So, here it is, the first Ford Mustang you can buy direct from a UK dealership in right-hand drive since it was first launched in the 1960s. So, I guess you could say this launch is kind of a big deal.
But what if you’re not a Ford muscle car fan? Well, you simply need to know that this is an all-American sports convertible (a coupe ‘Fastback’ is also available) which offers serious thrills and heritage for less money than you might expect. The soft-top starts at £28,995 with a four-cylinder turbo petrol and tops out at £38,495 if you want a rumbling 5.0-litre V8 automatic.
You should also know this Mustang has been refined somewhat as part of Ford’s global car programme. While previous models have sometimes been chastised by the European press for their simple suspension and raucous road manners, this latest model boasts the latest Ford technology and fully-independent suspension front and rear.
With the 309bhp EcoBoost engine fitted (a detuned version of the motor which will also appear in the Focus RS) the Convertible will hit 62mph from rest in around six seconds, while the 5.0-litre V8 has 413bhp is roughly a second quicker to the same marker. We tried the former, which is way more economical than the V8, returning 34.4mpg. It might not shout Mustang like the burbling 5.0-litre, but 20.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 306g/km make the true muscle car experience a rather expensive one.
Get rolling and the six-speed manual is incredibly slick, and the EcoBoost engine pulls smoothly from low revs, taking care of commuter-style driving with ease. Prod the throttle harder and it will gather pace in a pretty grown-up way, with a sound subtly augmented through the speakers. It might not get close to matching the V8 for sheer excitement or authenticity, but it’s a pulsing resonance which conveys a sense of power and engineers spent many hours tuning it for the right feel.
Long gearing means shifts are fairly infrequent and the Convertible is relaxing, with excitement on offer when you want it. It feels like more of a fast GT car than an aggressive sports car, dealing with bumps well, especially at higher speeds. But, turn into a corner, and the Mustang is more planted than it has ever been, holding its line through fast, sweeping bends.
The interior is low slung, with a large centre console to rest your arm on and a view out over the bonnet and its purposeful power bulge.
With Ford’s SYNC 2 eight-inch infotainment system fitted as standard, it’s well-equipped and highlights include a rear view camera, dual-zone air-con, four driving modes (Snow/Wet, Normal, Sport and Track) and Track Apps. Fire these up and you can monitor the g-forces as you drive and even measure acceleration at the drag strip. The 5.0-litre also has a launch control mode for optimum acceleration.
Material quality still lags behind the best European rivals, with some overly shiny faux metal and cheaper plastics around the lower cabin, but many will forgive this as being the trade-off considering how much car you get for the money.
The Mustang has a 2+2 seating configuration, and the rear seats should be usable for children, but legroom is too restrictive for most adults. With a large 332-litre boot, luggage space is pretty good. As the old ads from the 1960s attest, the Mustang is a car for all occasions, including those when you need to carry two golf bags.
So has the half-century wait for the Mustang been worth it? We need to drive the Coupe to decide 100 per cent, but the Convertible is certainly a great start.
In a country where rivals around the £30k mark include the Mercedes SLK and Audi TT Roadster, the Mustang offers customers something with a totally different character. That, and the fact it’s also a much improved Mustang, means we’re more than happy to welcome it to these shores.