice than the optional Recaros.
What’s not so good?
As mentioned, that interior is still very plasticky still and the handbrake is still in a very silly and unintuitive place on the left hand side of et centre console.
The mustang might be fast and loud, but it is also still inescapably big and feels it on the road. Impressively nimble for a car of its size, yes, but still a big fella.
First impressions?
While the changes Ford has made to the Mustang may not appear to be Earth-shattering, they all add up to make it a seriously better car than it was.
Slightly more power and a thoroughly fantastic new automatic transmission transform the Mustang on the road, while the digital instrument panel also give it a massive modernisation boost inside as well.
The new face nicely walks the difficult line between making it look different for the new model year, but not ruining a good thing and looks wonderfully aggressive as well.
We can honestly say we wouldn’t bother with the pricier options like the MagneRide suspension (it is actually firmer in Normal that the standard car in Track) that doesn’t really suit local roads, or the admittedly great looking Recaro seats (the standard seats are more comfortable and just as supportive), but then that is what made the Mustang great in the first place.
The fact that the best Mustang of the standard line up is one without any options (apart from maybe the stripe…) fits nicely with its historical standing as a sporty car for the masses and the fact that it is also new surprisingly high-tech is a nice cherry on the top.
Then there is that noise. Oh God, that noise…
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