Ford Mustang

Now on its 6th generation, the Ford Mustang continues its legacy as a modern-day musclecar since the first generation model came out in 1964. The latest Mustang combines pure American power and all the modern technology developed by Ford. Most importantly, this 2-door, 4-seater coupe continues to represent the American ideals of high performance. There are two very powerful engine powerplants to choose from and it can either be a convertible or fastback body style. For the ultimate Ford Mustang, there’s no mistaking the tire-shredding, Shelby GT500 with 700-plus horsepower from a breathtaking supercharged V8 engine.

History

The Ford Mustang is a sports coupe produced by the Ford Motor Company in the United States from 1964 to the present. A feat that makes it one of the best-selling and longest running vehicle that Ford Motor Company has ever produced. Introduced in April of 1964, over 400,000 units were sold during in its first year alone. Within two years since its launch, the one-millionth Mustang was sold and in August 2018, Ford produced the 10-millionth Mustang. Since then, the Mustang has evolved with the times and has never stopped adopting new automotive technologies. Today, the Mustang has reached its sixth generation which was launched in 2015 for the Philippine market. A minor facelift was introduced in 2018 during the Manila International Auto Show MIAS) which came with notable improvements from the previous model. The current generation Mustang is available as a convertible or fastback with special high performance variants such as the Shelby GT500 and the Mach-1.

Variant and Price

The Ford Mustang price in the Philippines starts at P2,948,000.00. The lowest price is the Ford Mustang 2.3 EcoBoost Premium SelectShift AT Fastback, ranging all the way up to the Ford Mustang 5.2 V8 GT Shelby GT500 AT priced at P7,760,000.00.

The Ford Mustang retains the classic fastback look that’s reminiscent of the original design from the sixties. A long hood, two doors, fastback roof and a short decklid continue to define the Mustang’s exterior that looks extremely modern. Even the front end fascia features the distinct elongated hexagon grille with the galloping horse in the middle and sleek headlamps featuring led bars that look like gills. Over at the rear, the familiar three-bar taillight design lives on in a modern adaptation. To further evoke a sense of the swinging sixties, the Ford Mustang comes in vibrant exterior colors to choose from. Colors such as, Grabber Yellow, Rapid Red Metallic, Antimatter Blue Metallic, Carbonized Grey Metallic, Velocity Blue Metallic, Race Red Metallic, Oxford White, Iconic Silver Metallic and Shadow Black.

Lighting

Staying true to its 2+2 seating configuration, the interior of the Ford Mustang can comfortably accommodate four persons. Wrapped in leather, the seats offer great support with highly contoured bolsters. The interior is dominantly black using different materials found throughout, it does however have silver accents just to give detail and contrast. The well-laid out retro-design dashboard houses an LCD gauge cluster which is a nod to the original layout that used analog gauges. There are also a mix of toggle and slide switches finished in chrome and silver that give the driver a tactile feel that further heightens the whole driving experience. The Mustang offers a decent amount of trunk space that measures 408 liters which Ford says can accommodate two golf bags.

Dashboard

The Mustang fascia is pretty much what you'd expect. It's attractive in a fairly simple and gregarious way, the exterior looks exactly what you'd expect from an interior look. The switchgear is thick and easy to use and everything is positioned logically. Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system is also fairly easy to use and does a good job of reducing the number of buttons on the dashboard. It controls things like stereo, satellite navigation and Bluetooth phone connectivity.

Space and practically

The Mustang is a large car that is longer than the Audi A5 and BMW 4 Series coupes but while there is plenty of room for passengers in the front, the rear seats are very cramped for adults. Only children will feel comfortable there for a long time. Getting into the rear seats is tricky, as there are no rear doors, and the coupe's sloping roofline also takes up headroom. There are two large cup holders on the center console, but other than that, not much storage space. Although the steering wheel has been moved from left to right for UK buyers, the center console carried across the Atlantic remains unchanged. That means there's nowhere to put your left elbow other than in one of the cup holders. The handbrake handle is on the far side of the center console so it's quite affordable.

Boot

The Mustang's boot reaches 408 liters, which is noticeably smaller than the 445 liters you get in the BMW 4 Series. However, Ford wants to emphasize that the Mustang's boot can accommodate two golf bags - and the trunk lip is tall and quite narrow due to the way the taillights are mounted.

Comfort features

On the steering wheel of the Ford Mustang, there is a little switch with the Pony icon where it opens the menu to configure other enthusiast features such as the instrument display theme, gauges, rev match, and even the launch control engine rpm setting.

