Ford Mustang Convertible

Lid lifted on revised pony car with Ecoboost power

AS Mustangs go, a four-cylinder convertible couldn’t be further from the American dream if it was made in a North Korean factory staffed by Russians. But bear with us, because Ford has been busy with the sixth-generation Mustang.

We drove the revised V8 GT last year (Issue 1,500), but have had to wait until now to try a Euro-spec car. Along with a light nip and tuck, Ford has added digital dials and a new 10-speed auto box.

The 2.3-litre Ecoboost’s power output has dropped to reduce emissions and improve economy, but despite peak power dipping from 313bhp to 286bhp, it’ll go from 0-62mph one-tenth quicker (5.7 seconds) and hit 145mph flat out.

Of bigger significance is that gearbox. We sampled it in the V8 and concluded that while it’s better than the six-speed it replaces, it doesn’t offer the immediacy and performance advantages of the best double-clutch units. The ratios are tightly stacked and once you get your head around being in seventh gear at 40mph, it’s as effortless as you want it to be. Crucially, when you up the pace, there are few objections from the powertrain.

The transformation the £1,600 optional Magnaride adaptive dampers make to the chassis, especially in the cabriolet, is of greater importance. A drop-top Mustang would previously pitch into a corner and wait for the body to catch up. Now, there’s poise and control.

As such, the Mustang Convertible closes the dynamic gap on its Coupé equivalent. But for a car with the bonnet acreage of a Mustang, the Ecoboost’s mute soundtrack still struggles to match the GT version for aural appeal.

The new 12-inch TFT instrument panel is easier to read and offers more functions than before. Extra safety kit includes pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection and adaptive cruise. The seats are still a little too gentleman’s club for our liking, however, and the roof-down buffeting can be tiresome.