The seventh-generation Ford Mustang has made its global debut ahead of deliveries beginning in 2023. In a world of ever-more EVs, the thrilling new Ford Mustang is proudly petrol-only, and prices for the glamorous new model are expected to start north of £50,000.
Ford bosses are pleased as punch they’ve been able to swim against the tide with the new Mustang, “investing in another generation of Mustang… at a time when many of our competitors are exiting the business of internal combustion engines”. But it’s not doing it out of the goodness of its heart: the Mustang is a seriously successful car – it’s the world’s best-selling sports car of all, no less, as well as the most popular car on Facebook.
So the new 2023 Ford Mustang retains its authentic muscle car profile, just with an added dose of modern edge to the heritage-style design. It has a long bonnet, fastback profile and shorter-than-ever rear overhang. The front end ‘face’ is also more mean and moody, with a lower brow atop the crisp LED headlights.
There are several versions of new Ford Mustang and each will get a bespoke front end look. The Mustang GT, for example, will have larger grille openings and new bonnet vents.
At the top of the range is an all-new version, the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. This is the ultimate track-ready Mustang and will provide the basis for entries in GT3, GT4 and NASCAR racing. It has a suitably dark-themed exterior appearance, plus lower side skirts and a fixed rear wing.
The Ford Mustang Dark Horse also prominently features a new logo outside and in: for the first time ever, the famous horse is facing forwards.
Inside, all new Ford Mustang have a high-tech appearance. The traditional double-cowl dashboard has been traded for a modern twin-screen layout; a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster and vivid 13.2-inch Sync 4 centre stack with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s all fully configurable – you can even display retro Ford Mustang gauges if you so wish (and they switch over to a retro green colour at night).
Controversially, there are no radio or climate control buttons; they’ve been integrated into the centre screen. Ford says that during research, this proved popular “with millennials, Gen-Z and traditional Mustang drivers alike”.
The new Ford Mustang has a sharper, tighter platform that will respond more quickly to driver inputs and feel sportier than the current car. It’s enhanced further in the Mustang GT, which gets a standard Performance Pack including 19-inch alloys, sport limited-slip differential, 19-inch Brembo brakes and optional MagneRide active suspension.
The Dark Horse goes a step further with auxiliary engine oil cooler, transmission oil cooler, lightweight radiator, more powerful cooling fans and a bespoke Torsen limited-slip differential. Unique suspension tuning brings larger rear anti-roll bars and heavy-duty front dampers, staggered Pirelli P-Zero PZ4 tyres, electronic drift brake and standard active suspension. Ford is not messing about here.
Which takes us to the engine: a full-fat 5.0-litre V8, which is now into its fourth generation. Take it either with a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic, and keep your ears out in particular for the Mustang GT, which has a dual air intake and dual throttle body design, minimising losses, enabling higher flow rates – and sounding the business. Ford Electronic Sound Enhancement will digitally augment it yet further if you so wish.
Power figures are to be confirmed; the most powerful of all will be the Dark Horse, which is likely to get upwards of 500PS. Count yourself lucky, therefore, if you see anywhere near the 25mpg fuel economy Ford’s quoting…
You won’t be buying the new Ford Mustang for an economy run though. You’ll be buying it to celebrate the V8 one last time – and we’re certain enthusiasts will be rushing to place an order to buy or lease a new Mustang when the Ford configurator opens in 2023. Deliveries are expected to begin towards the end of next year.
