2015 Ford Mustang confirmed for Australia

By: Scott Newman

Date: 14.08.2013

Mustang Boss 302

Ford Falcon

Ford Evos concept

Mustang Boss 302

Ford Falcon

Ford Evos concept

Next-gen Mustang is coming Down Under...

Mustang confirmed for Australia

2015 Ford Mustang confirmed for Australia

The Mustang is coming Down Under. Ford has confirmed at a special event in Sydney that the next-generation Mustang, due in 2015, will be produced in right-hand drive and sold in Australia.

While concrete details are scarce, it’s expected that the Mustang will fill the hero car hole left by the demise of Ford Performance Vehicles. Ford Australia President and CEO, Bob Graziano, would not comment on the future of FPV, but there are suggestions that the brand will be killed off when the Falcon receives a facelift next year.

Ford has confirmed that the Falcon will receive new, more aerodynamic front styling and a new automatic gearbox to improve efficiency, but it’s unclear whether the resources exist to create an FPV-specific version of the update Falcon.

Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Jim Farley, stated that despite the current parlous state of Falcon sales (just 594 cars were sold in July), Ford is committed to bringing the update to market, though he qualified his statement by saying that the business situation would continue to be monitored. The Falcon and Territory SUV are currently due to cease production in October, 2016.

Regardless, the Mustang that arrives will be a very different animal to the car that exists today. Its styling is said to be heavily inspired by the Evos concept that appeared at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

For the first time since 1993, the Mustang will be available with a four-cylinder engine, in this case a 224kW 2.3-litre version of the turbocharged four found in the Focus ST. It will also feature a V6 and V8 in both naturally-aspirated and supercharged forms. It’s also likely that the next-gen Mustang will feature independent rear suspension as prototypes so equipped have been spotted testing.

While Ford’s time as an Australian manufacturer is soon to end, President of Ford Asia Pacific, Dave Schoch, confirmed that Australia would continue as one of four global design and engineering centres, revealing that $1.9 billion had been invested in facilities over the past six years.

Ford Australia currently employs 1100 engineers and designers, whose work includes the Ranger ute and upcoming Everest seven-seat SUV.

As part of its transition to a post-Falcon future, Ford will refresh its entire lineup of vehicles, including the introduction of at least three new models, by 2017. This will result in a lineup of 11 global vehicles, finally bringing Australia in line with President and CEO, Alan Mullaly’s, ‘One Ford’ strategy, that mandates every vehicle be designed and engineered for a global market.

Unique Cars magazine Value Guides

Sell your car for free right here