New car news

18 November 2008 - 17:00

Must’ see

There’s a new Ford Mustang on the way, and it looks… well, it definitely looks Mustangy.

You didn’t expect them to depart too far from that muscle car styling they’ve been working on for 45 years, did you?

Due to be formally unveiled at the LA Auto Show later this week, the new Mustang is, essentially, more a facelift than an all-new model, but that’s all good by us.

So what’s changed? Round the front, there’s a bigger power dome on the bonnet and more curved nose, helping to make the Mustang some seven per cent slippier through the air.

There’s a stronger side crease while the back end gets a new diffuser and revised light clusters. Nothing too revolutionary, but just enough to keep the Mustang looking fresh… in a retro-ish sort of way, obviously.

More significant are the revisions to the interior, where there’s a whole load of soft-touch plastics and aluminium bits’n’pieces, bringing the cabin upmarket.

Of course, there’s a bit more power, too – the GT’s 4.6-litre V8 has been bumped up to 235kW. No word on performance yet, but we’d guess you’re looking at a sub-five second 0-100km/h time.

Don’t expect to see the Mustang reach Australia in right-hand drive though, but if you ask Ford really, really nicely, they should be able to get hold of a left-hooker for you.

Hey, with petrol prices on the slide, has there ever been a better time to buy a big V8?*

*Yes. Yes there has.