In 2016, the UK finally got the Ford Mustang officially for the first time in the iconic muscle car’s 44-year history — and in right-hand drive, too.
It’s proven to be quite the success in Europe — selling over 33,000 units across the continent since its introduction — but Ford isn’t resting on its laurels, with a facelifted model introduced for 2018.
What’s fresh on the Mustang? We take a look at seven of its coolest new features.
New 10-speed automatic gearbox
Ten gears may seem like an awful lot for a Mustang, but this new addition for 2018 is one of the best.
It’s derived from that on the F-150 Raptor performance pick-up truck and is surprisingly capable when paired to either the 5.0 V8 or 2.3 EcoBoost engine on the ‘stang. In more focused driving, it sharpens up and delivers power to the rear wheels exceptionally well — as well as settling down to provide a comfortable cruise over long distances.
Rev-matching technology
Fancy feeling like a racing driver but don’t have the talent to pull off a perfect heel-toe manoeuvre? The Mustang’s new rev-matching technology has you covered.
So, the tech itself has been on other cars for a while, but it makes its Mustang debut on the six-speed manual gearbox. It works by automatically “blipping” the throttle to provide smoother and faster downshifts.
‘Good Neighbour Mode’
Want to take your Ford Mustang out in the early hours but don’t want to disturb your neighbours in the process? Well, Good Neighbour Mode has you covered.
This setting on the new active exhaust allows you to put it in quiet between certain hours of the day, allowing for stealthy getaways. Or, if you want to annoy those around you, just put it in race mode instead and let the beast roar.
More aggressive looks
For 2018, the Ford Mustang hasn’t received a total visual overhaul — but rather, some little tweaks to add to the already-aggressive looks.
It gets a new bonnet with integrated air vents and a revised lower grille up front, while a restyled diffuser and new optional rear wing complete the look at the back.
Power is up
For V8 variants of the 2018 Ford Mustang, there’s even more power on offer than before.
The 5.0-litre eight-cylinder unit is up to 444bhp from 410bhp and — despite torque remaining the same at 529Nm — the result is a quicker 0-60mph time of 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 155mph possible.
Trick MagneRide suspension
Available as an option on the 2018 Ford Mustang is ‘MagneRide’ adaptive suspension which — in simple terms — works by using a magnetic force to adjust flex in the springs.
The system changes depending on driving mode — with the likes of Sport+ offering a firmer setup for more focused driving while normal mode softens things up to provide a more relaxed ride. If you want to add it to your car, it costs an extra £1,600.
More safety tech
The big focus on the 2018 Ford Mustang has been to up its Euro NCAP star rating from the outgoing model’s two stars to three.
To achieve this, the American firm has added new technologies to the car. These include Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection and Lane Keeping Aid. Along with the Auto Emergency Braking system already fitted to the car, you can have more peace of mind when cruising around in your muscle car.
