Ford is ready to cost a premium for the final V8 muscle automotive on sale in Australia, elevating costs by greater than $10,000 forward of the brand new Mustang’s arrival subsequent 12 months.
Having outlasted the Holden Commodore SS and Chrysler 300 SRT, the Blue Oval has little competitors for folk who need thumping V8 energy.
Which is without doubt one of the the explanation why the brand new Mustang GT has climbed by nearly $12,000, from $65,290 to $77,002 plus on-road prices in guide trim.
The ten-speed automated model is even dearer at $80,902 plus on-roads.
People who need the range-topping Mustang Darkish Horse must dig deep and discover $99,102 plus on-roads for a guide model, a big step up from the $83,365 plus on-roads Ford charged for the equally potent Mustang Mach 1 in 2021.
Computerized variations of the Darkish Horse climb into six determine territory with a $103,002 asking value.
Clients can push costs even larger with non-obligatory extras equivalent to MagneRide suspension ($2950), Recaro sports activities seats ($2950), beauty look packs ($1500) and status paint ($700).
On the cheaper finish of the spectrum, the four-cylinder Mustang EcoBoost now prices $64,990 plus on-roads, which is about $15,000 greater than the final mannequin we examined in 2019.
EcoBoost fashions profit from a extra highly effective engine with 232kW and 475Nm (up from 224kW and 441Nm) and now come as customary with a 10-speed automated transmission.
The V8-powered Mustang GT has a 347kW/550Nm that makes a little bit extra energy than the outgoing mannequin’s 339kW/566Nm, due to a revised consumption and exhaust. Obtainable with a 10-speed auto or Getrag 6-speed guide, the Mustang GT additionally has efficiency gear equivalent to Brembo brakes, a limited-slip differential, and 19-inch wheels with high-performance tyres.
People who need the final word ‘Stang can decide up the Mustang Darkish Horse, which has a 349kW and 548Nm model of the GT’s 5.0-litre V8. Benefiting from strengthened internals and uprated cooling, the Darkish Horse is pitched as a track-ready model of Ford’s muscle automotive.
Sadly, native examples have been detuned in comparison with vehicles within the US.
Ford says American vehicles have “a distinct exhaust manifold and calibration to swimsuit completely different noise and emission laws”, which leads to diminished energy.
Darkish Horse clients who select to row their very own gears achieve this with a beefed-up Tremec transmission just like that present in high-performance Shelby Mustang fashions within the states.
A shorter last drive ratio returns extra pressing acceleration, together with elevated gasoline use.
The Darkish Horse has wider wheels and multi-mode shock absorbers that separate it from the common GT, in addition to extra aggressive bodywork.
All Mustangs have a number of drive modes, together with observe and drag strip settings finest loved away from public roads.
Particular toys embody a “line locker” perform that clamps on the entrance brakes to facilitate burnouts on the drag strip, whereas a brand new “drift brake” perform on the lever-operated digital hand brake permits sideways lovers to lock the rear tyres to provoke skids at velocity.
Computerized variations get a distant begin perform, however miss out on a characteristic that permits American clients to rev their engines from outdoors the automotive utilizing their key fob.
A 12.4-inch instrument show is customary throughout the vary, as is a 13.2-inch centre show angled towards the motive force. Wi-fi smartphone mirroring is linked to a 12-speaker stereo that additionally has digital radio, sat nav, and the FordPass vary of apps.
Security gear consists of auto emergency braking, energetic cruise management, blind spot monitoring and multistage stability management.
Andrew Birkic, president and chief government of Ford Australia, says the mannequin is “positive to make house owners smile each time they drive it”.
“We’re assured that the brand new Mustang might be a success with Australian drivers,” he says.
“The automotive’s improved efficiency, dealing with, and the addition of the Mustang Darkish Horse particular version make it an ideal selection for anybody on the lookout for an exhilarating driving expertise.”
