Ford Australia has teamed up with Herrod
Performance, the largest distributor of Ford Performance Parts outside North
America, to make the Mustang R-Spec.
A special edition of the popular muscle car, the Mustang R-Spec is aimed
exclusively at the Australian market and will be offered in a limited run of
500 units, sold through Ford’s dealerships. Each one will start at AUD 99,980
(US$ 67,367) and will be available for pre-order from October 10, with
deliveries kicking off early next year.
Joining the turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder
EcoBoost and naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 GT, the limited edition is
powered by a supercharged version of the V8, paired to a 6-speed manual
transmission. The official performance figures have not been released yet,
though Ford says it will be much more powerful than the 469 PS Mustang Bullitt. It is believed that it will have some 700
horsepower, which would make it the most powerful car Ford has ever sold in Australia.
Compared to the regular GT, the new Mustang R-Spec
sits 20 mm closer to the ground courtesy of the shorter springs, and
features standard MagneRide suspension, a system that adjusts the damping rate
100 times per second. For improved cornering, thicker adjustable stabilizer
bars have been added at the front and rear. The car also features a unique
Herrod Performance exhaust system, with Quiet, Normal, Sport and Race Track
modes, and rides on 19-inch Ford Performance alloy wheels, shod in Michelin
Pilot Sport 4S tires. Each car will also be individually numbered and adorned
with special decals.
Standard gear includes the SYNC3 infotainment system
with smartphone integration, satellite navigation system, climate control and
B&O premium audio. The sports seats, 3-spoke steering wheel and 12.4-inch
digital instrument cluster are also included, along with autonomous emergency
braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with lane keep assist,
adaptive cruise control and self-levelling headlights.
