Even after the arrival of the latest generation Mustang in the UK in 2015, Ford has reserved its performance-focused models to those in North America. But I bring you good news, as the company has announced that it’s upcoming sports model, the Mach 1, will also be available to muscle car fans in Blighty. #
The Mach 1, not to be confused with the company’s Mustang-inspired Mach E, takes the name from the company’s performance pony cars built primarily in the late 1960s and 70s, before briefly returning in the early 2000s.
The car gets a few design tweaks over the standard car to reflect its sportier edge, including a revised front, a small boot spoiler and a new set of five-spoke, 19-inch wheels inspired by the Mach 1s of old. But the tweaked design isn’t just for show. The new front-end comes with an extended underbody tray that helps increase downforce by 22% over the Mustang GT.
The good news doesn’t stop there, either. While we don’t get any of the Shelby-tuned Mustangs in the UK, Ford has packed the new Mach 1 with a bunch of upgrades from the tuning firm. These include an auxiliary air cooler, toe-link components and diffuser. The US-spec cars also get an open air induction system, intake manifold and throttle bodies from the Shelby GT350, but we’re not sure if they’ll make their way onto European cars.
Why’s that, you might ask? Well, European-spec cars are slightly down on power. Both versions get tuned up 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8s, with US cars producing 480bhp while UK models pump out 454bhp, matching the power output of the Mustang Bullitt. And, you guessed it, it’s because of the EU’s strict emission laws.
Nevertheless, we’ll welcome all the performance cars we can get in this day and age. There’s no word on price just yet, but expect a figure of around £50,000 when sales open next year.
Keyword: Ford Mustang Mach 1: 454bhp sports model to launch in the UK in 2021