News / 28 June 2022 / Michael Taylor

Ford Mustang California Special now on sale – Only 100 units available

Ford has launched the exclusive Mustang California Special in South Africa at a starting price of R1,154,900.

Following the sellout success of the Bullit and Mach 1 Mustangs in the country, this new model channels the spirit of its 1968 original counterpart with unique design details and a V8 engine, said Ford.

“The Mustang California Special is a huge part of the Mustang legacy in America and it symbolises so much of what Mustang stands for – the joy of driving and the freedom of the open road,” it added.

Made for the motoring enthusiast, only 100 units will be made available to local buyers.

What makes it Special

The original Mustang California Special was inspired by the prototype of the 1967 Shelby GT notchback coupe and was designed by regional dealerships and Mustang owner’s clubs in the States.

In keeping with this, the new model is available exclusively as a fastback coupe.

The new California Special is styled with a unique honeycomb front grille finished in ebony black with an accompanying red GT badge.

Black, red, and grey stripes underscore the sides of the vehicle, and side air scoops have been added to give it a more muscular appearance.

Furthermore, a large front splitter, side skirts, and rear wing have been added, and five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels help to round out the excluvie Mustang’s visuals.

Inside the California, the seats and door inserts are in a leather and Miko suede blend, and both feature red stitching elements for added flair.

The dashboard and instrument display is finished in carbon hex aluminum, too, and are marked by a special Mustang California badge.

The seats are also equipped with cooling and heating functionality, and the centre console is fitted with a Ford Sync 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Finally, the California Special is kitted with driver’s aids such as adaptive cruise control with pre-collision assist and lane-keeping alert.

American muscle

Under the hood of the new California is a 5.0-litre, V8 petrol engine generating a total of 330kW and 529Nm, one of a few naturally-aspirated V8s still on the market.

This means the muscle car is capable of reaching 100km/h from a standstill in just 4.5 seconds, while ventilated discs and aluminum Brembo brake calipers help bring the Ford to a halt again.

Meanwhile, a limited slip-differential maximises traction and cornering, and five different driving modes can be selected to suit the road environment.

The Mustang makes use of a 10-speed automatic transmission and employs a monitoring system that analyses driving conditions and adjusts the car’s damping resistance to match.

A “good neighbour” mode that limits the exhaust’s noise output is also included for driving through quiet areas.