RE: Ford discontinues 2.3-litre Mustang in UK

RE: Ford discontinues 2.3-litre Mustang in UK

Thursday 4th March 2021

Ford discontinues 2.3-litre Mustang in UK

Ecoboost-powered model was never particularly popular - now it's gone completely



When Ford launched a right-hand drive Mustang, we all rejoiced. Here, finally, was the legend - in official, usable format in the UK. It even looked good. Ford UK was delighted, too, because the initial demand far outstripped supply; the queue for a V8 - which was almost as affordable as everyone hoped it would be - was prodigiously long, and stayed that way for months.

The firm's solution for shortening it, and obviously to appeal to a wider audience, was to simultaneously introduce a version powered by its 2.3-litre Ecoboost motor. It made an eminent amount of sense: the engine developed over 300hp, was much more economical than the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre unit, and was shared with the Focus RS that closely followed it - where it was initially lauded.

It was also offered for a significantly lower starting price than the V8. The problem, of course, was that for most UK buyers the appeal of a right-hand drive Mustang was indivisible from the thought of a big, shouty engine. The Ecoboost made sense on paper - and drove well enough in the real-world, too - but it tended to diminish the muscle car concept that Ford fans had in their heads. (Not for nothing either, but the Focus RS was available for similar money, in a more recognisable format, with more power).


Consequently the four-cylinder version was never hugely popular. And now it's gone for good in Europe, as Ford seeks to consolidate its manufacturing and fleet emissions. "The latest Mustang coupé range is V8-only, reflecting customer preference and prior low demand for the 2.3 four-cylinder at 15% of sales. Engineering resource has to be prioritised across all car models, balancing their popularity, emissions compliance and CO2 contribution," it reported.

So while the 2.3-litre version is still mentioned in passing on Ford's customer website - and presumably still available from dealers while stocks last - you can only order a V8, meaning the Mustang lineup now starts at £44,185 for a manual 450hp GT (or £46,185 for the 10-speed auto). Alternatively you can have the slightly more powerful Mach 1, which effectively replaces the recently departed Bullitt, from £55,185. Expect that model to make a lot more sense to Mustang fans in the UK.


Author
Discussion

998420

Original Poster:

900 posts

150 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Like going to a nightclub with 10 spare socks stuffed down your trousers, a 4 cylinder (or electric) Mustang may seem like a good idea initially, but its useless when you try to have any real fun

You get similar laughter as you pull away/ drip your trousers

I reckon anyway, obviously no first hand experience..

cerb4.5lee

30,184 posts

179 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Why have semi skimmed when you can have full fat! smokin

The Mustang has always been about the 5.0 V8 engine for me, so I'm not surprised by this. What was more surprising was that it was offered in the first place.

hyphen

26,262 posts

89 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
998420 said:
Like going to a nightclub with 10 spare socks stuffed down your trousers, a 4 cylinder (or electric) Mustang may seem like a good idea initially, but its useless when you try to have any real fun

You get similar laughter as you pull away/ drip your trousers

I reckon anyway, obviously no first hand experience..
But women visit nightclubs with wonderbra's and pull wink

Chewbacca NE

73 posts

43 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
The reality is that it wasn’t much more economical than the V8

Wheel_Turned_Out

571 posts

37 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Part of me can see why they offered it, and why someone might want it with their sensible trousers on, but it was only ever going to be a niche version of an already fairly niche car here - surprised they kept it hanging around so long.

Surely the appeal of the Mustang is its one of the few cars offered here with V8 and a manual. One of the select few now in fact.

mooseracer

1,843 posts

169 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Sabre Tuning near me recently mapped a 2.3 to 387bhp and 426lb/ft. No doubt made it a quick car.

But as everyone has said the V8 is what makes this.

Leon R

3,182 posts

95 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Better than the V6.

bluesierra

146 posts

95 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Chewbacca NE said:
The reality is that it wasn’t much more economical than the V8
Really? What kind of figures did they get under Euro whatsit testing?

I was just thinking that the end of the RHD Mustang might not be far off with the demise of the 4-cylinder version, if only for emissions reasons; but perhaps the thousands of 1L Fiestas might offset the V8 Mustangs they do sell here.

