Mustang pre-orders top 2000: Ford

THE slow trickle of Ford Mustang news continues ahead of the car’s launch later this year, with Ford Australia now confirming 2000 customers have already placed deposits for the new-generation pony car.

A majority of that number are expected to find homes with private buyers but one dealer in Melbourne has taken an order of 20 vehicles from a sports car hire business.

In addition to the hard cash deposits, more than 20,000 people have also registered interest with the Blue Oval, ahead of the car’s release late in 2015.

“The buyer response for the Mustang has been extraordinary,” said David Blackwood, dealer principal of the Bayford Group in Victoria.

“As soon as Ford announced Mustang was coming to Australia (in December 2013) our phones started ringing. A few customers even made deposits before pricing and specifications were confirmed. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

Ford claims that more than 42 per cent of the deposits taken have been for the range-topping 5.0-litre V8 GT coupe equipped with a six-speed automatic.

“It’s been an overwhelming response from our customers,” confirmed Ford Australia communications manager Neil McDonald. “We’re seeing the strongest sales coming from the key metro areas.”

Also confirmed is the fitment of what Ford calls a Performance Pack as standard across the two-car, six-variant range.

Comprising of stiffer front springs, a front strut brace, thicker anti-roll bar for the rear of the coupe, 19-inch rims and a choice of two limited slip diff ratios, the Performance Pack is supplied for no extra cost.

The 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost-powered ’Stangs will come with a 3.55:1 limited slip rear diff on the six-speed automatic transmission models, while a taller 3.31 LSD is supplied with the six-speed manual gearbox.

The 5.0-litre V8-powered car, meanwhile, will be specified with a 3.55:1 slipper in both gearbox configurations.

The four-cylinder Mustang will come with 19x9 inch black alloy rims wearing 255/40 R19 tyres, while the V8’s similarly blackened rims are a half-inch wider on the rear, with wider 275/40 R19 tyres to suit.

Other chassis tuning elements will also be implemented, though Ford was unable to elaborate further on what they might be.

With left-hand-drive vehicles currently under test at Ford’s research and development centre in the You Yangs, further refinements to the suspension tune are expected before the right-hand-drive cars begin arriving later this year.

The only options that will be available for the Mustang – at least at launch – will be a range of dress-up kits, including Over the Top racing stripes ($650), a black roof ($975) and polished rims ($500), while metallic paint attracts a $500 uptick.

One element that will not make the transition from the US to Australia is the line-locker ‘Burnout Mode’ feature, which directs all braking power to the front of the car.

Mr McDonald told GoAuto the feature was omitted in deference of traffic laws across Australia. “We have to lead by example,” he added.

Mustang rivals include a wide variety of sports cars, from the Toyota 86 ($29,990-$36,490 before on-road costs), Nissan's ageing 370Z (56,930-$65,930) and the Lexus RC350 ($66,000-$86,000). The Audi A5 (starting at $68,200) and the BMW 4 Series (starting from $70,000) are also outside contenders.

Ford Mustang pricing*

EcoBoost
Fastback	$44,990
Fastback (a)	$47,490
Convertible (a)	$53,990
GT
Fastback	$54,990
Fastback (a)	$57,490
Convertible (a)	$63,990

*Excludes on-road costs.