New Ford Mustang!
The hybrid isn't here just yet, but there is a 10-speed automatic...
So what's new? The Mustang's look has changed slightly, the revised grille and bonnet said to deliver a "more athletic" look. The lights front and rear are now LED too, with a different bumper and spoiler at the back to mark this car out. It's still recognisably a Mustang basically, even in the new Orange Fury paint.
In America this facelift heralds the demise of the 3.7-litre V6, the Mustang now only available with either the Ecoboost or V8. For the 5.0-litre car Ford says the engine has been "thoroughly reworked", revving higher than any previous Mustang GT, adding more power and improved fuel efficiency too. A "totally redesigned" manual gearbox for the V8 should improve the drive further too.
The 10-speed automatic replaces the old six-speed (surely adding 66 per cent more ratios to a replacement gearbox must be a record?), promising quicker shift times, better low speed response and reduced friction losses. It is, according to Ford, the "best automatic Mustang ever offered" and now a direct rival for the 10-speed Camaro. Bring on the drag race.
Now if you thought an independent rear axle was innovative for a Mustang, consider this: magnetic dampers are now available as an option. In addition to revised dampers and new anti-roll bars on all models, a Mustang Performance Package brings a MagneRide option which should improved ride and handling "in all situations".
The big change inside is a new (optional) LCD screen for the dash, customisable with three displays - normal, sport and track. Also customisable is the engine note - yes, really - with an active valve exhaust also on the options list that is fully variable. A 'MyMode' memory functions stores all the driver's preferred settings.
The 2018 Mustang will be available in the US this fall, which is American for autumn. There isn't confirmation of the UK following just yet, but hopefully it's not too far behind.
If only those rear seats where a bit more useful, i.e. people could actually sit in them I'd be putting my deposit down with Ford already.
It won't even get the power packs available for the normal GT by the looks of it.
From other reports though, the new GT for Europe gets GT350 components - so we're getting a 'GT350-Lite'.
I guess that's a factor of the extraordinary long time it took Ford to gear up for RHD.
If the PowerPacks come to the current gen. UK and EU cars (in an official capacity with warranty backing) ill gladly come back here and let you all tell me "I told you so". Ford cant even get the powerpack release correctly done in the USA, with the stage 3 being pushed back again recently, with it now >6m behind schedule.
Ford can't sort their arse from their elbow with the RHD versions, never mind for a limited number production run. The numbers just don't add up for them.
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