2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Ford says this new trim marks the most track-ready Mustang ever built
Hot on the heels of the Mustang Mach-E all-electric crossover comes news it will get a hyper gas-powered running mate — the latest Mustang Mach 1. It returns after an 18-year hiatus. Based on previous Mach 1s, it has some big tires to fill, but fill them it will, says Ford.
The original Mustang Mach 1 arrived as a 1969 model. In that year it went on to set no fewer than 295 speed and endurance records. Back then it came with more power, especially the up-level Cobra Jet with 335 horsepower — many believe the true output was closer to 400 hp!
Regardless, it ran from zero to 96 km/h in 5.7 seconds, which is respectable even by today’s standards! It also earned a sport suspension, hood scoop, and graphics kit.
Its celebrity came when James Bond drove a 1971 Mach 1 through the streets of old Las Vegas. The chase is famous for the ’Stang going up on two wheels and driving through a narrow passage to escape the law. On the way into the passage, it was riding on the right-side tires; it exited with the left tires grounded! Oops.
Sadly, the Mach 1 died in the late ’70s and did not resurface until 2003. The second Mach 1 had a 305hp 4.6L V8, which slotted it neatly between the 260hp GT and the SVT Cobra with 390 stallions. This time around the same applies. The 2021 Mach 1 sits between the Mustang GT and Shelby GT 350. To give it gravitas, the latest iteration gets the mechanicals needed to make it the “most potent track Mustang” ever produced.
The cosmetics include a 3-D mesh grille with a matte Pony badge; low-gloss accents; and 19-inch darkpainted wheels wearing Michelin PS4 tires, along with hood and side striping.
The meat of the Mach’s look is found in the redesigned front fascia — it has much larger air inlets in the lower bumper area. The design ups the downforce by 22 per cent when compared to the Mustang GT with the Performance Pack Level 1. The rework also helps to keep the under-hood temperatures to manageable levels when the engine is pushed to the max. To further enhance track endurance, the Mach 1 also gets engine oil and transmission oil coolers, along with the rear axle cooler from Shelby GT 500.
Mach 1 uses the same 5.0L V8 found in the Bullitt — this means 480 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. It works with the sixspeed manual transmission taken from the GT 350, but this time around it has revmatched downshifts. It also earns the Mustang GT’s twindisc clutch and short-throw gear lever. For the shiftless, there will be a more robust 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
Any Mustang worth its salt must have serious bite to its exhaust. Take a look around back of the Mach 1 and it gets the GT 500’s rear valance along with oversized 114-millimetres (4.5-inch) tailpipes. This means it should bark with the very best of them!
As for the rest of the mechanicals, the Mach 1 gets retuned MagneRide dampers; larger anti-roll bars; firmer front springs; and a stiffer steering shaft. All measures are aimed at improving the track capability. Thankfully, the brakes have also been upgraded to handle the rigors of a hard session — along with a bigger brake booster, the under-belly pan improves brake cooling.
If more track ability is needed, with the Handling package comes a larger, higher-downforce front splitter and a rear spoiler with a Gurney flap. The combination increases the downforce by 150 per cent when compared to the Mustang GT with the Performance Pack Level 1 aboard.
Inside, there are hints of heritage with stripes; a revised instrument cluster; bucket seats; and a white cue ball shifter knob, along with a dash-mounted plate with the chassis number etched into it. The good news is the Bullitt’s Recaro seats are an option.
The Mustang Mach 1 holds a great deal of promise. Its mechanical upgrades suggest it will live up to the advanced billing — the best track Mustang ever produced. If there is a wish, it would be for one stallion for each of the Mach 1’s 52-year history — 502 just seems like such a nice round number!