The Ford Mustang has proven popular since its arrival in South Africa, but if you couldn’t get your hands on the Bullitt for that ultimate pony car experience, then this special track-focused Mach 1 is your next best bet.
Under the bonnet is the 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8 engine, but in Mach 1 iteration power has been bumped to 338 kW and 529 Nm. The additional power comes from a high-performance open air induction system, intake manifold and 87mm throttle bodies with low-pressure port fuel injection and high-pressure direct fuel injection.
As far as performance goes, the new Ford Mustang Mach 1 is good for a 0-100 in 4.4 seconds for the auto, but straight-line performance is just one of its party pieces. The car also features increased downforce for high-speed stability and enhanced corner carving ability. The manual gearbox Mach 1 is fractionally slower at 4.8 seconds to 100 kph.
The aerodynamic package is impressive with vents for cooling and downforce. There’s also the bonus of image, with the front splitter and rear spoiler really adding to the appeal.
Customers have the choice of a 6-speed manual gearbox from the Shelby GT350 as well as the Ford 10-speed automatic transmission with upraded torque converter and software mapping. Both gearboxes feature a dedicated oil cooler, axle cooling system and limited-slip differential. The brakes are six-piston Brembo units.
The magic doesn’t stop there as the Ford Mustang Mach 1 features electric power-assisted steering, electronically-controlled MagneRide 2 adjustable suspension, and stiffer front springs and anti-roll bars. Some of the suspension components are shared with the Shelby GT350 and GT500. The car rides on 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubber.
Inside the cabin of the Ford Mustang Mach 1, you’ll find Metal Grey stitching and a build number. The car comes with convenience features such as heated and cooled seats, SYNC3 connectivity and a 10-speaker audio system from B&O, whether you’d use the latter when you have that lovely V8 engine snarling away is debatable.
All Mustang models come standard with Ford Protect, comprising a four-year/120 000km comprehensive warranty, three-year/unlimited distance roadside assistance and five-year/unlimited km corrosion warranty. A six-year/90 000km service plan is included, with 15000km service intervals.
Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 6MT R1182100 incl. VAT
Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 10AT R1203800 incl. VAT
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