Ford Mustang GT First Drive

It seldom happens that a high-end car launch creates so much of excitement amongst a diverse range of people. That is exactly what has happened with the launch of the Ford Mustang GT, which has created such a buzz that it has almost become the talk of the town.  We drive this iconic car on the Buddh International Circuit and get you our first drive experience.

The Ford Mustang GT has been launched in India for INR 72 lakhs (on-road, Delhi) and this is the company’s first muscle car for India. As Ford has decided to globally make right hand drive versions of the iconic Mustang, the company has got the new Mustang to India finally. Ford Mustang has come with a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine that churns out 395bhp of power and comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Ford Mustang GT India Design

The Ford Mustang GT is a true blue American Muscle Car and has been ruling the popularity charts for decades together. The all-new 2016 Mustang has a sleek and streamlined design which is muscular and has the traits of earlier Mustangs as well. The long bonnet, sloping roofline and a short, beefy rear portion instantly makes one recognize that it is a Mustang. The wide trapezoidal front grille with the galloping pony logo and the sleek headlamps make the car look very mean. The fog lamps are placed lower on the front bumper.

From the side the car looks stretched and gives a feeling of being in motion even when standstill. The sloping roofline typical of a fastback, adds to the sporty character of the Mustang. The rear has back cladding with tri-bar taillamps. The black coloured multi-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels also look mean and sporty.

Ford Mustang GT India Interior

The all-black interiors of the Mustang exude the sportiness it deserves. The chunky three-spoke leather steering wheel with the center inset carries the flavour of its predecessors. This steering wheel is loaded with buttons. The dashboard has a silver cladding running through the middle.

The instrument cluster consists of twin dials and a small information screen in the centre. The centre console has three circular AC vents in the centre below which is an eight-inch touchscreen system and AC controls with dual zone climate control. It also gets SYNC2 voice control system. The audio system is a nine-speaker unit. The seats are once piece racing type with electric and manual controls and the steering has manual adjustments for rake and reach.

Ford Mustang GT India Engine

This is an area where the Mustang scores all brownie points and Ford deserves credit in bringing this variant to India. The Ford Mustang GT Fastback sports a 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine that produces 395bhp of power and a terrific 515 NM of torque. Being an American Muscle car, the torque is more important than the power figures. This engine comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

This is a rear wheel drive car and that adds to the pleasure of driving. The engine comes to life by pressing the start button located on the centre console. The engine note has a deep growl but don’t expect it to be loud. The exhaust note is rather muffled and I suspect this has got something to do with clearing the ‘pass-by’ regulations. However, the V8 still sounds marvelous. One is sure to find buyers of this machine going for aftermarket exhaust upgrades. On the road the Mustang is a hoot to drive. The 395 horses propel the car quickly and the 515 Nm torque makes it feel like a charging tank.

Also Read: Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG Review

Ford Mustang GT India Ride and Handling

It would not be wrong to say that the handling of the Mustang seriously took me by surprise. That is because I never expected it to handle so well. The reason for this is that the Mustang now uses independent suspension with coil springs and a stabilizer bar, which the earlier Mustangs never did. Though it is not in the league of some of its European competitors, it is not bad at all. The track width of the car which is 1582mm in the front and 1655 mm at the rear also helps the car keep stable during hard cornering. The steering is also quite precise with good feedback.  The all-around disc brakes with ABS help well in retarding speed.

The Mustang GT comes with 4 driving modes – Normal, Sport+, Track and Snow/Wet. The Normal mode delivers a good balance of comfort and responsiveness for an engaging drive. The Sport+ mode is meant for more spirited driving where the gearshift and steering response is quicker. It is great on twisty roads. The Track mode is suited only for the track, where the car can be pushed to its limits and the electronics come in to play quite late. The Snow/Wet mode adjusts the car to the wet or slippery road conditions to retain the driving experience.

Also Read: Honda Civic 2017 coming to India

Ford Mustang India Top Speed

Ford Mustang GT India Features

The Ford Mustang GT Premium Fastback is available with voice-activated Navigation System which combines Global Positioning System (GPS) technology with 3-D mapping and provides voice-guided turn-by-turn directions.

It also features limited slip differential, tyre pressure monitoring system, ambient lighting, reverse camera, dual-zone climate control, a SYNC2 eight-inch touchscreen voice-controlled infotainment system with nine-speaker and amplifier sound system and 6-Way power-adjustable driver and passenger seats. The other features are auto HIDs, Puddle Lamps with logo image, heated and electrically folding mirrors, rain sensing wipers and rear diffuser.

Verdict

The Ford Mustang GT is the first muscle car to be sold in India. This is not the only reason why it will have buyers queuing to buy it. The Mustang is an icon and has such a strong impact which only a few car brands can match. The 50+ years heritage of this brand combined with its popularity globally is unmatched.

At INR 72 lakhs, the Mustang GT packs in something which its competitors do not, such as the mammoth 5.0-litre V8 engine, without which it wouldn’t be the muscle car that it is. It may lack the luxuriousness or the precision of some of its competition, but makes it up with iconic value, a strong engine and its sheer road presence. If you are willing to spend in excess of INR 60 lakhs for a sports car, this is one you just cannot miss. And if you are more of a ‘let heart rule head’ person, then it has to be a Mustang!

Ford Mustang GT India Price

The Mustang comes to India as a CBU and it is priced at about INR 72 lakhs (on-road, New Delhi). It is the first muscle car that is officially launched in India. Ford is looking at adding aspirational value to its brand with the Mustang.