A grand total of 3,852 Ford Mustangs have been sold in South Africa since the American muscle car’s introduction in 2016.
The iconic model has undergone six generations since it was first launched nearly 60 years ago, and now the all-new seventh-generation Mustang is set to go on sale in more than 100 markets around the world by the middle of the year.
A motoring icon
The Mustang currently holds the position as the world’s best-selling sports car over the past 10 years combined, according to Ford’s analysis of registration data from S&P Global Mobility.
As many as 239 examples were sold in South Africa in the last 12 months, raising the total number of domestical sales to 3,852 since the nameplate was officially introduced in 2016.
For context, the cheapest Mustang in the country – the 5.0-litre GT Fastback – currently has a starting price of R1,117,500, which increases to R1,233,400 for the Mach 1.
The V8 powerplant that is at the heart of each model produces 330kW and 529Nm, lending the wild horse a rapid 0-100km/h acceleration time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h.
For those who think the Mustang is still too mainstream, there are also the highly-exclusive models produced by Shelby, the company that takes its name from American motorsport icon Carrol Shelby.
This includes entries like the limited-run Centennial Edition of which there are only 100 units in the world with three allotted to South Africa – each of which retails for a cool R2.8 million.
Outside of South Africa, the United States remains the biggest market for muscle cars, taking home 78% of all Mustangs produced, though other countries have had a rise in interest over the past few years.
This includes Germany, which reported a 17% increase in demand, while Britain had a 14.4% rise in sales. Switzerland saw an uptick of 14.9%, and Middle Eastern markets experienced a sales increase of 7.4%.
The company is also celebrating the production of its 150,000th Mach-E since its launch two years ago. Ford plans to scale the production of its EVs to 600,000 units annually by the end of 2023, and over 2 million by 2026.
Next-generation
The 2024 Mustang is reaching the market within the next few months and it will be available in both convertible and coupe body types with a choice of two engines depending on the market – either the classic V8 or a 2.3-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged unit.
A new, more aggressive Mustang named the Dark Horse will also be the “first new performance name for the brand” since the introduction of the Mustang Bullit in 2001 and it aims to set a “benchmark for street and track performance,” said the automaker.
The Dark Horse will feature the most powerful 5.0-litre V8 yet with a claimed performance ceiling of over 500 horsepower, or 372kW.
Other incoming features that have been confirmed include a Remote Rev function letting owners rev the engine using the key fob, as well as an electronic drift handbrake for impressive slides.
Keyword: How many Ford Mustangs have been sold in South Africa