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Ford Mustang now offered with official performance upgrades

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Thanks to the new Ford Performance exhaust system, Mustang owners will be harder to ignore when cruising the streets.
Thanks to the new Ford Performance exhaust system, Mustang owners will be harder to ignore when cruising the streets.
Justin Hilliard
Head of Editorial
1 Jun 2017
3 min read

Ford Australia will now offer factory-backed performance upgrades – including exhaust and handling tweaks – for 2016 and 2017 model year Mustangs, with the packs to be sold country-wide via the Blue Oval's authorised dealer network.

Crucially though, the manufacturer's three-year/100,000km warranty will only apply to these parts when fitted before delivery of a Mustang is taken, meaning customers must order their Pony cars with these upgrades at the point of sale.

Existing owners can still get in on the action, but the parts will only carry a 12-month/20,000km warranty that is independent of the vehicle’s coverage.

Exhaust upgrades – which cost $3584 including GST and installation – look to accentuate the burble from the Mustang GT Fastback and Convertible's 5.0-litre Coyote V8, thanks to a stainless steel mandrel bent 2.5-inch system that is fitted from the back of the factory catalytic converter.

According to Ford, engineers endeavoured to balance track performance with everyday use.

Furthermore, 4.0-inch tailpipes – finished in either chrome or diffuser-matching gloss black – are also added to visually signal the upgraded set-up.

A $4130 handling pack – developed by Ford Performance – is also available for EcoBoost and GT Fastbacks only, which the brand says prepares the Mustang's already performance-focused chassis for track use.

Several parts comprise this upgrade, including lowered coil springs, revised front struts, upper strut mounts, rear shocks, sway bars, rear toe links and toe-to-knuckle bearings.

According to Ford, engineers endeavoured to balance track performance with everyday use, claiming that the handling upgrades offer the best of both worlds – especially if an owner frequents high-performance driving events.

However, EcoBoost and GT Fastback customers that are keen to drop the ride height only can opt for the $1260 lowering springs – finished in blue or gloss black – as a single item, with the Mustang lowered by 25mm after fitment.

Ford says all of the aforementioned packs have been subject to rigorous in-house design and evaluation processes.

Covers for these springs – which can be added separately for GT Fastbacks only – cost $222, and match their respective colour.

The last Ford Performance part on offer is the $805 short-throw shift kit – including gear knob – for any Mustang fitted with the six-speed manual gearbox. Throw distance is allegedly reduced by 19 per cent when fitted.

Ford says all of the aforementioned packs have been subject to rigorous in-house design and evaluation processes where engineers developed bespoke parts using methods not available to after-market manufacturers.

Should more carmakers offer factory-backed performance upgrades for their models? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

Justin Hilliard
Head of Editorial
Justin’s dad chose to miss his birth because he wanted to watch Peter Brock hopefully win Bathurst, so it figures Justin grew up to have a car obsession, too – and don’t worry, his dad did turn up in time after some stern words from his mum. That said, despite loving cars and writing, Justin chose to pursue career paths that didn’t lend themselves to automotive journalism, before eventually ending up working as a computer technician. But that car itch just couldn’t be scratched by his chipped Volkswagen Golf R (Mk7), so he finally decided to give into the inevitable and study a Master of Journalism at the same time. And even with the long odds, Justin was lucky enough to land a full-time job as a motoring journalist soon after graduating and the rest, as they say, is history. These days, Justin happily finds himself working at CarsGuide during the biggest period of change yet for the automotive industry, which is perhaps the most exciting part of all. In case you’re wondering, Justin begrudgingly sold the Golf R (sans chip) and still has plans to buy his dream car, an E46 BMW M3 coupe (manual, of course), but he is in desperate need of a second car space – or maybe a third.
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