Thunderous applause
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9D5hkYoXbU
The curb appeal of the Mustang in this part of the world is astounding. Having been forbidden fruit for the Malaysian enthusiast thus far, the attention the Mustang received during our time with it is on par with Italian exotics. Muscled and impactful in presence, the observer is instantly hooked by the growl. The one that emanates from under the hood of specifically the GT, of course. The Mustang to covet is one with a V8, inhaling air at atmospheric pressure. A supercharger is acceptable, but not a single turbo should be anywhere near the engine bay.
Muscle car or pony car? Both. While most would consider the term muscle car to be a misnomer for the Mustang, its growth in size over the generations and the resulting added bulk – visual and actual – has made it less lithe-looking but decidedly more imposing. Pony car, on the other hand, is a niche that the Mustang’s birth initiated. So that one it owns outright.
Its cockpit ambience is recognisably Ford – but in places that you would want this to be the case. The SYNC 2 infotainment system and the switchgear, for example, which levels out the learning curve somewhat. Truth be told, with Mustang keys in hand, you’d want to minimise the time between starting it up and peeling off in a cloud of tyre smoke. Which, while still brilliantly hooliganistic, can be done safely with the Electronic Line Lock feature to keep your burnouts straight.
Elsewhere, aviation-inspired toggle switches, Mustang emblems and a plaque on the dash remind you of the special place you’re in. Gripping the meaty wheel for the first time, it wasn’t just plush leather I was sitting on but decades of lineage and, unlike its competitors, uninterrupted production. In an urban setting the Mustang is surprisingly tractable, slightly challenging visibility and dimensions notwithstanding.
Power and torque figure disparities between the smaller, force-inducted 2.3-litre EcoBoost and the naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 GT are around a hundred for both metrics — 414hp and 530Nm for the GT. The difference in drama and occasion however, cannot be expressed in numbers. The GT is a beast with a baritone to match, and the premium over its fuel efficient sibling is wholly justified by the sonorous soundtrack and the linearity of its delivery.
The usability of the power is drastically improved over its predecessor as well, this being the first Mustang in over five decades of the nameplate’s existence to feature fully independent suspension. It is a confidence-inspiring machine, albeit with some noticeable heft up front from the big power plant. A change of character can be had through the various driving modes – including a hairy-chested track mode where the stability control takes a back seat. The steering can be adjusted independently of this too, for the response to suit your mood.
In essence, the Mustang GT is the promise of unbridled excitement and ownership of something truly special. Driving it gives you a constant itch for aural satisfaction, one that you can scratch virtually anytime there’s even the slightest amount of spare tarmac to go hard on the throttle. And now, you may have your iconic cake and eat it too with proper principal support, maintenance and warranty for a worry-free ownership experience.
The Ford Mustang GT Premium retails for RM598,888 on-the-road without insurance.
