RE: RHD Ford Mustang begins testing

RE: RHD Ford Mustang begins testing

Tuesday 19th August 2014

RHD Ford Mustang begins testing

Just in case you hadn't heard, there will be a right-hand drive Mustang!



Peering over the production numbers, it's almost surprising that Ford has committed to a right-hand drive Mustang. Since 1964 more than 9.2 million Mustangs have been sold in North America. Outside North America 161,000 Mustangs have sold, or 1.75 per cent of the US total. Still, having the car officially in right-hand drive should see that number comfortably rise.

After all, the latest Mustang has the potential to do well in the UK as well as other RHD markets like South Africa and Australia. Alright, the line lock function probably won't be of much use unless you live at Santa Pod but a rear-wheel drive coupe with a Focus ST engine (or V8) sounds rather good to us. Rumours are it's quite European to drive too. Let's wait and see...

Ford has confirmed the sixth-gen Mustang (catch up on the history here) will go on sale Stateside later this year and then over here in 2015. The car here is the very first prototype right-hand drive Mustang. Obviously it had to be a convertible just to prove nobody was lying. More on the Mustang as it's available.

Author
Discussion

Gecko1978

Original Poster:

9,603 posts

156 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Price will be the main factor will it be a bargin like the left hookers and stateside cars are or will it be a case of swap $ for a £ and add 20% in which case I suspect it will be a slow seller in the UK.

But imagin with the weaker Dollar of late a sub 50k V8 monster with the ability to tune to north of 500bhp got to be a winner

Dr G

15,159 posts

241 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Duratec turbo version widely rumoured/reported to start at 30k.

GazzaMogzy

116 posts

173 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Rumours around work are that the ecoboost will cost around £30k, usually a load of bull mind.
I'm looking forward to seeing how much of a staff discount I get, going to use some man maths to convince the Mrs to let me trade my Fiesta St in for one!

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Will be interested in seeing how much the proper one actually goes on the market for. There aren't many cabriolets which can seat a family of 4 so this could be a refreshing addition to the choices - particularly since I don't like the German options enough to hand over money for any of them.

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
As and when I need a 2+2 for family duties, a nice used manual V8 convertible will be right at the top of my list. Hope they sell well so they depreciate as much as possible. smile

mgv8

1,631 posts

270 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
If they can keep the price low they will sell very well.

Gecko1978

Original Poster:

9,603 posts

156 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Dr G said:
Duratec turbo version widely rumoured/reported to start at 30k.
excuse the ignorance but is the the engin in the focus ST so a 2.5 4pot turbo with say 300bhp or do the engines come in larger sizes. I am just wondering what affect on performance the extra weight would have.

alpha channel

1,386 posts

161 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Is it just me or does it look strange/odd with the steering wheel on the correct side? Would love to own one though probably never will sadly (unless the second hand market comes to my rescue a few years down the line...).

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Gecko1978 said:
Dr G said:
Duratec turbo version widely rumoured/reported to start at 30k.
excuse the ignorance but is the the engin in the focus ST so a 2.5 4pot turbo with say 300bhp or do the engines come in larger sizes. I am just wondering what affect on performance the extra weight would have.
It's a 2.3 litre, presumably an evolution of the engine in the Mazda 6 MPS?

PhantomPH

4,043 posts

224 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
alpha channel said:
Is it just me or does it look strange/odd with the steering wheel on the correct side? Would love to own one though probably never will sadly (unless the second hand market comes to my rescue a few years down the line...).
Stick around - I expect these things will depreciate like a brick out of a first floor window. I would throw it in with the other fast Fords when it comes to depreciation - and they are not usually renowned for holding their value (trust me - I've had a couple!)

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Gecko1978 said:
Dr G said:
Duratec turbo version widely rumoured/reported to start at 30k.
excuse the ignorance but is the the engin in the focus ST so a 2.5 4pot turbo with say 300bhp or do the engines come in larger sizes. I am just wondering what affect on performance the extra weight would have.
The base model will get the 2.whatever litre Inline 4 turbocharged "Ecoboost" engine, which will produce about 300bhp.

I'm sure it will do everything perfectly adequately. Mustangs to me are not about being perfectly adequate, they're a symbol or an emotive sort of purchase. If I bought one, it would only be the 5.0 litre V8 version.

crispyshark

1,261 posts

144 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
jamieduff1981 said:
The base model will get the 2.whatever litre Inline 4 turbocharged "Ecoboost" engine, which will produce about 300bhp.

I'm sure it will do everything perfectly adequately. Mustangs to me are not about being perfectly adequate, they're a symbol or an emotive sort of purchase. If I bought one, it would only be the 5.0 litre V8 version.
My sentiments exactly....anything less than a V8 rumble coming from a Mustang just doesn't cut the mustard for me.

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
jamieduff1981 said:
Gecko1978 said:
Dr G said:
Duratec turbo version widely rumoured/reported to start at 30k.
excuse the ignorance but is the the engin in the focus ST so a 2.5 4pot turbo with say 300bhp or do the engines come in larger sizes. I am just wondering what affect on performance the extra weight would have.
The base model will get the 2.whatever litre Inline 4 turbocharged "Ecoboost" engine, which will produce about 300bhp.

I'm sure it will do everything perfectly adequately. Mustangs to me are not about being perfectly adequate, they're a symbol or an emotive sort of purchase. If I bought one, it would only be the 5.0 litre V8 version.
300 bhp only adequate ? 0-60 in just over 5 and 100 in 12 something.

I would say its a bit more than adequate, and I suspect will be tuneable to not far off V8 levels of power.


I don't think they will plummet in value, the current Mustangs for sale seem to hold their value very well, maybe being a more mainstream product will affect that but I think supply will be fairly limited for a couple of years, I don't think they will be a common sight.

nicfaz

430 posts

229 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
An interesting dilemma for Ford on the pricing. If it were me, I'd price as keenly as I was able - no sense in having a halo model if you only see one at the Ford dealer where he's (very reluctantly) had to take one into stock because of orders from on high.

Current prices in the US for the ecoboost coupe start at $25,170 and the V8 starts at $32,100. Using today's exchange rate, that works out as £15,071 and £19,221. Add on recovering the R&D of the right hand drive conversion, shipping, exchange rate hedging and any taxation consequences and what do you get?

If they could possibly keep it to £26,000 for the ecoboost and £32,000 for the V8 I think they'd sell many more than if they price at £30k and £36k. Here's hoping!

FlashBastd

291 posts

189 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
They won't do the values of 2005 on LHD Mustangs and favours!

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Wonder how it will compare with the Golf R and M135i price wise, and also to drive, all have circa 300 bhp, all around 30k ?

Wonder how much the Ford will be to lease ?

NGK210

2,866 posts

144 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Just a hunch, but I wonder if there'll be a 4-cylinder turbo version with Ford-approved Mountune tweaks? idea

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
J4CKO said:
Wonder how it will compare with the Golf R and M135i price wise, and also to drive, all have circa 300 bhp, all around 30k ?

Wonder how much the Ford will be to lease ?
It's a considerably bigger car than either. The obvious competition from BMW would be the 435i. How it'll match up in terms of NVH remains to be seen.

J4CKO

41,284 posts

199 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
Wonder how it will compare with the Golf R and M135i price wise, and also to drive, all have circa 300 bhp, all around 30k ?

Wonder how much the Ford will be to lease ?

Prawnboy

1,326 posts

146 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
quotequote all
still want, roll on next year! woohoo