New Ford Mustang – South African pricing and launch date revealed

Ford has finally announced the pricing for the next-gen Mustang GT ahead of its launch in South Africa.

The iconic muscle car was initially scheduled to arrive in early 2024, but its release date was pushed back to the second half of the year.

It is now set to appear in showrooms this October at a starting price of R1,300,000, an increase of R157,100 over the outgoing model.

This includes the automaker’s 4-year/120,000km warranty, a 4-year/unlimited-kilometre roadside assistance plan, as well as an optional service plan.

A powerful statement

The Mustang is entering its seventh generation and is bucking the trend of electrification with the brand’s famous 5.0-litre, naturally-aspirated, Coyote V8 petrol engine.

This drivetrain generates a total of 328kW and 540Nm, making it the most powerful GT model to date.

In South Africa, the Mustang will exclusively be sold with a 10-speed automatic gearbox connected to the rear wheels, meaning we won’t have access to the six-speed manual box offered in other markets.

Owners can also take advantage of six driving modes for Normal, Sport, Slippery, Drag, and Track, as well as a customizable option with up to six different profiles.

The local units will come standard with the Performance Pack, which adds a number of track-focused features from a front suspension tower brace to a Torsen limited-slip differential, MagneRide active suspension, wider rear wheels and tyres, and 390mm front and 355mm rear Brembo brakes.

It also adds brake ducts for enhanced cooling, an auxiliary engine oil cooler, and an active valve performance exhaust that allows drivers to control its volume in town or track settings.

Another sporty inclusion is a segment-first electronic drift brake that enables users to take advantage of the muscle car’s rear-wheel drifting capabilities in the style of a traditional mechanical handbrake.

In terms of styling, the Mustang comes with Tri-Bar LED headlights, a new upper grille inspired by the original 1960s design, a sleek roofline that has been engineered with racing helmets in mind, eight different colour options, painted brake calipers, and the option of machined Tarnished Dark Aluminium wheels.

Inside, the cockpit is decked out with two curved displays, starting with a 12.4-inch digital driver display powered by the Unreal Engine 3D tool used in several new video games.

Owners can customize the look of the instrument cluster, which is also reflected with a change to the cabin’s multi-colour ambient lighting.

There’s also a 13.2-inch Sync4 infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, alongside a flat-bottom racing steering wheel that offers more space when getting in and out.

The heated and ventilated seats are upholstered in Black Onyx leather with accented stitching, and there’s a wireless charger, automatic climate control, overhead USB ports for accessories like track cameras, and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo.

Additionally, the sports car is fitted with assistance functions including speed sign recognition, intelligent adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-centering assist, evasive steer assist, and reverse brake assist.

It also has Active Pothole Mitigation, which monitors the suspension, steering, and braking to adjust the car’s response to road hazards to minimize damage.