The Ford Mustang is one of the world’s most iconic cars, but it has never been sold in the UK. Of course, this fact hasn’t stopped around 5,000 British fans importing them through specialists or even by shipping them over themselves. We are the world’s most dedicated car fans after all.
But, as of 2015, you don’t have to worry about cargo containers or SVA conversions, you can simply walk into a Ford dealership. So many already have (1,200 orders according to Ford), you could be waiting well into next year to get one on your drive.
What will you get when the hallowed ‘delivery day’ finally arrives? A pure slice of American muscle, but refined to appeal to European buyers. The interior is better, the suspension is no longer as simple as a lorry’s, and there’s even a 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol.
You’ll almost certainly want the 5.0-litre V8, with 413bhp and the ability to scorch to 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds. You’ll probably also want it because it has a launch control mode and something called ‘Line Lock’, which brakes only the front wheels so you can smoke the rear tyres, to erm warm them up…or something.
Drive slowly through towns and villages (avoiding the Line Lock temptation) and it’s cultured, quiet even, but put the hammer down and it will hunker down and emit a baritone roar that makes £32,995 seem like an unmitigated bargain. Jaguars and Aston Martins costing three times as much don’t sound much better.
This low price could also justify its running costs. Yes, you’ll make good friends with the bloke in the petrol station. The figures are 20.9mpg and 299g/km of CO2, so you’ll need all the chances to enjoy the V8 you can get to justify the new hole in your bank account.
Some of us will not be able to stomach the costs and go for the 2.3-litre EcoBoost instead, with just 309bhp. It’s not exactly a weedy engine, and this motor will also form the building blocks of the Focus RS, which is hardly expected to be slow.
In the heavier, rear-wheel drive ‘Stang it’ll crack 62mph in 5.8 seconds and cost from £28,995 with a six-speed manual. You’ll want the latter, it’s smooth, sweet and you’ll find yourself resting your hand on it as it’s in just the right place.
Ford has setup this engine to feel larger than it is, with lots of torque and a wide power band, so you’ll find yourself holding onto a gear and winding the car out for far longer than you would in a hot hatch. Controversially, it also has an augmented soundtrack, so like the Focus ST, the speakers add a pulsing bed of sound over the engine. It’s effective, and if you didn’t know, you probably wouldn’t realise.
So, one car, with two very different engines. Which you choose will likely depend on your beliefs about what a Mustang should be, and your bank balance. We have just one, very important tip; if you decide on the EcoBoost, just never have a go in a V8.
