Sorry for the delay – Here’s when you can expect the new Ford Mustang in South Africa

Motoring enthusiasts who have been excited to get their hands on the new Ford Mustang will have to wait a little longer, as its launch has been delayed to the second half of 2024.

The next-gen muscle car was first announced in November 2023 when the Blue Oval celebrated its 100th year of operations in South Africa, where it stated that we could expect the Mustang to touch down in “early 2024.”

However, Ford has since confirmed to cars.co.za that the Mustang will only arrive in the second half of the year, putting its release date anywhere from three to nine months further down the line.

South Africa isn’t the only market that is affected either, as Australia has also been hit with multiple delays, with its launch window moving from late 2023 to the first quarter of 2024, then quarter two, and now the latter half of the year.

The company has not provided an official explanation for the delay, but Aussie publication Carsguide attributed the schedule shift to production and shipping problems with the Mustang’s factory in Michigan, which is affecting the supply for right-hand-drive markets, including South Africa.

What’s on the horizon

The seventh-generation Mustang will offer two different models when it reaches local showrooms – the GT and the Dark Horse.

Ford has not yet announced the pricing for the GT, but the flagship Dark Horse’s sticker is expected to retail for around R1.5 million.

Both cars are equipped with a 5.0-litre Coyote V8 petrol engine, though the GT produces 362kW and 567Nm while the Dark Horse is uprated to have an additional 10kW, making it the most powerful production Mustang ever made.

Depending on the market, the muscle car will offer a choice of a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic gearbox, and while it hasn’t been confirmed, it’s very likely that South Africa will only receive the automatic due to low uptake on the manual boxes offered in previous models.

The flagship model also boasts a number of unique enhancements, including MagneRide shocks, unique chassis tuning, a suede steering wheel with blue accent stitching, anodised silver paddle shifters, and a dedicated drive mode button.