Ford dusts off Mach 1 badge for range-topping Mustang

Tuesday, 2 June 2020

The original advertisement for the original Ford Mustang Mach 1.

Ford has opened up the history books for its latest Mustang. The Mach 1 badge is returning, set to adorn a track-oriented model to plug the gap between the standard 5.0-litre V8 Mustang GT and the Shelby GT350 and GT500.

We don't know much about the new Mach 1, other than it will be “the most track-capable 5.0-litre Mustang ever”.

That means it will use the standard Coyote V8 found in the GT, albeit with some tweaking. Around 375kW is a good bet, putting it between the GT's 339kW and the GT350 392kW.

Those intakes hark back to the original 1969 Mach 1 and boy they look good.

Visible in the teaser images are big Brembo brakes and Michelin Cup 2 tyres, as well as a quartet of exhaust outlets, a rear diffuser and a different spoiler.

**READ MORE:

It won't be the ultimate 'Stang in terms of power but Ford reckons it'll be the best 5.0-powered model around a track yet.

* Road test review: Ford Mustang High Performance 2.3L

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The nose houses two new round intakes, which look fantastic and hark back to the original Mach 1 which debuted for the 1969 model year and immediately carved out its place in the Mustang lineup, delivering performance and improved dynamics with its GT handling suspension. In the years that followed, Mach 1 saw improved performance versus Mustang GT and was more attainable than Shelby and Boss variants.

The model returned for 2003 and 2004 model years, with a unique Mach 1 handling and suspension pack as well as larger Brembo front disc brakes, while its matte black spoiler and bonnet stripe helped the coupe standout.

Stuff reached out to Ford New Zealand to see if there's any chance of the Mach 1 making it here and was told that while the Mustang has a lot of enthusiastic fans in New Zealand, the Mach 1 has not yet been confirmed for right-hand drive markets.

We didn't officially get the GT350 or the even more hardcore GT350R as they weren't ever built in right-hand drive, nor will the hi-po GT500.

We hold out a bit more hope for the Mach 1 making it here though. After all, we do have the High Performance 2.3L, which is a riot in itself, and we got the Bullitt special edition both of which were based on the standard Mustang, much like the forthcoming Mach 1…