Ford will soon be launching the new seventh-generation Mustang in South Africa, delivering the most exciting and visceral version yet, from its fighter jet-inspired digital cockpit to the advanced 5.0-litre V8 engine and its edgier yet timeless exterior design.
The latest Mustang is an American icon reborn, continuing its legacy of capturing the imaginations of drivers across the globe for the past 60 years.
“The new Mustang not only delivers upon the lofty expectations that our customers had for the vehicle, but surpasses them,” says Doreen Mashinini, General Manager for Marketing at Ford South Africa. “It adds another exciting chapter to this legendary nameplate, delivering the looks, sound and appeal of the world’s best-selling sports coupe with its even bolder styling, advanced interior, enhanced performance and engaging driving experience.
“Based on extensive customer research we will be launching the Mustang in GT Fastback guise with the 5.0L V8 and 10-speed automatic transmission only,” Mashinini says. “This will be followed in the fourth quarter by the first-ever Mustang Dark Horse, which is an even more exhilarating performance model that is equally at home on the road and the track.”
Edgier design with timeless Mustang cues
The seventh generation Mustang GT adds modern chiselled looks to its heritage-inspired design, which sets out to appeal to the broadest Mustang customer mindset yet.
Its low, horizontal brow across the front emphasizes overall frontal width, while the upper grille design shape is influenced by the original 1960s design. The Tri-Bar LED headlamps continue the Mustang’s classic lighting signature. Its sleek roofline, broad sprinting stance and shortened rear overhang are also true to the authentic proportions of the first generation, while the widened rear haunches point to the power over the wheels in true Mustang style.
The Mustang has large, aggressive grille openings, engineered to allow increased airflow, reflecting the enhanced performance provided by the most powerful 5.0-litre Coyote V8 offered in a Mustang GT. The car’s aerodynamics are further optimised with the addition of new hood vents, redesigned front splitter and a race-inspired rear diffuser for improved aerodynamic balance.
The roofline is optimised for driver entry and exit without removing their helmet on the track, and an extended rear deck houses new crisp signature tri-bar lighting that is a hallmark of Mustang design.
The new Mustang launches with eight exterior colour options comprising Race Red, Oxford White (Solid), Absolute Black, Atlas Blue, Lucid Red, Vapor Blue, Iconic Silver and Dark Matter Grey Metallic.
Customers can choose from two Brembo brake calliper colour options, finished in either Grabber Blue or Red, and have a choice of the standard Ebony Black painted multi-spoke wheels or the optional machined Tarnished Dark Aluminium wheels – both featuring a 19×9-inch rim size in front and wider 19×9.5-inch versions at the rear.
A completely rethought interior
Behind the chiselled exterior silhouette of the seventh-generation Mustang lies the most technologically advanced, driver-centric cockpit of any Mustang to date. The fighter jet-inspired cockpit offers the driver two flowing and curved displays that can be quickly customised to show information the driver wants or needs to see.
The car’s 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster displays different animated designs and new Drive Mode-dependent visuals. Based on the same Unreal Engine 3D creation tool used in modern video games, when choosing personalised drive mode settings, the car’s current setup is displayed on the centre stack as real-time graphical renderings. Settings can be adjusted by simply swiping the graphic to rotate the car virtually in a true gamified style
Mustang’s default instrument gauge setting has shifted from traditional, cool blue and light grey tones to an ultra-modern, copper appearance theme also shared with Mustang Mach-E. From there, almost everything in the displays – and the ambient multi-colour interior lighting – can be configured to selected tones, while instrument clusters adapt to drive mode selection.
The digital instrument cluster can be configured to flow seamlessly into a 13.2-inch SYNC® 4 centre stack behind a single piece of integrated glass that’s angled toward the driver. Beyond the screen, an new race-inspired flat-bottomed steering wheel provides more space when getting seated.
Outside the vehicle, animated welcome lighting greets drivers as they approach and, upon entry, Mustang splash screens come to life. For those who enjoy the sound of a revving V8 engine, Mustang introduces Remote Rev, providing the ability to rev the car’s engine remotely using the key fob.
Mustang is equipped with Black Onyx leather trim, with the full leather seats incorporating heating and cooling functions for optimal comfort, regardless of the weather conditions. Accent stitching and a unique upholstery perforation across the seat inserts further enhances the high-quality interior ambience, complemented by colour-coordinated, asymmetric accent striping on the seat belts.
The centre console includes a wireless mobile phone charging pad while new overhead USB ports are installed above the cockpit, conveniently placed for track cameras and other devices, helping prevent wires from draping across the cabin.
The Mustang GT comes standard with a premium B&O sound system with 12 speakers, including a subwoofer, that is optimised for the car’s interior, contributing to the visceral experience of Mustang ownership. Customers can enjoy the ultimate driving playlist through wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which are fully compatible with SYNC 4.
Interior comfort and refinement are assured with the inclusion of dual-zone automatic climate control, and an acoustic laminated windscreen that reduces noise transmission into the cabin.
Most powerful Mustang GT to date
The way Mustang looks, drives and sounds is key to the experience that makes customers want to get in the driver’s seat and hit the road. The new Mustang delivers an even more exciting drive experience with new engine technologies.
The Mustang GT is powered by an advanced naturally aspirated 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine. This fourth-generation engine delivers the most power of any Mustang GT to date thanks to an innovative dual air intake box and dual throttle body design, which helps minimise induction loss by enabling higher air flow rates. It produces peak power of 328kW matched a maximum torque output of 540Nm.
This roaring V8 is paired with Ford’s advanced 10-speed automatic transmission which reconfigures its shift patterns to match the selected Drive Mode.
The feeling of freedom and confidence Mustang instils in its drivers is amplified when they take control of how the car behaves. On a twisty back road or a weekend track day, the driver can quickly adjust steering effort, engine response, transmission and electronic stability control settings through six available Drive Modes to create the perfect Mustang at any time. These are Normal, Sport, Slippery, Drag, Track plus a customisable setting with up to six individual profiles, tailored to the driver’s view ahead of them. As each mode is selected, high-fidelity graphics in the digital instrument panel bring the mode to life.
In South Africa, the Mustang GT comes standard with the Performance Pack, which adds a host of track-focused features, including a front suspension tower brace, Torsen® limited slip differential, MagneRide active suspension, wider rear wheels and tyres, along with larger 390mm front and 355mm rear Brembo brakes. Furthermore, the Performance Pack adds brake ducts for enhanced cooling and a standard auxiliary engine oil cooler. It is also equipped with an active valve performance exhaust system that allows the driver to select how quiet or raucous they want the exhaust sound to be.
A segment-first electronic drift brake takes new technology to the racetrack, unlocking the rear-wheel drive drifting capability of Mustang with the visual appeal and functionality of a traditional, mechanical hand brake. The Performance Electronic Parking Brake comes standard with the Performance Pack, engineered for novice drivers to learn and improve their drift skills while also providing expert drivers with a competition-ready system.
Advanced driver assistance technologies
The new Mustang comes with an extensive range of advanced driver assist features, including Speed Sign Recognition, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane Centering Assist, Evasive Steer Assist and Reverse Brake Assist. Another key feature is Active Pothole Mitigation, included with the Performance Package and MagneRide active suspension, which continually monitors suspension, body, steering and braking input and adjusts suspension response accordingly.
Owners can stay connected with their car via the FordPass app, utilising free remote features such as remote vehicle start and stop, door locking and unlocking, scheduling a start time, locating the vehicle, and vehicle health and status checks. The FordPass app provides important vehicle information available to users, including fuel and oil levels, service history and warranty information.
