Ford Mustang orders beyond 3000

AUSTRALIAN buyers are outpacing the British in demand for the all-new Ford Mustang, with the order bank here now beyond 3000 – some 1000 units ahead of the UK – as the first right-hand drive cars begin to roll off the production line at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Michigan.

Due for release here in early December, just after the Brits which receive their first batch in November, the iconic American pony car has never been available from the factory in right-hand drive, and early demand is proving to be incredibly strong.

Ford Australia brand communications manager Neil McDonald confirmed to GoAuto today that some 3000 orders had now been received, up from 2000 as reported in May.

“There are no hold-ups with production in the States so we are on track to deliver the cars in December,” he said.

“All the Australian suspension tuning and testing has been completed and is incorporated into the cars.”

Asked if supply may be slow given the car’s global popularity and its new status as the highest-selling sportscar in the US, Mr McDonald said there were no factory constraints.

“We are not supply-constrained but clearly it will take some time to fulfil orders,” he said.

“It’s very much a case of early adopters and enthusiasts placing their orders early. When we announced pricing in March, interest really took off.”

Australian buyers have voted overwhelmingly for the Fastback GT V8 automatic version, with 42 per cent of orders.

Colour choice favourites match European buyers with 23 per cent of Australians picking ‘Race Red’, followed by ‘Absolute Black’ at 15 per cent and 10 per cent picking ‘Oxford White’. By comparison, the most popular colour in the US is currently black.

Ford will launch six variants in Australia in December, priced from $44,990 plus on-road costs for the EcoBoost four-cylinder fastback to $63,990 for the GT V8 convertible.

Mr McDonald said that in addition to the 3000 orders, “we also have more than 15,000 fans and intending buyers requesting more information about the car.” “Clearly, we’ve been really encouraged by the interest in the car and the feedback from dealers,” he said.

“Customers are particularly interested in the fact that the Performance Pack is standard in the Australian cars, both on EcoBoost and GT models.

“This includes a strut K-brace, unique chassis tuning, larger rear anti-roll bar on the fastback and heavy-duty front springs.

“There is also a choice of limited-slip differential ratios – l3.55 on the EcoBoost auto and 3.31 on EcoBoost manual, and 3.55 on the V8.” The Performance Pack also includes 19x9-inch Ebony black-painted alloy wheels with 255/40 R19 tyres for the EcoBoost models.

The GT V8 models have the same wheel but fitted with 255/40 R19 tyres on the front and 275/40 R19 tyres on the rear.

The first Mustangs to arrive through official channels in Australia in 1965 were left-hand drive, which were converted in Sydney to RHD by subcontractors to Ford. These 48 cars were joined by a further 161 cars in 1966.