Nearly one month into 2017 and it would seem that Ford is off to a hot start. Having been around in South Africa for all of about 5 minutes, the Ford Mustang is already receiving its mid-life update and along with its rather sad new face comes a host of technologies and three new colours.
One of the highlights of the updated Mustang is its new 12-inch LCD instrument cluster. Offering various personalisation options and three separate views, it’ll surely appeal to the younger generation of Mustang owner as opposed to the older, die-hard fans. A vast array of driver-assist technology can now be had with your ‘Stang with features such as lane-keep assist, driver alert and pre-collision assist, making your prancing horse all the more aware of what’s going on around it.
If you hate the current Mustang’s speaker delivered engine note then you’ll be pleased to know that “a fully variable soundtrack to match the entire acceleration range” has somehow made a comeback. The engine note can be “adjusted” which makes no sense and an all-new active valve exhaust is optional on the Mustang GT, which does.
Ford SYNC stays and will probably work just as Ford SYNC always has and FordPass is now available which allows owners to start, unlock, lock and locate their vehicles at the swish of a smartphone.
MagneRide adaptive suspension can now be had with the Performance Package and improvements to the lateral stiffness and stabiliser bars along with new shock absorbers across the range improve handling.
To match the improved handling, the 5.0-litre V8 motor has been reworked and delivers more power and is more fuel-efficient thanks to Ford’s new dual-fuel high-pressure direct injection and low-pressure port fuel injection which delivers meaty low-end torque and high-rpm power. The 2.3 Ecoboost 4-pot puts out a little more torque thanks to some fettling of the overboost function.
The V8 Stang’s 6-speed manual has been completely redesigned, making use of a twin-disc clutch and dual-mass flywheel which increases torque capability and delivers more efficient modulation of the clutch. Automatic Mustangs now come with too many gears so while you’re trying to find the reason why you bought an automatic Mustang, at least the gearbox has enough time to decide which of its 10 ratios it feels like using.
New interior trims and finishes and slightly better build quality should give the Mustang a slightly more upmarket feel than before and if that’s not enough for you, it has a new key with a different looking horse on it. Innovation, you know.
The new Mustang goes on sale in Trumpland in fall, whenever that is, but judging by how long we had to wait for the last one, America might have a new president by the time it arrives in South Africa.