Thursday 21st January 2010

Ford Mustang On UK Sale In 2014?

New platform plan could see Mustang 'go global' for 50th anniversary

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2014 will be the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang coupe, and latest reports from the US suggest it could also be the year the original pony car goes 'global'.

In our story on the new 305hp Duratec 3.7 litre V6 engine option for the current Mustang published last November, we noted the possibility of global sales for the iconic coupe, quoting a well-placed source from inside the company.

Now Motor Trend in the US has picked up where PH left off, suggesting the new 2014 model will get an independent rear suspension set-up that - together with its now bang up-to-date engine range (including the 5.0 V8 launched at Detroit) - could transform the Mustang into a truly global contender.

Apparently, according to the magazine's report, the Mustang programme managers at Ford are considering three different possible paths for the 2014 car.

First up, and perhaps the most likely option, is a car with a revised and updated platform that still uses the 5.0 V8 as its key powertrain - thus allowing the Mustang to fully leverage its classic 'muscle car' heritage in global markets.

The second option reportedly under consideration at Ford is a more Euro-style car with a new high-output turbocharged V6, while the third and most extreme scenario would involve transforming the Mustang into a technological masterpiece to take on the Nissan GT-R.

All nice ideas, but given the pressure on development resources in the automotive industry today, could either of those latter options be anything other than a pipe-dream?

[u81922]

Only its muscle car status would make it interesting so it has to be the big V8

[soad]

2014 is still a long way off, who knows what engine options will be available then. Naturally aspired V8 and/or V6 turbocharged choices all make sense. Myself would prefer a supercharged V8.
Taking on the GTR full-on is a bit too much of a challenge, no?

Edited by soad on Thursday 21st January 12:56

[GIRF]

No more so then the thought of a Corvette taking on Ferrari and Porsche.

[MarJay]

I think it would be much cheaper than a GTR. 305bhp is not to be sniffed at, even if it isn't a 'purists' V8.

I think a Mustang with 305bhp and independent rear suspension sounds pretty damn appealing actually...

[Gizmo!]

Modern day TVR? Raw, bit simple, big oomph.

Sign me up.

[300bhp/ton]

MarJay said:

I think it would be much cheaper than a GTR. 305bhp is not to be sniffed at, even if it isn't a 'purists' V8.

I think a Mustang with 305bhp and independent rear suspension sounds pretty damn appealing actually...

Have you actually driven the current one?

[300bhp/ton]

To be fair the Stang has been sold in RHD format before. Only with crap engine options.

And that's the trouble. Whatever they sell here won't be the same bang for buck. It'll be more expensive and with a limited lineup.

Options 2 and 3 will never work. It sells in the US because it's a Mustang. And it has limited appeal elsewhere because it's a Mustang. No one Stateside will want to pay $70,000 for a New Stang, no matter how many driven wheels it has or how many turbos.

[anonymous-user]

I like these cars, I like how they look and how they sound

I have never driven one and I think the fact they are left hookers would be enough to put me off

Does this mean there is a possibilty of a RHD version?

[CoopR]

Would love one but...

Has to be RHD
Has to be V8
Has to be reasonably cheap, inline with US prices.

Roll on 2014 and I hope I'm not disappointed.

PS. Hey ford, how about porting the F150 SVT Raptor as well

[timewatch]

Not much chance of us in the UK affording to run one of these as we will be taxed to f**k by then !

12 to 17 mpg Jesus! Great car though, one would assume that the style and shape will change too, where's the RHD model Ford?

TW>>>

[thewheelman]

So it goes on sale in 2014,just enough time to grow the required mullet to own a Mustang

[Papa Hotel]

The first year road tax will be about 4 grand by then...
Pity.

[300bhp/ton]

timewatch said:

Not much chance of us in the UK affording to run one of these as we will be taxed to f**k by then !

12 to 17 mpg Jesus! Great car though, one would assume that the style and shape will change too, where's the RHD model Ford?

TW>>>

Where on Earth are you getting 12-17mpg from???


A few points worth rememebring too, is a US gallon is a fair bit smaller than an Imperial one. And that EPA tests over there are more realistic for their roads. A 2.0 litre Focus will only be rated at midish 20's city driving.

Some examples. A V6 Camaro is rated at an estimated EPA of 29 while the V8 is 24mpg. A BMW 335i is rated at 26mpg. All US gallons.

[Hellbound]

I'm sure the V8 will be £40-50k+

Although a work of fiction at the moment, a part of me (a very evil part!) lusts after one of these....in black with gold detailing please.

http://jalopnik.com/5452841/gallery/1

[Johnpidge]

CoopR said:

Would love one but...

Has to be RHD
Has to be V8
Has to be reasonably cheap, inline with US prices.

Roll on 2014 and I hope I'm not disappointed.

PS. Hey ford, how about porting the F150 SVT Raptor as well

Ditto

[timewatch]

Try this, one of many....

http://www.mpgomatic.com/2008/06/24/ford-mustang-g...

Most fuel stats are usually wrong and in my experience never up always down, a hard drive in the Mustang will burn fuel greatly!

I had one of these and it gulped fuel !!!!

TW>>>

[300bhp/ton]

timewatch said:

Try this, one of many....

http://www.mpgomatic.com/2008/06/24/ford-mustang-g...

Most fuel stats are usually wrong and in my experience never up always down, a hard drive in the Mustang will burn fuel greatly!

I had one of these and it gulped fuel !!!!

TW>>>

ok looked at the link and it still doesn't show the figures you quoted and it's still in US gallons.

And any car driven hard will drink fuel. Drive an Impreza turbo hard and it'll be low teens at best and on superunleaded. The Stang produces similar or more hp with similar mpg but on cheaper petrol.

[barky]

300bhp/ton said:

timewatch said:

Not much chance of us in the UK affording to run one of these as we will be taxed to f**k by then !

12 to 17 mpg Jesus! Great car though, one would assume that the style and shape will change too, where's the RHD model Ford?

TW>>>

Where on Earth are you getting 12-17mpg from???


A few points worth rememebring too, is a US gallon is a fair bit smaller than an Imperial one. And that EPA tests over there are more realistic for their roads. A 2.0 litre Focus will only be rated at midish 20's city driving.

Some examples. A V6 Camaro is rated at an estimated EPA of 29 while the V8 is 24mpg. A BMW 335i is rated at 26mpg. All US gallons.

if you do an average of fords quoted US mpg (city+highway/2) for the current V8 stang & convert it into UK mpg you get 24mpg (20 US)

[hairyben]

Not sure I'm convinced by the high-tech idea, best off leaving it to those who do it best.

There'd be scope for a mustang, so long as they don't expect a blazing sales success, as vauxhall have show there's a market for a low cost low tech musclecar, the mustang with it's heritage could only do better. You'll all hate me for saying this but it's biggest success could be in diesel form, w-

<account terminated by mods>

[Beyond Rational]

If there could be platform sharing to allow Ford to bring a different turbo'd V6 coupe to Europe, that would be great, but I don't think it should be the Mustang, I think they make far more sense as an American car built for America.