All new Ford Mustang retains V8, manual gearbox

Ford has finally taken the wraps off the seventh generation of the popular Mustang. Unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show 2022, which has made a comeback after a short gap, the new Mustang gets fresh styling inside out, but looks unmistakably a Mustang thanks to familiar design cues.

The Ford Mustang is one of the few cars to have remained on sale since its introduction in 1964. The sportscar has racked up over 10 million in sales, and remained the world's bestselling sports coupe for the last seven years, beating its key rival, the Chevrolet Camaro.

• 7th-gen Ford Mustang retains predecessor's platform
• Gets all new styling inside out
• Could be the last iteration of the ICE-powered Mustang

New Ford Mustang: design

Featuring a bolder, edgier take on the classic Ford icon, the 2023 Mustang continues with the previous generation's S550 platform, rather than being based on Ford's latest CD6 architecture that underpins the current Ford Explorer SUV sold overseas. This means the new Ford Mustang (codenamed S650) is more of a comprehensive redesign of the current car, and misses out on the long-rumoured electric powertrains and the brand's next-generation autonomous driving aids.

As far as styling goes, this is the first time that Ford's designers have provided strong visual cues to differentiate the V8 and EcoBoost versions. The four-cylinder turbo gets subtle styling, including a new grille – inspired by the original 1964 Mustang – that's flanked by a pair of slimmer headlamps featuring new tri-bar LED daylight running lamps.

The new Mustang GT, meanwhile, gets more aggressive styling cues such as a gloss black grille surround plus a pair of nostrils within the grille that feed air to the new intakes. Other changes include a new lower front bumper and a large bonnet extractor that not only vents hot air, but also channels high-pressure air from the front air intakes to reduce lift over the front axle. At the rear, the Mustang V8 gets a larger diffuser and quad tail pipes in place of the turbo four's dual pipes.

New Ford Mustang: powertrain

Under the bonnet, both the 2.3-litre twin-scroll turbocharged Ecoboost four-cylinder and 5.0-litre 'Coyote' V8 are carried over. And the former is said to be comprehensively updated – with a new bore, stroke, and a fresh turbo – making it all-new. The naturally aspirated V8, meanwhile, gets less dramatic updates, but does come with a new dual cold-air intake.

Both engines are claimed to push out more power and torque, while being more efficient. Like before, a six-speed manual will be offered, but only on the most powerful Mustang GT with the 5.0-litre V8. An updated version of the 10-speed torque-converter automatic is optional in the V8, but is standard for the 2.3-litre Ecoboost.

Performance figures are yet to be released, but the fastest V8 version is tipped to launch from 0-100kph in around 4.0sec and top out at over 273kph.

New Ford Mustang: interior

Within the cabin, the base models get twin screens, but mid-level and top-spec trims get a new 'continuous' screen combining a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a larger 13.2-inch touchscreen running Ford's latest Sync 4 software.

Capable of being updated over the air, this latest system enables a huge level of customisation that Ford hopes – along with the car's styling – will attract younger buyers. One party piece is the ability to swap the modern gauge graphics for a digital recreation of the 'Fox body' (1979-1993) Mustang's clocks.

New Ford Mustang: suspension

Under the skin, the new Mustang carries over its MacPherson-style strut front suspension and the independent rear suspension introduced on the sixth-gen coupe in 2015. Both mounting points and linkages have been stiffened, and new springs and dampers added.

A performance pack is also available, adding stickier rubber, 20mm wider 275-section rear tyres, MagneRide adaptive dampers, larger 19-inch rims – 18s are standard – plus bigger Brembo six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers.

All models get a Torsen-style limited-slip differential, and, for the first time, the Mustang gets a 'drift brake' that employs an electric handbrake to help coax the rear axle into huge slides, albeit only in Track mode. A line-locking burnout mode is also available.

New Ford Mustang: right-hand-drive version incoming

The Mustang will first go on sale in the North American market followed by other left-hand drive countries, while markets confirmed for right-hand drive production include Japan and Australia. Deliveries will begin before the end of 2023, but there's still no word when, or if, the new Ford Mustang will return for another generation.

New Ford Mustang: will it come to India?

The Mustang in its previous generation was introduced in India for a few model years, and it was an instant hit as Ford was able to sell all allocated units in a short span of time. With Ford wrapping up its production operations in India, it is not known if the Mustang will return to India, even as a fully imported model. Ford, however, had announced last year that it will continue vehicle sales in India with fully imported models like the Mustang Mach E electric crossover. However, there's been no update on this since then.

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2023 Ford Mustang image gallery