The Ford Mustang, the Chevy Camaro and the Dodge Challenger are the trifecta of American muscle cars. And India finally gets a taste of this all-American segment as the Blue Oval launches the Mustang. A global sales success over the past year with over 110,000 sold, can the Mustang make itself felt in IndiaIJ
The huge 4951cc engine under that massive, long hood gurgles as your right foot touches the accelerator pedal. There is no menace to the noise, it sounds oddly gentle, reassuring even. Because 400 horsepower is no joke. No matter how many powerful cars you have driven in your life, that shove you get when you do the proverbial “pedal to the metal” move and your peripheral vision becomes a blur, is still exhilarating.
The Mustang is an American icon, introduced for the first time in April 1964. It entered the market just as thousands of American teenagers, the so-called “baby-boomer” generation, were old enough to buy cars. In an age where oil was cheap, the big engine and low-sticker price of the Mustang made it an instant hit and in the first 18 months of production over a million Mustangs were made.
However, what we have here is the new sixth-generation Mustang which was introduced last year. The first Mustang to be made as a right-hand drive option straight out of the factory, this car was built with international markets in mind. But is it still as good as the original was when it was launchedIJ
Well, from the outside the short answer is yes. Despite the weight of expectations on this car given its pedigree, the designers have moulded a combination of historical “pony car” looks with modern features. The “pony car” look is the long, sleek hood coupled with a short rear. Yet in the headlights and taillights as well as the body panels you see glimpses of modern-day Ford design. But even with modern lED lights, Ford has retained the three-stripe tail light feature. One thing to note though is that the reversing light on the Mustang is now below the numberplate.
Inside, this is a modern car. If you have ever driven an early Mustang, its simplicity was its greatest feature. Of course, simplicity has taken a backseat here, I counted 18, yes 18 buttons on the steering wheel. But in most modern cars that is par for the course. As is the digital display between the double-barrel rev-counter and speedo dials. By the way, I loved the way the speedometer said “Ground Speed.” A major reason simplicity has taken a back-seat is safety. The Mustang GT as driven comes with eight-airbags and the latest generation of Ford’s SYNC software.
The buttons don’t end on the steering wheel. Much like starting a modern day fighter-jet, you need to press a couple of toggles, shift the car into Track mode. While this is a patently stupid idea on the open road because it reduces the amount of traction control and stability available, we were driving the Mustang at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC), so yeah, what the heck.
Back to the driving experience, as mentioned at the start of this piece the Mustang GT is not as violent as say an Italian or German car with a similar amount of power. Take the BMW M3/M4 for example, it has only 20 more horsepower (in India) but it almost rams it into you. You have to clench your hands and other parts of your body when you drive the M3. The Mustang does feel easier down the straight, the power builds up slowly and you enjoy it. And while the Mustang is a modern car, Ford has not succumbed to the European concept of using super-light materials, so the Mustang GT weighs a 100 kg more. But the Mustang reaches the limit earlier and it does not scare you when you get close to the limit — top speed is a manageable 240 km per hour and easily achieved on the main straight of the BIC.
And you feel that additional weight when you take a turn. In “Track” settings, the rear does slip a bit and the steering does feel a tad heavier than on a competing piece of machinery. But that is when you are going for a hot lap, when you are pushing the Mustang to the absolute maximum. Through the twisty midfield section of the BIC — turns 4 through 8 — the Mustang feels un-American in the way it grips on to the road. And the big, hulking V8 under the hoodIJ Wee, you thank the American God that such lumps of metal — well now lighter aluminium — are still made. And big, naturally-aspirated V8s have a lovely low-pitched rumble, which sounds far less scary than the high-pitched squeal of a turbo-charged six-cylinder.
This is a fun car, it is fun to drive, but would you want to own oneIJ
It does look good on the road, especially in Black. But the Mustang GT, which Ford India has launched, comes with a very large engine and that means that fuel-economy is horrible. In road tests abroad, reviewers got under 10 km a litre. The rear seats while there, have not been made with adult human beings in mind. The rear seats are only slightly better on M3/M4 of the Mercedes ClA and GlA AMG variants.
But the big problem with the Ford Mustang is not the rear seats but its price. It costs Rs 65 lakh, which might make it appealing but the Mustang GT retails for $32,645 and while it is a full import — proudly ‘Made in America’ one is told— a 3x multiple on the US price is a bit ridiculous despite India’s equally ridiculous duties on imported cars. Take the Mercedes-Benz ClA AMG and GlA AMG, both these cars cost close to $50,000 in the US, but cost Rs 71-73 lakh in India, the price difference between the cars is less in India than in the US. Sure they are down fifty horsepower on the Mustang but the rear seats are usable and the smaller engine gives better economy. If you want a performance car under Rs 75 lakh, the Mercs are oddly enough the better proposition, let alone the fact that body panels are the same as those on the regular cars. However, if you want to be noticed, well on that front the Mustang clearly wins.At Rs 50-55 lakh, which honestly should be the Mustang’s price, it is a brilliant proposition, but at the price it has been launched, it is too expensive. And this is not just my opinion but much more universal. Maybe Ford India might bring in the more affordable 2.3 litre EcoBoost powered Mustang into India and if they price it sensibly, under Rs 50 lakh for example, they could create an all-new market. But as such the Mustang GT is a car for fan boys with money to burn.