RE: Mustang 'Drag Strip mode' announced
Tuesday 25th July 2017
Not so long ago, the answer to "How do you get a Mustang to 60mph in less than four seconds?" would have been "drop it from a plane", but it's about to become far simpler. As part of the MY18 Mustangupgrades, which we'll assume can't be far off now, a 'Drag Strip mode' has been introduced. No, it's not big and, no, it doesn't sound especially clever, but rather like Drift Mode, Baja Mode and line lock, we can't help but be intrigued.
Not hitting 60 in less than four - the new one will!Essentially Drag Strip mode sounds like an advanced launch control, where engine torque and shift strategy are optimised for the fastest getaway possible. So yes, for what must surely be the first time ever, the automatic is the fastest accelerating Mustang on sale. Which must be quite galling if you care about drag racing.
No longer the fastest way in a Mustang...Drag Strip mode joins normal, sport, track and snow/wet for the upcoming Mustang. The fancy new gearbox also gets "real-time adaptive shift scheduling algorithms" and the ability to "direct downshift" (i.e. skipping gears on the way down as required; probably wise with 10 ratios), so it sounds like a worthwhile improvement on the current six-speed.
Mustang 'Drag Strip mode' announced
Need to get a standard Mustang to 60mph in less than four seconds? There's a drive mode for that...
Not hitting 60 in less than four - the new one will!
Having 10 gears in the new 'box will help, and the mode is said to ensure "the engine torque doesn't drop when you're shifting." That's according to Mustang chief engineer Carl Widmann. Also contributing to the rapid acceleration are a new compound of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S and more power from the 5.0-litre V8, which now produces 460hp and 420lb ft. You just sit there and watch your hopeless opponent disappear behind you.
No longer the fastest way in a Mustang...
US customers can spec their cars from today, but there's no word yet on UK availability. Should you be desperate to get your hands on a Mustang though, the PH classifieds of course contains many a stunning stallion. If you can bear to accept a 0-60mph time that doesn't being with a '3', this red manual car looks jolly nice, for example. More details on the MY18 car soon!
Discussion
I test drove one of these and desperately wanted to love it but my short stint along M3/M27 an some minor roads back to dealership left me a little underwhelmed, mainly the boat like feeling when I tried to go around the M3/M27 slip like I usually do, very washy, but everything else I love about it and now in Orange too!
Chose M140 (in orange) in the end but I sometimes wonder what life would be like climbing into a mustang every day instead! (expenive probably!)
Chose M140 (in orange) in the end but I sometimes wonder what life would be like climbing into a mustang every day instead! (expenive probably!)
The 2018 has lots to love (bar the new nose.. I can't get on with it) but the cost is an unknown, and with all those improvements I can't help thinking it's going to be one expensive car... but maybe I'll be wrong and it'll be another bargain.
As for drag strip mode; well, it's probably as useful as line lock. I've never used that (or have any intention of doing so), and I wouldn't the new one. Nice to have, but almost entirely useless unless you're buying it to mod within an inch of its life and regularly 1/4 mile. At guess, anyway.
As for drag strip mode; well, it's probably as useful as line lock. I've never used that (or have any intention of doing so), and I wouldn't the new one. Nice to have, but almost entirely useless unless you're buying it to mod within an inch of its life and regularly 1/4 mile. At guess, anyway.
With others, still not to sure on the front-end, but the MY18 is for sure a car I will go too, because the technology improvements are a big step on from current car:
- DI/PI and higher compression ratio, I am sure the torque gains under the curve are huge and higher compression should make it more responsive
- Magneride, finally a Mustang I don't need to modify to make it corner? (HOPE UK GETS THIS!!!!!!!)
- 10-Speed, about time we got a gearbox that is quick and smart whilst keeping paddles.
- Love the new carbon/alcantara interior package and active exhaust (HOPE UK GETS THESE TOO!)
- DIGITAL DASH, OMG I want it, TAKE MY MONEY!
The new car just seems a lot more complete, if UK/EU cars get the Performance Package complete, 10-speed with 3.55 Torsen, Magneride, Active exhaust, carbon interior along with those sticky Michelin PS4S, this car will drive like a dream, I am gonna call it now even maybe do the ring in around 7:45 area too, not bad for a big girl.
But for now I shall continue to enjoy my current one.
Such great cars and mine handles and goes like a stink, but it took quite a bit of work to make it do so.
- DI/PI and higher compression ratio, I am sure the torque gains under the curve are huge and higher compression should make it more responsive
- Magneride, finally a Mustang I don't need to modify to make it corner? (HOPE UK GETS THIS!!!!!!!)
- 10-Speed, about time we got a gearbox that is quick and smart whilst keeping paddles.
- Love the new carbon/alcantara interior package and active exhaust (HOPE UK GETS THESE TOO!)
- DIGITAL DASH, OMG I want it, TAKE MY MONEY!
The new car just seems a lot more complete, if UK/EU cars get the Performance Package complete, 10-speed with 3.55 Torsen, Magneride, Active exhaust, carbon interior along with those sticky Michelin PS4S, this car will drive like a dream, I am gonna call it now even maybe do the ring in around 7:45 area too, not bad for a big girl.
But for now I shall continue to enjoy my current one.
Such great cars and mine handles and goes like a stink, but it took quite a bit of work to make it do so.
I couldn't care less about the 0-60 time or silly modes which will never get used but the mustang is still a tremendous car, one of only two new cars on sale I have any interest in (along with the current MX5). Moar powah from the V8 and some rather tremendous paint colours can only be good for the size of the owners smile.
