By Otsile Kadiege

One of the Blue Oval’s best-selling cars and one of the world’s most popular sports cars is the Ford Mustang. The nameplate enters its seventh-generation with a more edgier design, a modish cabin brimming with new technologies, an upgraded chassis and extensively upgraded powertrains to list a few.

Evolutionary exterior design

The new Mustang gets an edgier exterior design with classic Mustang cues. Its low, horizontal brow across the front emphasizes overall frontal width, while the upper grille design shape is influenced by the original 1960s design. The Tri-Bar LED headlamps continue the Mustang’s classic lighting signature.

Each model in the Mustang lineup carries its own unique front end. GT is differentiated from EcoBoost models by larger, more aggressive grille openings, engineered to allow increased airflow, reflecting the increase in power and performance. The car’s aerodynamics are optimized further with the addition of new hood vents and redesigned front splitter.

It also features a sleek roofline, broad sprinting stance, shortened rear overhang and widened rear haunches. The roofline is optimized for driver entry and exit without removing their helmet on the track, and an extended rear deck houses a new crisp signature tri-bar lighting and redesigned diffuser for improved aerodynamic balance in the rear.

The all-new Mustang launches with 11 exterior color options including two new shades, Vapor Blue and Yellow Splash, complemented by new stripe colors and designs. Customers also can choose from three Brembo brake caliper color options: Black, Red and Grabber Blue, plus an all-new lineup of alloy wheels, ranging from 17-inch standard size on base models to 19-inch for GT with optional 20-inch alloy wheels.

Fighter jet inspired interior

Behind the chiseled exterior silhouette of the seventh-generation Mustang lies the most technologically advanced, driver-centric cockpit of any Mustang to date. The fighter jet-inspired cockpit offers the driver two flowing and curved displays measuring 12.4-inches for the digital instrument cluster and a massive 13.2-inches for the touch display. The latter displays the automaker’s new SYNC4 infotainment system whilst the digital cluster can be customized to display different animated designs and new drive-mode dependent visuals.

As standard, the Mustang comes with cloth interior featuring all-cloth seats with optional Micro Suede vinyl inserts and black seat belts, while Premium models benefit from upgraded wrapped and accent stitched across the instrument panel and door trim. EcoBoost models feature Ford’s ‘ActiveX’ synthetic leather upholstery with multiple color options, while GT models gain leather seat inserts. The GT Performance pack is available with optional Recaro seats

Higher series models offer an upgraded, full-leather steering wheel, as well as a choice of color accent stitching and a unique upholstery perforation across the seat inserts, complemented by color-coordinated, asymmetric accent striping on the seat belts. Other interior highlights include a B&O Sound System and wireless charging.

Advanced Driver Assistance Technologies

The new Mustang comes equipped with Ford Co-Pilot360 features, including Speed Sign Recognition, Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane Centering Assist, Evasive Steer Assist and Reverse Brake Assist. Another key feature is Active Pothole Mitigation, included with the Performance Package, which continually monitors suspension, body, steering and braking input and adjusts suspension response accordingly.

Performance

Powering the new Mustang is an extensively reengineered 2.3-litre four-cylinder EcoBoost engine and the popular 5.0-litre Coyote V8. Ford are mum on power and torque figures but we should expect a significant increase in performance outputs.

Ford has saved the manual transmission for a new generation and the 5.0-liter V8 continues to offer a standard six-speed manual transmission (standard with rev-matching) for customers who want an uncompromised connection to eight-cylinder power. Ford’s advanced 10-speed automatic transmission is also available, and is said to almost instantaneously reconfigure its shift patterns to match the selected drive mode.

The new Mustang now enables drivers to quickly adjust steering effort, engine response, and transmission and electronic stability control settings through six available Drive Modes to create the perfect Mustang at any time. These are Normal, Sport, Slippery, Drag, Track plus a customizable setting with up to six individual profiles, tailored to the driver’s view ahead of them.

Mustang GT and EcoBoost models are both available with an optional Performance Pack, which adds a host of track-focused features, including a front Tower Brace, Torsen® Limited Slip differential and optional MagneRide active suspension, wider rear wheels and tires, and larger, 390-millimeter front and 355-millimeter rear Brembo brakes. The GT Performance Pack adds brake ducts for even more enhanced cooling and a standard auxiliary engine oil cooler. Performance Pack also offers optional Recaro seats and active exhaust.