Safety Features

The Ford Mustang comes with standard safety features such as, seven air bags that cover the front, sides, knees of the occupants in the event of a crash. Anti-lock brake system with electronic brakeforce distribution. Others features include a tire pressure monitoring system, perimeter alarm, an anti-theft system, as well as ISOFIX tethers for child seats. There are also driver aids in the form of advanced traction control and stability control systems. These include adaptive cruise control, active braking, lane keep assist, and a pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection. Also of help is the Wet/Snow setting in the drive mode selection.

Technology Features

It may be a musclecar, but the Ford Mustang combines all the latest tech features such as ford’s Sync 3. This is an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity. The audio system includes an AM/FM stereo, single-CD/MP3 player and 12 speakers – one of which is an eight-inch subwoofer smartly mounted in the trunk without sacrificing storage space. The 12-inch instrument cluster features MyColor which enables the driver to customize the color and appearance. It also has MyMode which allows the driver to set his/her favorite drive settings.

The Ford Mustang has two engine choices, either an inline-4 cylinder engine or a good old fashioned American V8. The 2.3-liter, Inline-4 EcoBoost features direct injection and a turbocharger, allowing it to generate 310 hp of output at 5,500 rpm and 475 Nm of torque at 3,000 rpm. This engine is partnered with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed select shift automatic. On the other hand, the 5.0 L GT TI-VCT V8 features a dual injection system: high-pressure direct injection and low-pressure port fuel injection for improved power. This allows the engine to deliver a maximum output of 460 hp and 569 Nm of peak torque. It also powers the 5.0 GT to go from zero to 60 mph in under four seconds. Found on the Ford Mustang GT V8, is an active exhaust valve allows drivers to select Normal, Quiet, Track or Sport modes which acts like a variable exhaust.

Engine

Two engine choices are offered by SDAC in the Ford Mustang. Characteristics of both engines could not be any more polarizing. In the true American tradition, the Ford Mustang GT is fitted with a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine. Power outputs are 460 PS at 7,000 rpm and 556 Nm at 4,600 rpm. A more economical turbocharged four-cylinder displacing 2.3 litres is parked under the Ecoboost name. Performance is respectable from the relatively tiny 2.3-litre turbocharged engine. It dishes out 310 PS at 5,400 rpm and a whopping 447 Nm of torque at just 3,000 rpm.

Transmission

Both Ford Mustang GT and Ford Mustang Ecoboost come standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles with the shift lever able to select normal D or S sport mode, where the transmission is in fully manual selection and does not upshift even near the redline.

Platform and Chassis

The Ford Mustang is built around a fully unitized steel chassis, with a front engine, rear-wheel drive configuration. Up front, the Ford Mustang uses a double-ball-joint Macpherson strut suspension, while the rear features an independent multi-link rear suspension with coil springs and stabilizer bar. Depending on the Mustang variant, a MagneRide damping system is also available. The brakes consist four-wheel power disc brakes with four-sensor, four-channel antilock braking system and AdvanceTrac electronic stability. For traction, the Ford Mustang rolls on 19-inch alloy wheels and tires.

2022 Ford MustangChassis
Class – Performance Car
Body Style - 2-Door Coupe or 2-Door Convertible

Platform
Layout - Front Engine, Rear-Wheel Drive
Platform – Ford S550 Platform

Up front, the Ford Mustang uses double-ball-joint Macpherson strut suspension, with the rear features a more sophisticated independent multi-link rear suspension. The braking system differs between the variants, where the Mustang GT is fitted with Brembo six-piston calipers clamping on discs measuring 380mm.

Riding&control

About average in the Ford Mustang, soaking up bumps within reasonable comfort and balanced with good body control when driven enthusiastically. The Ford Mustang GT V8 with 460 PS and 556 Nm complete the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 4.3 seconds, while the Ecoboost with 310 PS in 5.5 seconds. With independent rear suspension and fitted with a LSD, the Ford Mustang tackles corners with a lot more finesse and composure than previous generations. Traction of out corners is also respectable but entering one too fast and you are returned with understeer.

The fuel consumption of the turbocharged four-cylinder Ecoboost Mustang is factory rated at 9.6 liters per 100 km (10.4 km/L), while the Mustang GT with the 5.0-liter V8 is rated at 12.7 liters per 100 km (7.8 km/L).

The Ford Mustang comes with everything that a modern day musclecar should possess. A powerful V8 engine with the latest technological and safety features. In addition, the Mustang is an iconic car from a brand that’s known for manufacturing high quality vehicles. With power choices that range from a punchy turbo four or a mighty 5.0-liter V-8; both engines feed the Mustang’s rear wheels through an engaging 6-speed manual transmission or a terrific 10-speed automatic. Sure enough, the Ford Mustang is geared towards driving excitement.