NZV8

THE DRIVE

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As we depart CTB Performanc­e in South Auckland, this machine makes its intent known. A slight dab on the throttle is translated into a roar from the exhaust and a spurt of speed. Once we are on the motorway, that dab becomes a push and, my lord, the $41,500 premium for the Spec 3 kit had us rethinking our mortgage payments and considerin­g a foray into RTR ownership. Yes, it’s that good. The factory adjustable suspension in the cars allows the driver to build the optimal set-up for their driving style, including through the windy stuff, and the addition of RTR-spec springs and shocks along with stiffer front sway bar add to the impressive combo. Now, of course, the Mustang hasn’t historical­ly been the car you might choose for a track day or hill-climb event, so we decided to put the RTR to the test on some brilliant Kiwi back roads. While the news is good, and the car feels more like a sports car should, we’d be going back to the shed to tinker with the set-up some more before calling this RTR a proper back-road carver, as impressive as it is. The theatre is almost as impressive as the power in the RTR. The 2018 GTs utilize the all-new 10-speed automatic gearbox. Ten speeds is a lot — in fact, we’d say that it’s one too many. But, in the RTR, there is a benefit to this many gears: the noises it makes when it shifts. Both up and down, the pops and burbles are enough to make a grown man giddy. Finding the right gear to get the most from the 700hp engine can be tricky, but the shifts are quick enough that getting to the correct cog doesn’t take too long, thanks, in part, to the CTB retune. Once we’ve entertaine­d ourselves with the exhaust noises and had our fun, we get into the rhythm of the beast. The Mustang becomes a nice cruiser of a car. The 10-speed gearbox suddenly makes sense, and the plethora of mod cons offered by the 2018 Ford Mustang as standard means that this wild horse becomes a sedated school fair pony. Of course, the lack of two back doors and the rear seats that wouldn’t comfortabl­y accommodat­e a toddler mean that some traditiona­l Falcon buyers may be out of the market for the RTR. But we’d suggest toddlers and traditiona­l Falcon buyers may well want to look elsewhere for their needs and leave the RTR to those brave enough to take it on.

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