The all-new Ford Mustang Mach 1 is headed for Australia after Ford Australia announced a limited number of vehicles will arrive in local showrooms in 2021.

The Mustang Mach 1 will be the first limited edition Mustang model to be launched in Australia since the Mustang Bullitt edition was released in 2017. And just like the Mustang Bullitt, only 700 Mustang Mach 1 vehicles will be made available locally.

Equipped with the same 5.0-litre V8 engine as the one possessed by the Bullit, Ford has taken a number of components from the Shelby GT500 to give the Mustang Mach 1 a powerful 358kW of power and 569Nm of torque.

Also borrowed from the GT500 is the rear-axle cooling system that provides significantly improved engine oil cooling capabilities.

The Mustang Mach 1 will also boast a new look reminiscent of the original Mustang Mach 1, manufactured from 1969 – 1974, with a new front bumper and grill design, updated wheels, and a brand new spoiler.

Much like the original Mustang Mach 1, which provided American Mustang enthusiasts with an upgraded alternative to the Mustang GT and bridged the gap between the Mustang model and the high-performance Shelby Mustang model, the 2021 edition will sit between the Mustang GT and the 2.3-litre High Performance Mustang in Ford Australia’s line-up.

The Mach 1 nameplate is a reference to the record breaking achievement of pilot Chuck Yeager, who was the first pilot to break the sound barrier, or Mach 1, in 1947. It was this achievement that inspired the original Mustang Mach 1 vehicle in 1969 and continues to inspire Ford to this day, according to Ford Australia President and CEO, Andrew Birkic.

“Achieving Mach 1 for the first time was a significant human feat,” said Birkic. “That spirit and determination to keep pushing, never settling and always trying to go further is what the Mach 1 Mustang was all about – and it’s fitting that we can bring Australian customers, who’ve made Mustang part of our motoring landscape, a 2021 Mustang Mach 1 of their very own.”

Former Supercars champion Rick Kelly, who made the move to a Ford Performance Racing Mustang vehicle for the 2020 Supercars season, has been announced as the official ambassador for the Mustang Mach 1 and described the new look Mustang vehicle as the most track ready Mustang yet.

“It’s a stunning looking vehicle, but above all, it really is a Mustang made for enthusiasts – it is all about how it drives around a track, which is why I’m so pleased to be working on this project with Ford,” said Kelly.

The Mach 1 will sit between Mustang GT and the 2.3L High Performance Mustang in Ford Australia’s line-up.

Little information has been released by Ford Australia regarding possible pricing, however, some have estimated a price tag of around $80,000, similar to the $73,688 going price of the Bullitt when it was first released.

Source: Ford Australia

20 October 2020