After years of speculation and a preview at this year’s Manila International Auto Show, Ford Philippines has officially launched the Mustang coupe. There are two variants: 3.7 V6 Premium and 5.0 V8 GT Premium. Both feature plenty of power: the V6 with 305 bhp/380 Nm, and the V8 with 420 bhp/529 Nm. The looks are mean, sporty, and unmistakably in line with the Mustang heritage. Pricing, too, is aggressive, with the V6 listing at P2,499,000, and the V8 at P2,899,000.
Here’s more from Ford: The front end of the new Mustang offers an aggressive design with a prominent grille. A powerful splitter adds to the appearance. Functional heat extractors on the hood of the GT model are specifically placed and designed to help move hot air out of the engine compartment and cool the engine.
Rocker panels running along the car are body-color, adding a more premium look. The rear of the car has been updated with a high-gloss black panel that connects the tail lamps. Keeping the sequential turn signal Mustang is known for. The tail lamps have a smoked appearance that matches the more purposeful look up front.
Design elements include standard high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps on both the V6 Premium and V8 GT Premium cars. Three high-tech LED bars form the iconic rear lights. Signature lighting plays into the technology upgrades, with two individual light-emitting diode bars accentuating the headlamps.
The new Mustang offers a sporty wheel lineup, ranging from standard 17-inch wheels for the V6 Premium and 19-inch aluminum wheels on the V8 GT Premium. The wheels also offer new finishes and touches for a more powerful appearance. The 17-inch wheel comes in a machined-aluminum wheel with painted pockets while the 19-inch comes in a dark stainless painted aluminum wheel.
Additionally, the Mustang V8 GT Premium offers customers additional features such as LED fog lamps, a stylish glass roof, charcoal black leather interior and heated mirrors with a pony projection light, which casts the image of Mustang’s famous pony emblem on the ground when the unlock button is activated.
The Mustang maintains the outstanding balance and driving behavior Mustang owners expect. The 3.7-liter V6 engine delivers 305 PS of power and 380 Nm of torque, while the 5.0-liter V8 engine delivers 420 PS of power and 529 Nm of torque.
The Mustang comes standard with a six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission. This advanced control strategy offers the driver a choice between fully automatic operation and manual control. The system is controlled with a selector button on the side of the shifter.
Unlike some competitive transmissions, SelectShift will not second-guess the driver with an override shift. With SelectShift, manual control is truly manually controlled, allowing the driver to hold a gear right up to redline if desired.
The Mustang V8 GT Premium comes standard with the Brembo Brake Package which includes 14-inch vented front discs, the unique 19-inch alloy wheels and summer performance tires.
Mustang also offers customers selectable steering that tailors the driving experience to fit their needs. With a choice of three settings, the feature allows the customer to select the steering effort, depending on his or her style of driving.
Sport mode provides the most road force felt through the steering wheel and requires the highest level of steering effort, allowing the driver to be more in tune with how the vehicle reacts to the road. Comfort mode provides the least amount of road force felt through the steering wheel and requires the least amount of steering effort, which is ideal for long, relaxing drives.
A standard mode also is available and is a balance between the comfort and sport settings. The settings are accessed and programmed through the message center.
Also making its debut on the Mustang is a new available 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen that lets customers access information related to fuel economy and vehicle performance. The screen is navigated through a five-way control button located on the steering wheel and offers Track Apps, which delivers performance metrics for drivers right from the factory. The app measures g-forces, shows acceleration times in quarter-mile and 0-60 increments, and displays braking times, complete with automatic and countdown starts.
The audio systems of the V6 Premium and the V8 GT Premium deliver incredible clarity and sound crispness for even better sound quality. The Shaker Sound System offers eight speakers for a premium, stage-like listening experience.
Standard to both variants is Ford SYNC®, which provides hands-free, voice-activated in-car connectivity. The award winning system allows customer to connect almost any mobile phone or digital media player to their Ford Mustang via Bluetooth. The driver is able to make calls or play his or her favorite music via voice commands and a steering wheel-mounted control, all the time with eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
Mustang comes standard with driver and front passenger airbags, side airbags and curtain airbags for front and rear passengers.
This iconic sports car is also equipped with AdvanceTrac® with Electronic Stability Control, a four-wheel disc brake system with ABS, traction control which limits tire spin, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Reverse Sensing System with rear view camera (for the V8 GT Premium) – all towards a safer and more confident drive.
The Mustang will be available in the following colors: Race Red, Performance White and Sterling Gray for the V6 Premium and Black, Deep Impact Blue, Race Red and Performance White for the V8 GT Premium.
The Ford Mustang is built at AutoAlliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan.
The new Ford Mustang is the fourth vehicle the company has launched in the Philippines this year, following the all-new Ford Ranger, all-new Ford Explorer 2.0L with EcoBoost, and all-new Ford Focus.
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