There was a time when buying a V8 performance coupé meant choosing sides. Ford or Chevrolet. Mustang or Camaro. South Africans don’t really have that luxury any longer. The Camaro has long since disappeared from local showrooms, the Chevrolet Corvette is available at a price premium, and naturally aspirated V8s have become increasingly scarce as manufacturers embrace downsized turbocharged engines and electrification.
In South Africa, the Ford Mustang GT Fastback finds itself in an unusual position. It isn’t quite the last American V8 coupé available through official channels in South Africa (the Chevrolet Corvette has been sold here since last year too), but it has become a car with very little direct competition at its price point. Buyers with around R1.4 million to spend may also consider cars like the Toyota GR Supra or Porsche 718 Cayman (not currently available to order), but those appeal to a different set of priorities. Both are exceptional driver’s cars, rewarding precision and commitment behind the wheel. The Mustang, meanwhile, has always been about something slightly different, delivering performance in abundance, certainly, but truly shining in the way it makes every drive feel like an occasion.
That has always been the Mustang’s personality. After spending a week behind the wheel of the GT Fastback, it’s clear that personality remains intact, even if almost everything else has moved on.
EIGHT YEARS LATER
It had been close to eight years since I last had a Mustang on test. The previous-generation S550 was an enjoyable car with plenty of character, but it also felt like a product still finding its feet as a global performance model. It looked good, sounded even better, yet the cabin and overall refinement lagged behind many of its European rivals.
The latest S650 changes that impression almost immediately. Ford hasn’t reinvented the Mustang’s appearance, nor should it have. The familiar proportions remain, but the design has been cleaned up with slimmer lighting, crisper detailing and a front end that gives the car a more purposeful look without losing its identity.
The biggest improvement, however, is found inside. The old interior always felt like the weakest link. Hard plastics and average fit and finish never quite matched the asking price. The latest car is a different story. A 12.4″ configurable digital instrument cluster flows neatly into a 13.2″ touchscreen running Ford’s latest SYNC 4 infotainment system, creating a cockpit that feels modern without being overwhelming. The graphics are sharp, the menus are intuitive and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.
More importantly, the materials, switchgear and overall build quality have taken a significant step forward, giving the Mustang a level of perceived quality that earlier generations simply didn’t possess. It finally feels like a performance car whose cabin matches both its price and its pedigree.
PERFORMANCE WITH PERSONALITY
If the cabin is where the biggest improvements have been made, the engine remains the Mustang’s defining feature.
Ford’s latest 5.0-litre naturally aspirated Coyote V8 develops 328 kW at 7,250 rpm and 540 Nm at 5,000 rpm. Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels through a slick-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission, while every South African GT comes standard with the Performance Pack. That includes MagneRide adaptive suspension, a Torsen limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes, wider rear tyres, and an active valve performance exhaust.
On paper, the Mustang has everything it needs to compete with modern performance machinery. Ford claims a zero to 100 km/h time of around 4.4 seconds, placing it firmly in serious performance car territory. Yet numbers only tell part of the story.
Unlike many turbocharged performance cars that produce effortless torque from little more than idle, the Coyote V8 encourages you to work for its performance. It responds instantly to throttle inputs, builds power progressively, and comes alive as the rev needle sweeps towards its 7,500 rpm redline. The revised dual air intake and dual throttle-body induction system further sharpen its responses, making the engine feel eager throughout the rev range.
If someone asked me for the single biggest reason to buy this car, however, it wouldn’t be the power output or even its heritage. It would be the sound.
Press the starter button and the V8 settles into a deep, unmistakable idle. Under acceleration, it develops into a rich mechanical growl before hardening into the unmistakable note that only a naturally aspirated eight-cylinder can produce. It’s authentic, free of artificial enhancement and one of the few remaining engine notes that still can make you smile, regardless of how many times you’ve heard it.
The active valve exhaust allows you to tailor its character, from a subdued setting for early morning departures to a far more vocal Track mode.
MORE COMPLETE THAN EVER
Performance cars have become remarkably competent over the past decade. They’ve also become increasingly similar. Turbocharged engines produce enormous torque, all-wheel drive allows astonishing performance in almost any conditions, and electronics ensure that almost anyone can drive very quickly. The Mustang takes a slightly different approach.
Despite weighing just over 1.8 tonnes, it feels lighter on its feet than the numbers suggest. The MagneRide suspension does an excellent job of controlling body movements without becoming uncomfortable on imperfect roads. At the same time, the steering is noticeably more precise than I remember from the previous generation. Ford has also done a commendable job of improving overall refinement. Wind and road noise are better suppressed than before, making the Mustang a surprisingly capable long-distance tourer when required.
Ford has also integrated modern technology without allowing it to dominate the experience. Features such as customisable drive modes, Remote Rev, over-the-air software updates and a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems bring the Mustang firmly into the modern era. Yet, none of them detracts from what remains an engaging driver’s car.
Last Word
The latest Mustang GT Fastback demonstrates just how far Ford has come over the past decade. It is more refined, better built and considerably more sophisticated than before, yet it still delivers the uncomplicated driving enjoyment that has defined the Mustang for more than 60 years. As performance cars become ever more digital and complex, the Mustang’s greatest strength may simply be that it reminds us why so many of us fell in love with driving in the first place.
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG | Images © FORD SOUTH AFRICA
