The enthusiasts all over the world were very excited when Ford announced that it would be returning the Mach I name to the Mustang range. Initially introduced in 1969 and sold through 1973, Mustang Mach I was a street racing model, envisioned with a list of performance options and no luxury features and aimed at dedicated muscle car enthusiasts. Cheaper than comparable Shelby Mustangs but as fast, Mach I was soon a very popular and integral part of the Mustang legend. Ford returned the moniker for the second time on 2003/4 Mustang, but it was only available for the American market. Today, over 50 years since the first Mach I debuted, we have the chance to experience the magic of this model in RHD spec for the Australian market.
However, there was a great deal of controversy over the 2021 Mustang Mach I even before the cars arrived in Australia. Some said that this was nothing more than the parts bin model, designed to cash in on the famous name and sell more cars before the next generation arrived. Others genuinely praised the combination and recognized it as a bona fide performance car that used standard GT's qualities and amplified them. However, if this might be the case with US-spec Mach I, the Australian models lack several features that ruin the whole concept.
So, what is the 2021 Mustang Mach I? Well, this is a performance oriented model, envisioned as a true street/track machine somewhere between standard GT and Shelby GT350. The 5.0-litre V8 has been given a slight bump in power, Shelby GT350 intake and a few smaller tweaks, and now it produces 480 hp (345 kW) and 560 Nm of torque. The Mach I also has a unique front fascia, wheels, rear spoiler, five different paints and a special graphics package.
In terms of dynamics, Mach I is equipped with stiffer sway bars, special underside aero enhancements, two heat exchangers for track day driving, a unique steering setting, a Magneride suspension system and selectable driving modes. The result is pretty convincing, and 2021 Mach I is capable of getting to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds, but the top speed is still electronically limited to 262 km/h. The Australian model long list of standard features and a few factory options – Appearance Pack with Fighter Jet Gray paint, optional 10-speed automatic and Recaro sport seats. The base price for 2021 Mustang Mach I is $83,365.
However, the problem with Australian spec Mach I Mustang was the fact that Ford's initial brochures promised more in terms of hardware than the car delivered. Originally, Ford promised Torsen a limited-slip-differential with a 3.73:1 differential ratio, rear sensors and adaptive cruise control. When the first cars were delivered, customers realized that they didn't get those features and that the rear diff was a standard Mustang GT unit with a 3.55:1 rear end ratio, which affected the performance.
Realizing the mistake, Ford was fast to compensate the customers offering $5,400 of the price and a three-year free servicing plan. For those who wanted to step back from the purchase, Ford offered full refunds. So far, over 700 Mach Is are sold in Australia, and although this is a fantastic car still, we have a feeling that it could be even better if Ford offered it with all the features of the US-spec model.
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