Mustang the best-selling sports car in the world
Global Mustang registrations in 2017 totalled 125,809 cars, according to Ford analysis of the most recent new light vehicle registration data from IHS Markit.
This data – compiled from government and other sources and capturing 95 per cent of global new vehicle volumes in more than 80 countries – puts Mustang ahead of all other sports coupe competitors worldwide.
‘‘Sports coupes’’, as defined by IHS Markit, includes two-door and convertible models.
One-third of Mustang registrations were in export markets, which shows this Pony is making progress as a global machine. But it’s still the United States that dominates, accounting for 81,866 of the near126,000 total.
Kiwis did their bit. A tiny little bit, with 115 Mustangs sold in New Zealand last year.
Europeans like it, with 13,100 vehicles sold (Germany is the biggest Euro market). It’s gaining traction in China, where Mustang was the best-selling sports coupe last year based on 7125 registrations.
Since global exports began in 2015, through December 2017, Ford has sold 418,000 Mustangs around the world. The most popular configuration worldwide is the Mustang GT with the 5.0-litre V8.
A major upgrade for Mustang has just been launched in NZ. Power and torque in the V8 are up from 306kW/530Nm to 339kW/556Nm in this new one. The redline is also higher with peak power delivered at 7000rpm.
There’s a new 10-speed automatic transmission, which is standard on both GT and fourcylinder EcoBoost models. Manual transmission continues as an option in the Kiwi-spec V8 only.
The instrument panel features a new 12-inch virtual display, as seen on the GT supercar.
Prices have risen slightly – between $2000-$3000 depending on model. The GT fastback (this body style accounts for 90 per cent of forward-orders, as it should) is now $79,990, or the same V8 powertrain comes for $84,990 in convertible form. The EcoBoost is $62,990 or $67,990 without a roof.
The limited-edition Bullitt Mustang is also set to arrive in NZ as a factory right-hand drive model, hopefully before the end of the year (2018 is the 50th anniversary of the movie). Price and supply still not known.