Road test data
5.0 GT Fastback edges out limited edition Bullitt on the track.
There is always something bittersweet about road testing a Ford Mustang. It is such an iconic car that pulls hard at your heart strings and yet at the same time it is mechanically flawed in a world that has gone completely soft.
You have first world people whining about global warming while flying around the planet in ozone killing commercial jets and addressing rich kids that are all wearing sneakers and clothes made in not so eco-friendly factories in China.
Maybe these eco warriors should practice some Naked and Afraid reality type TV and first try living the lifestyle they protest so passionately about. This said, I have never been that politically correct and neither are the two freshened up Ford Mustangs you see on test here. This is motoring, so let’s get to it.
The first one is the traditional 5.0 GT Fastback and the second one is the rather cool limited edition Bullitt model based off the iconic Steve McQueen Bullitt movie of 1968. Looking at them, you will notice, or not, that the styling changes are subtle with one of the big updates being the switch to LED lighting.
Obviously on the Bullitt model, of which only 50 were made available to South Africa and have all been spoken for, the changes are in the Bullitt details you can see in the pics attached.
On the inside it is still a Mustang and this means you get real world quality and a level of functionality that allows you not to have a degree in Computer Science before you can turn on the radio or adjust the aircon.
There is a cool customisable, all-digital, 12-inch LCD instrument cluster, similar to what is found in the Ford GT, that changes as you change the Drive Mode with a host of changeable range of gauges in multiple colours on offer. Ford’s very competent SYNC 3 takes care of communications and entertainment by voice commands or by using pinch and swipe gestures on the central eight-inch touch screen that offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
They are both two-door coupes, so don’t expect adult-type rear leg room. These cars are kitted out with sports seats and ready for you to drive and not just take the kids to school in. And surprisingly, for a Mustang (sorry Ford), talking about driving, the handling is much improved courtesy of recalibrated shock absorbers, thicker anti-roll bars and a stiffer suspension.
They are never going to carve up the Nuerburgring and drill the Germans into submission, but I felt that they had plenty corner grip and were lots of fun to drive to fast because you always knew what the suspension was thinking. Something the Germans haven’t always got right.
Under the hood you won’t find any turbocharging, or a hint of any electrical assistance either, the units doing duty are big 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8s. Up from 309kW, the refreshed Mustangs now make 331kW in GT form and 338kW in Bullitt form and an equal 530Nm of torque at 4 600rpm.
I put the 10-speed auto version