QuattroDave said:
I test drove one of these and desperately wanted to love it but my short stint along M3/M27 an some minor roads back to dealership left me a little underwhelmed, mainly the boat like feeling when I tried to go around the M3/M27 slip like I usually do, very washy, but everything else I love about it and now in Orange too!
Chose M140 (in orange) in the end but I sometimes wonder what life would be like climbing into a mustang every day instead! (expenive probably!)
Well every day is an event which is more than I could say for my Alpina (and most modern cars for that matter). It does sometimes feel a bit boat like but that's easily fixed with some decent tyres/shocks. As for expensive, mine is my daily and it's averaged 24mpg since I've had it, albeit with a large chunk of motorway in that. Chose M140 (in orange) in the end but I sometimes wonder what life would be like climbing into a mustang every day instead! (expenive probably!)
unpc said:
Well every day is an event which is more than I could say for my Alpina (and most modern cars for that matter). It does sometimes feel a bit boat like but that's easily fixed with some decent tyres/shocks. As for expensive, mine is my daily and it's averaged 24mpg since I've had it, albeit with a large chunk of motorway in that.
Thanks unpc, I was referring to mpg 24mpg is pretty good. My test drive I got 20mpg which was matched by the focus rs I took on the same run which I thought was pretty good (for the mustang - appalling for the focus!)My current average in the M140 is 34mpg which is amazing given its power but although I personally like the way it looks I don't look back in a car park and go "wow, that's mine" like I suspect I would with a mustang.
Good to know the washy steering is relatively easily solved and those seats are about the most comfortable seats in a car I've sat in!
QuattroDave said:
Thanks unpc, I was referring to mpg 24mpg is pretty good. My test drive I got 20mpg which was matched by the focus rs I took on the same run which I thought was pretty good (for the mustang - appalling for the focus!)
My current average in the M140 is 34mpg which is amazing given its power but although I personally like the way it looks I don't look back in a car park and go "wow, that's mine" like I suspect I would with a mustang.
Good to know the washy steering is relatively easily solved and those seats are about the most comfortable seats in a car I've sat in!
Good point on the seats. They are damn comfortable which is just as well as I'm often sat in it for hours at a time. Unlike most modern cars, these often better the official fuel economy figures but you don't buy one of these with that in mind.Besides, fuel is cheap at the minute. Having said that it often betters 30mpg with the cruise set to 75mph. My current average in the M140 is 34mpg which is amazing given its power but although I personally like the way it looks I don't look back in a car park and go "wow, that's mine" like I suspect I would with a mustang.
Good to know the washy steering is relatively easily solved and those seats are about the most comfortable seats in a car I've sat in!
Gibbo205 said:
Olivera said:
Here's hoping the UK actually gets the full 460bhp, unlike the current version with it hobbled RHD power output.
Easy to fix though, mine has gone from 410HP (put it on dyno stock) upto 516HP with bolt-ons that cost me £2000. I like the idea of one of these when they hit the 18-20k point.
Gibbo205 said:
With others, still not to sure on the front-end, but the MY18 is for sure a car I will go too, because the technology improvements are a big step on from current car:
- DI/PI and higher compression ratio, I am sure the torque gains under the curve are huge and higher compression should make it more responsive
- Magneride, finally a Mustang I don't need to modify to make it corner? (HOPE UK GETS THIS!!!!!!!)
- 10-Speed, about time we got a gearbox that is quick and smart whilst keeping paddles.
- Love the new carbon/alcantara interior package and active exhaust (HOPE UK GETS THESE TOO!)
- DIGITAL DASH, OMG I want it, TAKE MY MONEY!
The new car just seems a lot more complete, if UK/EU cars get the Performance Package complete, 10-speed with 3.55 Torsen, Magneride, Active exhaust, carbon interior along with those sticky Michelin PS4S, this car will drive like a dream, I am gonna call it now even maybe do the ring in around 7:45 area too, not bad for a big girl.
But for now I shall continue to enjoy my current one.
Such great cars and mine handles and goes like a stink, but it took quite a bit of work to make it do so.
Christ. That looks lovely! - DI/PI and higher compression ratio, I am sure the torque gains under the curve are huge and higher compression should make it more responsive
- Magneride, finally a Mustang I don't need to modify to make it corner? (HOPE UK GETS THIS!!!!!!!)
- 10-Speed, about time we got a gearbox that is quick and smart whilst keeping paddles.
- Love the new carbon/alcantara interior package and active exhaust (HOPE UK GETS THESE TOO!)
- DIGITAL DASH, OMG I want it, TAKE MY MONEY!
The new car just seems a lot more complete, if UK/EU cars get the Performance Package complete, 10-speed with 3.55 Torsen, Magneride, Active exhaust, carbon interior along with those sticky Michelin PS4S, this car will drive like a dream, I am gonna call it now even maybe do the ring in around 7:45 area too, not bad for a big girl.
But for now I shall continue to enjoy my current one.
Such great cars and mine handles and goes like a stink, but it took quite a bit of work to make it do so.
philmots said:
Out of complete curiosity, what does it need for that increase?
I like the idea of one of these when they hit the 18-20k point.
Gibbo please correct any inaccuracies, but I think it's predominantly a GT350 cold air intake, throttle body and inlet manifold, plus tune. I like the idea of one of these when they hit the 18-20k point.
Not wishing to sound like an internet stalker, but his thread over on the Mustang forum is well worth a read to see the upgrades done (suspension in particular). Very honest appraisals of what's worked and what hasn't, and cheaper routes to achieve similar gains.
As you may have guessed I'm considering one and love the plethora of after market options available, and particularly the costs. For example an exhaust for one of these is not much over a grand, in comparison I was debating an M6 recently and looked at exhausts for one of those and it was about £6k!
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