Ford Mustang GT Test Drive Review- Muscle Power!

It’s not often you get to experience something as legendary as the Ford Mustang. A car that has, over the decades, become not just an integral part of the automotive scene, but also a pop culture icon. Sadly, Ford had deprived RHD markets off the joys of owning a Mustang by sticking to producing just left-hand drive examples. All that changed with the introduction of the sixth and current generation Mustang, which, for the first time, is also being produced with the steering wheel on the right side.Finally, the poster boy of the American car scene has landed on our shores, packing a 5.0-litre V8 with about 400 bhp on tap. Our rendezvous with this member of automotive royalty took us to the Buddh International Circuit and you can read about our experience here in our Ford Mustang GT Test Drive Review

Ford Mustang GT Test Drive Review Video

Head Turning Looks

We’re a big fan of the original Mustang’s appearance and really like what it has evolved into in its sixth generation. It echoes the Fastback styling of the Mustangs of the late 60s and 70s, something Ford likes to call “retro-futurism”. The exterior of the Ford Mustang does complete justice to the “Modern Muscle Car” tag. Its long hood, wide gaping grille and sleek headlamps lend it the right amount of aggression without straying too much from the classic lines of the original Mustang.

This retro-futurism continues as you move towards the rear of the car with the fastback silhouette and the three-dimensional, tri-bar tail lamps paying homage to the original pony car. Throw in some neat touches like the LED DRL strips up front and tasty 19-inch black alloys and you get a car that is difficult to take your eyes off. We doubt Ford could have done a better job of infusing modern design touches and the right amount of muscle with the timeless design of the original ‘Stang.

What’s it like on the inside?

Ford has kept the inside simple with certain bits drawing inspiration from the cockpit of an aircraft (see: switches on the centre console and the speedo which reads “ground speed”). A badge underlining the car’s 52-year heritage sits proudly on the dashboard in front of the passenger seat. You get all the creature comforts you could ask for. Furthermore, these are complemented well by the high levels of quality. There are six airbags, ABS, ESP, traction control among other electronic nannies to keep you safe. The seats offer great support and it doesn’t take much time to find a comfortable driving position. Each passing lap made me appreciate the driver’s seat more as it kept me from moving about too much while trying to nail that corner. While we’d prefer being in the driver’s seat, the back seats are surprisingly comfortable as well. Two can be seated in reasonable comfort at the rear. Sure, it can’t match up to the kind of detailing and level of finesse certain Germans offer, but it is still a very special place to be in.

On the Track

Lurking under that beautiful long bonnet is a naturally aspirated 5.0 litre V8. For our market, this one churns out 401 PS and 515 NM, which is about 35 PS down on the international spec. But the good bit is this engine can run on the regular unleaded available across the country. That’s a good trade-off to be quite honest. The engine idles with a gentle, bassy gurgle, which turns into a delicious roar as the revs build up. There are four driving modes to choose from – Normal, Sport+, Race, Wet/Snow. Each of these modes alter steering feel, throttle response and the lot based on the driver’s requirement. You also get the option of altering steering feel with three modes on offer – Normal, Sport and Comfort.

As we pulled out of the pit lane to start the sighting lap, we began the process of getting ourselves acquainted with the beast at hand. One of the first things you will appreciate is the well-weighted steering that offers great feel and precise feedback. This thing really came alive once we crossed the start/finish straight to begin the first of the three hot laps. We always knew that the Mustang isn’t a slouch, but the way this thing can gather speed is impressive. It can zoom past the ton in less than 5 seconds! The brakes offer enough bite and gave us enough confidence to brake later and harder with each passing lap. There was a slight hint of understeer while negotiating corners, but nothing we weren’t able to take care of with a slight dab of the throttle. Thanks to all the bulk, it isn’t as nimble as other two-door coupes, but it is still an absolute riot around the racetrack. With a bit more aggression, we reckon, it’ll be easy to get the tail out and indulge in some sideways action. The only letdown was perhaps the 6-speed auto box that seemed a bit slow. But that issue loses relevance once you realize this car’s intended purpose- It works really well as a mile muncher. It’s something you can drive for hours on end. It will make you want the journey to just go on and on.

Should I Buy one?

Killer looks, a 5.0 L V8 and oodles of heritage, this here isn’t just a car, it’s an icon. It’s a car that has adorned the bedroom walls of boys and men alike for decades and the joy of having one sitting in your garage is simply unparalleled. At 65 lakhs apiece, the Ford Mustang is a very tempting proposition indeed. This is so much more than those impractical coupes that are mostly used for joyrides on a weekend. The Mustang can very well be your daily driver, and a really fancy daily driver at that. It might sound strange, but the Mustang is a rather practical machine whilst being immensely fun on the racetrack.

Five laps of the Buddh International Circuit were enough to make us fall for this one. The Ford Mustang tugs at your heart strings and evokes the kind of emotions not many cars can. There is nothing else that offers the kind of performance and intimidating styling quite like the Ford Mustang does. Coming back to the original question – Should I buy one? Well, simply put, beg, borrow or steal, but you should definitely have one of these in your garage! It’s not just a brilliant car, it’s piece of automotive heritage.

Ford Mustang Test Drive Review Image Gallery

Ford Mustang India – Specifications

Ford Mustang India – Features

STANDARD EXTERIOR EQUIPMENT

• Auto HID headlamps
• ‘Pony’ Projection Puddle Lamps
• Heated and Power folding mirrors
• Dual Bright exhaust with chrome tip extension
• LED Clear, Non-Sequential Tail Lamps with Amber Turn Lamps
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Rear Diffuser
• Daytime Running Lamps
• Front Fog Lamps
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring

STANDARD INTERIOR EQUIPMENT

• Aluminium instrument panel accents and pedals
• Ambient Lighting
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Reversing Camera
• Bright door speaker, cup holder, air vent and instrument cluster surrounds
• Dual-zone climate control
• Illuminated sill plates
• Leather covered handbrake and steering wheel
• Heated and Cooled Leather Accented seats
• Nine-speaker sound system with amplifier
• 6-Way Power Driver and Passenger Seat Adjustment
• SYNC 2 voice control connectivity system with 8-inch high-resolution colour touch screen
• Accelerometer, acceleration timer and brake performance

STANDARD SAFETY AND SECURITY

• Securilock® Passive Anti-Theft with Perimeter Alarm
• Active Glovebox knee airbag (passenger). Driver knee airbag
• Driver and front passenger Beltminder System
• Driver/passenger side-impact airbags
• Dual front airbags
• Curtain airbags
• Electronic locking centre console
• Emergency Assistance
• Illuminated Entry
• ISOFIX points (Ford child seat)

Ford Mustang Price in India

Stay tuned to CarBlogIndia for more on the Ford Mustang. Also, stay tuned for more posts like the Ford Mustang Test Drive Review we have here.

Author- Dhruv Saxena.