Ford Mustang

Overview

The Ford Mustang has been delighting the racing-enthusiasts for decades ever since it entered production first in 1964. This is the evidence of how well the car has been doing since then. For a car that has always been expected to sell in limited numbers, the Mustang has done well to defy the terms and rake up the segment of sporty supercars.

In the present day, spotting a Mustang isn’t very rare. Not that it has become a commoner, but it sells more than its close competitors in the local market. Of course, there is the wonderful and aerodynamic exterior and the potent engine under the hood that plays a major role in getting this supercar be what it is today. It is very rightly known as the “Muscle Car” and truly deserves the kind of popularity it gets all around the world.

Interior & Features

The interior cabin is an exciting place to be in. Both the rows are quite comfortable, especially for its seats, which are well cushioned and supported. Though the legroom is not very generous (you would expect that from a sports car), the presence of the rear row brings it to a better spot in the league.

The cabin has a single-tone (black) colour scheme all around. However, the dashboard has a lot of silver inserts, especially on the dashboard. The three-spoke steering wheel has a lot of control buttons and Stallion logo in the centre. There two round manual dials on the centre console have a small digital meter in the centre.

The brake pedals have the same aluminium coating on them. On the dashboard, there is an 8-inch touchscreen SYNC system which has a wonderful audio system connected to it. The comfort level is maintained with the dual-zone automatic climate control.

Exterior

The Ford Mustang is that one car that has always commanded respect wherever it is taken. Truth being told, this Muscle Car is absolutely gorgeous and gives you more than one reason to choose it over the others.

The latest iteration of the Mustang has slight changes over the previous generation model. This model is extremely streamlined and just as the company describes the cause, the designers were challenged to produce a model that could be more aerodynamic and free-breathing than the previous generations. There are many things given in as standard like automatic headlamps with wipers, an embedded radio antenna and HID headlamps, LED tail-section lighting and rear window defroster.

The muscle car runs on 19-inch alloy wheels, which are painted in Ebony Black. The stallion logo on the air intakes up front is well complemented by the LED fog lamps that take up a prominent spot on the lip spoiler.

Ride & Handling

One thing is for sure, though the Mustang has a lot of those electronics filled in for the stability, the kind of power and feel you will be enticed to screw up the drive if you try the usual stunts that you would have otherwise loved doing in an RWD car. The new suspension brings in a huge change in the driving dynamics.

The high torque makes the acceleration of the rear wheels fun and sharp. Handling is not that fussy if you know the correct way to tame a powerhouse. Hitting the corners at high speeds is not scary as the large 19-inch wheels come to the fore.

Also, the driving mode selection toggle gets the feel and handling to change considerably. By default, there are three drive modes (that you should care about) offered - Normal, Sport and Track.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Ford Mustang deserves the tag of being a Muscle Car perfectly. It is presently offered in two different engine options in the Philippines market. The smaller 2.3-litre, four-cylinder engine is a turbocharged (EcoBoost) motor and can make a maximum power of 310 PS at 5,500 rpm and a peak torque of 434 Nm at 3,000 rpm. The power is sent down to the wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

On the other hand, the bigger engine is a potent 5.0-litre V8 motor that thumps out an insane 435 PS at 6,500 rpm along with a peak torque of 542 Nm which comes at 4,250 rpm. There is the same 6-speed automatic transmission gearbox doing the duties here as well. However, there are still a good number of people who would prefer a manual unit for such a powerful car.

Braking & Safety

When it comes to the safety, the Ford Mustang scores pretty well. Ford offers what it calls the Personal Safety System in every Mustang as standard. Disc brakes and ABS are just standard names while naming the features the car offers.

The AdvanceTrac electronic stability control is a necessity for a car of this caliber. There are many airbags surrounding all the occupants, keeping them away from fatal injuries in any unforeseen accident. There is individual tyre-pressure monitoring system that can be used to avoid tough handling in case the tyres start losing pressure.

Rear parking sensors have the benefits of a camera so that you don’t bump on to other cars while tight parking situations. However, the best thing that attracts the customers is the presence of the SOS Alert System which sends in information and alerts post any crash that may happen.

Verdict

The Ford Mustang perfectly justifies the tagline of being a Muscle Car and is one of the most exciting cars to be had at that price range. It is definitely a head-turner on the road and a heart-thriller on the accelerator pedal. The torque-filled engine and the rear-wheel drive is well amalgamated to give you the best drive of your life and promises to keep doing so everytime you get behind the steering.

Worried about the sudden bad roads on the hills or on a wet monsoon day? The fourth (and probably the best) drive mode, called “Snow/Wet” gets the wheels planted to the road without compromising on any of the inherent qualities of Mustang branding.