NigelCayless

201 posts

154 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
The V8 is a lovely engine. Its the main reason I bought a Mustang over a Supra

okenemem

1,353 posts

193 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
great move

Chewbacca NE

73 posts

43 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
bluesierra said:
Chewbacca NE said:
The reality is that it wasn’t much more economical than the V8
Really? What kind of figures did they get under Euro whatsit testing?

I was just thinking that the end of the RHD Mustang might not be far off with the demise of the 4-cylinder version, if only for emissions reasons; but perhaps the thousands of 1L Fiestas might offset the V8 Mustangs they do sell here.
No idea but the Mustang forums are full of owners saying they only get 4 or 5 mpg better than the V8.

Again, from the owners groups most Ecoboosts were bought either as company cars or by guys in their twenties for insurance reasons.

unpc

2,831 posts

212 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Hardly surprising as the uptake here wasn't great for the 4 cylinder. I bought the V8 as it was lovely and a bargain and as said, real world fuel consumption wasn't vastly different between the two.

silva bika

93 posts

126 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
998420 said:
Like going to a nightclub with 10 spare socks stuffed down your trousers, a 4 cylinder (or electric) Mustang may seem like a good idea initially, but its useless when you try to have any real fun

You get similar laughter as you pull away/ drip your trousers

I reckon anyway, obviously no first hand experience..
Dripping your trousers usually puts wimen off - so I'm told.......

Sebastian Tombs

2,044 posts

191 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
The 4 cylinder was alright. It was excellent in fact. I have very fond memories of the rental I picked up in San Francisco for a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to LA and back through the national parks. It was a superb and very enjoyable car, and it really handled too. Light years ahead of the V6 Camaro I had been given the week before.

But, if I was buying one I would only ever consider the V8.

matt3001

1,991 posts

196 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Sebastian Tombs said:
The 4 cylinder was alright. It was excellent in fact. I have very fond memories of the rental I picked up in San Francisco for a drive down the Pacific Coast Highway to LA and back through the national parks. It was a superb and very enjoyable car, and it really handled too. Light years ahead of the V6 Camaro I had been given the week before.

But, if I was buying one I would only ever consider the V8.
Depends when you hired one. Pre MY2018 the non GT (V8) would have been a 3.7L V6. But in principle I agree, I think in the states the V6/2.3 works well at the price point its sold at.

Vee12V

1,329 posts

159 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
What was more surprising was that it was offered in the first place.
In some Euro markets there's a +10k tax on the V8. Really depends on the market.

cerb4.5lee

30,184 posts

179 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Wheel_Turned_Out said:
Part of me can see why they offered it, and why someone might want it with their sensible trousers on, but it was only ever going to be a niche version of an already fairly niche car here - surprised they kept it hanging around so long.

Surely the appeal of the Mustang is its one of the few cars offered here with V8 and a manual. One of the select few now in fact.
Usually I'd make a case for a turbo over a N/A engine in terms of the torque and the power delivery, but in this case the V8 already has more torque than the 4 cylinder and the V8 is a muscular engine, so to me the 4 cylinder turbo doesn't make much sense in this situation.

There certainly isn't that much choice out there if you want a V8 and a manual now for sure sadly(especially new cars).

cerb4.5lee

30,184 posts

179 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
Vee12V said:
cerb4.5lee said:
What was more surprising was that it was offered in the first place.
In some Euro markets there's a +10k tax on the V8. Really depends on the market.
I didn't realise that thanks(I was only thinking of the UK). thumbup

NigelCayless

201 posts

154 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
The trip computer on my V8 GT says i'm averaging 20.3mpg which doesn't seem too bad

donkmeister

7,998 posts

99 months

Thursday 4th March 2021
quotequote all
I always assumed the four-banger was a BIK-special, but I can't imagine many people end up with a Mustang as a company car (I'm pretty sure the CC rules at my place stipulate four-doors). £10k of Euro market new car taxes make sense though, I know some countries absolute bum you to death (and beyond) if you want something that doesn't do as well on the artificial test protocols.

I can't imagine anyone has ever looked at the 4-cyl Mustang, looked at the V8, then said "Yes... Yes... I will take my pony car with the engine out of a Ford Focus please!". The 4-cyl Mustang was the equivalent of Audi releasing an RS6 with a twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, then announcing the S6 will be a diesel... that would never happen.

From a range perspective it's just too much of a gap to have 4's and 8's with no 6's in between.