RE: Ford Mustang Ecoboost: Driven

RE: Ford Mustang Ecoboost: Driven

Thursday 18th September 2014

Ford Mustang Ecoboost: Driven

Not with the V8 just yet, but there's plenty to be encouraged by with the four-cylinder Mustang



You insult a Ford Mustang in print at your own risk. At the very least you'll get an online flaming as the fast Ford's huge fanbase mobilises against an unbeliever. And at worst? You probably have a crowd of men with Billy-something first names and dungarees surrounding your house with pitchforks and flaming torches. And as pretty much all previous Mustangs have been - by European standards - somewhere between crude and dreadful, it's been all too easy to stir up the hornets' nest. If you want to know what it's felt like as a Scottish 'no' campaigner in Clydebank then post on a Mustang forum that the only way a Shelby GT500 could reach 200mph is by being driven off a cliff...

Unquestionably still looks like a Mustang
Unquestionably still looks like a Mustang
So let's start with the good: the new Mustang is, for the most part, a vast improvement over any of its predecessors. We've only driven it in the US and will obviously wait until it touches down over here (with the steering wheel on the proper side) to deliver a full verdict - a line you can cross straight off the journo cliche bingo card - but first impressions are overwhelmingly positive.

For a start, it looks as good in the metal as it does in the pictures. Definitely a Mustang, but far more sophisticated and curvaceous than its slabby-sided predecessor. The cabin manages the same trick - plenty of traditional Mustang cues like deeply cowled instruments and a big-bossed steering wheel along with lots of shiny trim - but with quality that's gone up dramatically over its predecessor. Let your fingers explore for long enough and they'll find some cheap feeling plastics, but the stuff owners will touch everyday feels properly solid.

So what's it like to drive?
Well the big news - other than the RHD cars we'll be getting towards the end of next year - is the new option of a 2.3-litre turbocharged Ecoboost four-cylinder. Before you reach for the pitchfork yourself it's worth bearing in mind that this isn't the first turbo four-pot Mustang as there was an SVO version in the early 1980s.

Improvement out on the road is vast
Improvement out on the road is vast
In the US the Ecoboost sits in the middle of the range, between the rental-spec V6 and full-on V8 GT, but in Europe we won't get the V6. And although the Mustang is always going to sound better with the proper Bullitt soundtrack of the V8, the Ecoboost is definitely the one that's going to make most sense on this side of the pond.

Ford claims 310hp, 320lb ft and a US highway economy figure of 32mpg that should translate into something over 40mpg on the official NEDC test. First impressions are good: the motor fires into life with a nice hard-edged exhaust note and there's appropriately Mustang urge low down. The car we drove was fitted with the optional six-speed auto, but even working through the slush of the torque converter throttle response is decent and there's little lag. At everyday speeds, it works well.

Ask for more and the engine breaks sweat. It's been tuned to deliver best in the mid range and it starts to feel breathless well before it gets to the 6,500rpm redline and the soundtrack gains a harshness that suggests the motor isn't really appreciating the workout. There's less at the top end than the brawny low-down response has led you to expect; the Mustang is plenty fast in absolute terms - a mid-5s 0-60mph according to US magazines - but you feel a bit short-changed when you try to rev it out.

US style and Euro quality a good combo here
US style and Euro quality a good combo here
Overpaid, oversexed, oversteer?
Praise for the chassis is unambiguous, though. All versions of the new 'Stang ride on an independent rear suspension, and it the car feels both structurally stiffer and more compliant than the last Mustang. It's still a big car - the official US kerbweight is 1,600 kg - but it hides its mass well and rides well over the sort of rough surfaces that would have got the last Mustang crashing about like an aircraft drinks trolley in heavy turbulence.

As you'd expect, the new Mustang has switched to electric power steering, which is accurate enough although lacking much feedback. The steering can be switched between three different modes, although as tends to be the way these days the sporty mode adds weight but not feel. The car we drove also had the optional performance package upgrade with stiffer springs, a fatter rear anti-roll bar and a strut brace at the front. There's plenty of grip and a very neutral handling balance; this isn't the Mustang for high-speed oversteer around the streets of San Francisco - even with everything switched off it takes big abuse to get the back end to relinquish grip; something the brawnier V8-powered GT finds far easier...

Yes, we know this is the V8. Coming soon...
Yes, we know this is the V8. Coming soon...
So is it good enough for Europe?
On first impressions, yes. The Mustang looks great, drives well and should cost under £30,000 when it arrives in right-hand drive form next year. The Ecoboost engine is effective if not particularly inspirational, but shouldn't be ridiculously expensive to run. As such it's probably best seen as the spiritual successor to a 2.0S Capri rather than a tyre-smoking muscle car. And that's meant as a compliment.

 



2015 FORD MUSTANG ECOBOOST
Engine:
2,261cc, 4-cyl turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 310@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 320@2,500-4,500rpm
0-62mph: 5.8 sec (estimate)
Top speed: 149mph
Kerbweight: 1,600kg
MPG: n/a
CO2: n/a
Price: c.£29,000 (autumn 2015 on sale)

Author
Discussion

mcbook

Original Poster:

1,384 posts

174 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
At £29k this has got the potential to really take it to the hyper-hatch brigade! Depending on spec levels, it could be a very compelling proposition.

