Ford Mustang to start at $44,990

THE Ford Mustang will start at $44,990 when it goes on sale in Australia later this year. That puts it within reach of Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo and Holden Commodore SS shoppers, which are both listed at $42,990 before on-road-costs.

The $45K entry price will have the entry-level coupe powered by a 233kW 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo with a Getrag six-speed manual parked in your garage. A six-speed automatic is a $2500 option.

For many Mustang buyers, though, there will only be one engine to have: the 324kW 5.0-litre V8. Powering the GT models, the V8 Mustang starts at $54,990 for the manual with the automatic adding $2500, making it $57,490. That, too, knocks on the door of the admittedly more powerful Falcon XR8, with its supercharged 5.0-litre producing 335kW, and the Holden Commodore SS-V Redline, with both Aussie-built cars priced at $54,690.

The Mustang Coupe will arrive in local showrooms at the same time as the Convertible, which is pared back to automatic models only. The 2.3-litre starts at $53,990 with the GT V8 $63,990.

That four-cylinder ‘EcoBoost’ engine is expected to make up around 40 per cent of Mustang sales. While purists may sneeze at four-pot Mustang, it’s the same engine powering the recently unveiled almighty Ford Focus RS hatch where only adoration’s been laid on.

The long-stroke four-cylinder produces 233kW and a strong 454Nm of torque for the Mustang, and while that’s a cry from the flagship V8’s 324kW/542Nm, it offers an official 9.4L/100km against the 5.0-litre’s 12.4L/100km.

While Mustang is a certainty for Australia, with equipment and further details revealed closer to the car’s December on-sale date, speculation and rumour still surrounds whether arch-nemesis Holden will import the Mustang’s sparring partner, the Chevrolet Camaro, once Australian manufacturing ceases.

Regardless, Ford has the jump on Holden by offering both its home-grown Aussie performance cars alongside the Mustang in showrooms for, dare we use Ford’s Weasel Words, ‘transition’ to a full-importer.