Why Ford’s Mustang Mach 1 is the coolest muscle car on sale
Faster, tougher and more reliable than before, the retro-styled Mach 1 pony car carries on a proud tradition for the Blue Oval.
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Ford’s new Mustang Mach 1 is the coolest muscle car you can buy today.
Not because of its retro styling, racing stripes, throaty V8 engine or cue-ball gearknob, though they help.
But because it has three new heat exchangers for the engine, transmission and differential that help the coupe keep temperatures under control when pushed to the limit.
That, says Ford, makes it the must-have Mustang for track day enthusiasts.
The special ’Stang also has a reworked exhaust and intake that deliver 345kW and 556Nm, a 6kW increase compared with the regular Ford Mustang GT.
You also get wider 19-inch wheels with the same Michelin tyres as the GT, along with retuned steering, stiffer springs, MagneRide active shock absorbers, firmer anti-roll bars and better underbody aerodynamics that improve downforce.
Most manual Mustangs have a China-sourced Getrag gearbox that is the source of a class-action lawsuit for reliability issues in the US. The Mach 1 replaces that with a robust Tremec transmission pinched from America’s hardcore Shelby GT350 version that should be a better bet for track work.
Closer ratios help deliver more urgent acceleration than the standard car.
Mach 1 customers who choose two pedals get retuned software and an extra transmission cooler for the same 10-speed automatic found in the Mustang GT – a gearbox that normally does not cope with extended periods of hard driving.
The automatic transmission and paddle shifters normally add about $3000 to the bill, but the better manual in the Mach 1 results in both cars being priced from $83,365 plus on-roads, about $93,000 drive-away.
That’s about $20,000 more than a regular Mustang GT, which puts the car in tricky territory, as it still has the same plastic-heavy interior and three-star safety rating as the standard car.
Mach 1 owners also miss out on features such as active cruise control and rear parking sensors, which are standard on the GT. But they do benefit from a free track day and three years of free servicing, as well as the stronger resale value that comes with buying a limited-edition model – only 700 examples are coming to Australia.
Our test drive of the Mach 1 started with a road loop west of Sydney. A prod of the starter button elicits smiles as the 5.0-litre engine barks to life and settles into the unmistakeable rumble of a thoroughbred V8.
Nothing sounds like a big V8, and Ford’s unit is one of the best. It delivers smooth performance throughout the tacho, has a keen appetite for revs and responds sweetly to throttle inputs. It sounds intoxicating and delivers the sort of punch expected of a modern V8.
The new manual is its perfect match, with a precise shift action delivering unfiltered access to that lovely engine.
It’s a better bet than Ford’s 10-speed automatic, which feels as though it has about twice as many gears as it should. It races through the ratios to settle in eighth gear at 50km/h and shuffles cogs with every twitch of the throttle pedal. If you’re the sort of person who can’t stand people flicking through TV channels or skipping part-played songs on a playlist, get the manual and do it yourself. It’s a more involving and rewarding experience.
Ford’s decision to fit variable shocks as standard results in a more fluid ride than a conventionally sprung Mustang on the road, and the retuned suspension delivers sharper responses to steering input.
It’s even better on a circuit.
The Mustang is a thrilling partner on closed roads, where you can dial back the traction control and let the big coupe cut loose. There’s nothing quite like a muscle car with more power than grip, something Aussie V8 fans have understood for decades.
That doesn’t mean the Mach 1 is an unwieldy beast.
In fact, it’s the most precise Mustang yet, with better body control and quicker reactions than any example sold in Australia, including the R-Spec.
It’s an addictive machine with an enthusiastic appetite for keen driving. And those new radiators for the oil, transmission and differential mean you can drive it harder, for longer, than before.
Which has to reinforce its place as the coolest Mustang yet.
Verdict
Three and a half stars
Expensive and exclusive, the Ford Mustang Mach 1 is Ford’s best muscle car effort since the Falcon GT.
Ford Mustang Mach 1
Price: About $93,000 drive-away
Engine: 5.0-litre V8, 345kW/556Nm
Warranty/servicing: 5 years/unlimited km, free for 3 years
Safety: 3 stars, 6 airbags, auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist
Engine: 5.0-litre V8, 339kW/556Nm
Thirst: 13.9L/100km
Boot: 408L
Originally published as Why Ford’s Mustang Mach 1 is the coolest muscle car on sale
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