New Ford Mustang GT offers V8-only performance for under £56k

• 5.0-litre V8 engine
• High-performance Dark Horse model
• Available to order now from £55,585

Ford has revealed UK pricing for the latest generation of its famous pony car, the Ford Mustang. Starting from £55,585, and available solely with V8 power for now, the new Mustang looks to continue the bang-for-your-buck trend that has earned it the title of the world’s best-selling sports coupe.

It’s been 60 years since the first Ford Mustang rolled off the production line, and we’ve seen Mustangs of all shapes, sizes and speeds in the decades that have followed. The latest model, revealed in 2022, looks to be the most sophisticated yet while retaining its classic muscle car looks and powerful V8 engine.

12

There are few other front-engined sports cars available at this price point any more, leaving the new Mustang to compete against the BMW M2 and Toyota Supra when it reaches customers later this year.

What do I need to know about the new Ford Mustang?

The new Mustang will initially be offered in the UK in two trims, both using the 5.0-litre ‘Coyote’ V8 that was found in the outgoing Mustang. As before, it will be offered as a coupe and a convertible, although UK pricing for the latter is yet to be announced.

Your £55,585 will get you behind the wheel of the ‘GT’ model, with 439bhp and a choice between a six-speed manual gearbox or a ten-speed automatic. Ford’s Performance Pack is standard fit on UK cars, bringing 19-inch wheels, a limited-slip differential, large brakes and a switchable exhaust so you can mute the V8 soundtrack. Adjustable active suspension is available as an option, which may come in handy on our crater-ridden roads.

12

Inside, all models benefit from a new 13.2-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a 12.4-inch digital driver’s display. Interior materials look to be improved over the outgoing model and there’s a suite of driving assistance and safety features.

What about the Ford Mustang Dark Horse?

Sitting above the Mustang GT, and costing exactly £10,000 more, is the Dark Horse model. Designed to offer even more performance over the standard car, the Dark Horse gets a host of chassis upgrades along with a small bump in power to 446bhp.

Buyers can choose the same 10-speed automatic gearbox, or opt for a unique six-speed manual that offers a better gearshift feel over the GT. Larger 19-inch wheels and the adjustable active suspension are fitted as standard to Dark Horse models, and there are some external visual tweaks, too.

How much does the new Ford Mustang cost and when can I order one?

The new Ford Mustang starts at £55,585 for the GT model with the six-speed manual gearbox – the 10-speed auto commands an additional £2,000. High-performance Mustang Dark Horse models with the manual gearbox cost £65,585, the automatic version again costing an additional £2,000. Pricing is yet to be revealed for convertible variants.

Buyers in the UK can place an order now for the new Ford Mustang.

What does this mean for car buyers?

The new Mustang is both unsurprising and an oddity in today’s sports car market. With such a long lineage of V8-powered predecessors, it comes as no shock that the new Mustang retains the traditional front-engined muscle car layout that has come to define the genre. 

However, with most other manufacturers abandoning large engines in favour of smaller, turbocharged units, it’s unusual to see a 5.0-litre V8 still on sale in 2024. Many others have foregone manual gearboxes for more efficient automatics, too, leaving the Mustang as one of the last in a dying breed of old-school muscle cars.

Check out the Ford Mustang's competitors by reading our list of the top 10 best sports cars...