WHY FORD MUSTANG IS TORQUE OF THE TOWN
PLUS: GET IN THE DRIVING SEAT WITH OUR MOTORING LIFTOUT
WHEN the iconic Mustang muscle car went on sale in Australia in late 2015, Ford thought it might sell 1000 a year.
Imagine Ford’s surprise when it took 4000 orders in the first few months. Even jacking up the price didn’t put a dent on demand.
This year Ford is on track to sell almost 10,000 Mustangs – a staggering 10 times more than what it originally forecast.
The Mustang has become a sales sensation Down Under as Aussie Ford fans fill the gap left by the muchloved local hero the Falcon, which went out of production last October.
The Mustang waiting list initially stretched beyond 12 months. The Ford factory in Michigan couldn’t produce more Mustangs for Australia overnight as there are 104 individual parts unique to righthand-drive versions sold here.
Ford had to contact the suppliers of those 104 parts and dramatically increase the order for right-hand-drive parts, which took months to ramp up.
Fast forward to today and there are healthy supplies of Mustang in Australia.
The Mustang has just notched up its 20th month in a row as Australia’s topselling sports car. So far this year the Mustang has sewn up 50 per cent of the sports car market locally; 18 other models such as the Toyota 86 coupe and Mazda MX-5 convertible fight over the rest.
So why is an impractical two-door coupe powered by a thirsty V8 in such hot demand? Sports car sales usually start strong and then hit the brakes.
The Mustang has done the opposite because Australia was ripe for it.
The average age of newcar buyers is 51 years, and people in that bracket grew up watching Mustangs on TV shows and in movies, such as Steve McQueen’s 1968 hit Bullitt.
Mustang buyers are also at an age when they’re coming into money or have put a dent on their mortgage, and have a bit of cash to treat themselves.
The other contributing factor: the end of local production of the Ford Falcon and its V8 derivatives.
When the Mustang was confirmed for Australia, Ford was adamant it was not a re- placement for the Falcon. But it turns out that’s exactly what has happened.
And in case you missed it, the new Mustang is also available with a four-cylinder engine.
Some might call it sacrilege but Ford calls it smart planning, given the uncertainty around petrol prices and the possibility of stricter emissions standards in future. The four-cylinder also happens to be nice to drive, if a little quiet.