Think of Ford, and you think of Mustang. It's as simple as that. It's a model that is so synonymous with the brand that one can't help but consider it. Rangers, Escorts, Fiestas, and Focuses all played a role, but none have been as instrumental in invoking excitement as the 60-year-old pony car. What started as a blue-collar sports car has carried the spirit of Ford's performance into the present day. Where many have lost sight of the shore, the Mustang remains true to its roots, as we recently discovered when sampling the new, 7th generation S650 Ford Mustang GT in the picturesque Western Cape and its glorious roads.
Related: New Ford Mustang now in South Africa!
I'll start by saying that I quite like the modern Mustang. South Africa was short-changed for several decades when Ford elected not to produce any right-hand drive models for our market. That changed in December 2015 when the S550 was first offered locally. Not only was it a guaranteed head-turner, but the naturally aspirated V8 gave the car character by the bucket load. But character doesn't necessarily mean that it was perfect.
On the contrary, its flaws and shortcomings personified the machine. Humans are intrinsically flawed; when a machine presents quirks and foibles, it takes on its character. The Mustang was this and more.
The new 7th Generation Mustang
The new Ford Mustang, known by geeks as the S650, still pays homage to the original design of the 1964 Mustang. It takes the now-familiar Coke bottle silhouette of the fastback and reimagines it for the present day. It's sharper and more angular and scowls at you through LED lighting.
The aggressive bonnet leading edge houses a functional air vent, and in the corners rests a set of LED headlights with an unmistakable 3-element DRL. The large grille is well-proportioned and doesn't buy into the German design ethos of Bigger Is Better. Sizeable air dams and side vents give the front end a sense of purpose while retaining the all-too-familiar profile.
The flanks are interesting. Again, the sharper, redesigned haunches echo the stance of the original model, but one can't help but see some contemporary Dodge and Chevrolet in them. They cover a set of 19-inch alloy wheels in an aggressive but modern style. These are 9 inches wide up front and 9.5 inches wide at the rear.
Around the back, the signature tri-taillight bars have been retained, but the angular overhang completely changes the look. This radical rear-end design approach has a race-inspired feel, replete with a faux diffuser.
'Stang Goes Digital
On the inside, the new Mustang is even more radical. It's here that Ford decided to appeal to the younger audience. Those that they're targeting are digital natives and don't share the same romantic love for analogue gauges as perhaps I do. Still, they will be treated to a slick dual-screen display with a 12.4-inch display for the driver and a larger 13.2-inch display for the SYNC4 infotainment system. The operating system employs the Unreal Engine 3D graphics processing system to provide the passengers with an unrivalled digital experience with animations so slick you won't mind waiting for GTA6.
This approach also allows you to customise the instrument cluster to your choosing, allowing you to select from several gauge designs ranging from the original '64 Mustang to the late Fox Body and even the SVT-style white gauges of the 90s.
While the S650 may have gone digital in most places, 'purists' (and I've used inverted commas there for a reason) will appreciate the inclusion of a traditionally styled handbrake lever. Devoid of a ratchet mechanism, this is the Drift Brake. Yes, you read that right. Straight from Vaughn Gittin Jnr's drift, Mustang comes a lever you can pull and release to lock up the rear wheels, complete with its own dedicated set of rear callipers - that's correct, dual callipers at the rear just for this. The one caveat, though, is that this is an electronic system, doubling as the parking brake. Gimmick or genius, make of that what you will.
The rest of the interior is leather-clad with raised stitching, a heated multi-function steering wheel, and leather sports seats with heating and ventilation. Sadly, the interior trim echoes the shortcomings of the previous generation with ill-fitting panels and a few rattles and squeaks. The bonnet will also flutter at highway speeds, so much so that the first time you drive it, you will think it's unlatched and stop to check. I know. I did. These finish inconsistencies will endear some, offering a hand-assembled feel, while for others, they will scream lazy quality control.
The Heart of the Beast
South Africa has no appetite for the reworked 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine, so we will only get the hearty 5.0-litre V8 Coyote engine, the GT. This established power unit has been settled to produce 328kW and 540Nm, down on the power that one would get abroad, but you can thank our poor fuel, hot climate, and high altitudes for that. This power comes from a redesigned intake with two airboxes and dual throttle bodies, allowing more air to enter the engine.
It's paired with the 10-speed automatic gearbox that performs exceptionally well. You are given steering paddles, but on a 10-speed 'box I feel this is a little unnecessary. Gearing down for a corner is always a guessing game; "Do I need to drop three gears or four?" You invariably get it wrong every time. In Sport and RaceTrack driving modes, the shifts are rather brutal, giving you a meaty kick in the back, but the gearbox does favour a higher gear, so one cannot ride the torque swell of the V8 engine in the way you would want.
Power is naturally sent to the rear wheels. Because South Africa will only accept the best, all of our versions are the Performance Pack variants that get the Torsen limited-slip differential, which helps ensure that the power is sent to the wheel with the most grip in the most progressive manner. This new Mustang feels more surefooted and stable around corners, and the steering feel, a former pain point, is vastly improved over the outgoing model. Unfortunately, you will find the suspension rather firm, even in normal mode, and the GT tends to track at high speeds, requiring near-constant steering input.
It's great to drive, though, and the new 'Stang pulls HARD! There's something special about the surge of a V8 and the associated noise that emanates from the active exhaust system. It's highly addictive, and one soon finds oneself 'bullying' traffic as you overtake, making it known that you have more displacement than common sense.
Pricing
You'll have to fork over R1 300 000 for the new Mustang GT, but then you'll get a fully-kitted vehicle, with the only option being the colour you prefer. Before scoffing at this price tag, consider when the S550 Fastback GT Automatic was launched locally and recall that it cost R839 900. That was in 2015. Now, 9 years later, that has only increased by 54%, whereas numerous other comparable sports cars have increased by over 75% - we're looking at you, BMW.
This price includes a 6-year/90 000km Ford Optional Service Plan, 4-year/120 000km Ford warranty, 4-year/unlimited distance Roadside Assistance, 5-year/unlimited distance corrosion warranty, and all the visceral motoring you could want.
Verdict
And that's exactly it; this is a visceral motoring experience you can no longer buy in SA. Many will be too refined, turbocharged, and demure to qualify. Every time you step into a Mustang, it's an occasion, it's an event. And it will force you to take the long, exciting way home.