People will moan that it's not a real 'stang without a V8 but with 310bhp it should go well enough. I hope it's a success.

eliotrw

302 posts

168 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
I actually am tempted by these. If something is going to get me bankrupt I think its a good thing to start with

thatguy11

640 posts

122 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
310bhp from a 2.3 4cyl turbo.....so 10 MORE than you got from the 4.6 V8 in the old Mustang GT. That's fairly incredible (or just highlights how crap the old Modular V8 was)

idibbers

269 posts

127 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
I'm not a fan. The specs and price are impressive but it's not what a Mustang should be. Economical, small engined and refined are three motoring terms that should never ever be considered when buying a Mustang.

soad

32,825 posts

175 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
thatguy11 said:
310bhp from a 2.3 4cyl turbo.....so 10 MORE than you got from the 4.6 V8 in the old Mustang GT. That's fairly incredible (or just highlights how crap the old Modular V8 was)
Turbo vs Naturally Aspirated though. Totally different engine application.

GTEYE

2,092 posts

209 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
It looks great and seems like it might be a decent steer.

Perhaps the relative failure of the GT86/BRZ (in Europe at least) makes me wonder if there is more than a very niche market for petrol coupes, which is a great shame.

I also can't seem it competing very well against the German competition on lease deals...

Still glad they made the effort though.



Birzzles

31 posts

146 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
i dont think a Mustang dropped off a cliff would reach 200mph, might do, but not certain.

Like the look of this car. Easily prefer to ugly Mercedes.

Kaelic

2,684 posts

200 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
idibbers said:
I'm not a fan. The specs and price are impressive but it's not what a Mustang should be. Economical, small engined and refined are three motoring terms that should never ever be considered when buying a Mustang.
Its a sensible evolution of the Stang to keep it relevant.

I am pretty excited by this.

Lyons

132 posts

283 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
eliotrw said:
I actually am tempted by these. If something is going to get me bankrupt I think its a good thing to start with
Totally. A big, good looking, well proportioned coupe, handles well, adequate power, cheapish to run and buy. And whats more its a Mustang! I'd have one of these over a 420d any day.

Also, I bet there will be many options to chip it to get a bit more top end. Official Motune Ecoboost Mustang?

sanctum

191 posts

174 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
idibbers said:
I'm not a fan. The specs and price are impressive but it's not what a Mustang should be. Economical, small engined and refined are three motoring terms that should never ever be considered when buying a Mustang.
Since when was 2.3 ltrs "small"?

£29k? - That puts it into direct competition with the new Audi TT and Jag XE. Although totally different types of vehicle, they're playing to the same demographic. A very tough price band, even with so many more ponies than the competition.

I look forward to seeing the prices of the various V8s.


lozzingers

4 posts

114 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
looks lovely - though what he has said about the engine running out of puff at high rev range does tally well with that narrow peak torque range of 2500 - 4500 rpm. Makes it more diesel like. Would be interesting to see the full torque curve. I'd have thought it would be faster than 5.8 to 60? it's not THAT heavy!

Uncle John

4,268 posts

190 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
I'm definitely interested, between this and the new RS if it ever materialises......

unpc

2,831 posts

212 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
idibbers said:
I'm not a fan. The specs and price are impressive but it's not what a Mustang should be. Economical, small engined and refined are three motoring terms that should never ever be considered when buying a Mustang.
There'll be a V8 version which will be none of those things. At sub £30k this is a way more interesting proposition than the usual suspects.

daveco

4,122 posts

206 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
Would be interested to know how it weighs 1600kg considering the smaller engine??

thatguy11

640 posts

122 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
soad said:
thatguy11 said:
310bhp from a 2.3 4cyl turbo.....so 10 MORE than you got from the 4.6 V8 in the old Mustang GT. That's fairly incredible (or just highlights how crap the old Modular V8 was)
Turbo vs Naturally Aspirated though. Totally different engine application.
That's the point I was making, that an engine literally half the size of another can achieve the same (or even more) power through turbocharging. Yes the ecoboost engine is newer and more developed, and the Modular wasn't the most efficient of engines, but it's still impressive and shows just how significant turbocharging can be.

An Evo VIII FQ-400's 2.0L I4 produces 400bhp, the same as an E39 M5's 5.0L V8. Is that not impressive either?

soad

32,825 posts

175 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
daveco said:
Would be interested to know how it weighs 1600kg considering the smaller engine??
Creature comforts in the cabin. Plus all the Health & Safety.
It's a GT-type of car. frown

Podie

46,630 posts

274 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
Lyons said:
Totally. A big, good looking, well proportioned coupe, handles well, adequate power, cheapish to run and buy. And whats more its a Mustang! I'd have one of these over a 420d any day.

Also, I bet there will be many options to chip it to get a bit more top end. Official Motune Ecoboost Mustang?
Mountune said on Twitter at the Goodwood FoS - "lots of 2.3 goodies on the way from Mountune"

Could see it being a sensible daily to replace the Focus in a few years.

soad

32,825 posts

175 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
thatguy11 said:
An Evo VIII FQ-400's 2.0L I4 produces 400bhp, the same as an E39 M5's 5.0L V8. Is that not impressive either?
Yes, impressive enough - it's a real rally weapon. But I still want a V8. wink

Prawnboy

1,326 posts

146 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
still love it, still one one.

irish boy

3,519 posts

235 months

Thursday 18th September 2014
quotequote all
I like it. At under £30k it will make many rivals look overpriced.