2015 Ford Mustang – initial Australian specifications detailed, Malaysian lineup likely to feature same kit?

Still a way to go before you can actually get your hands on one, but the preview of the 2015 Ford Mustang from today till Sunday at Publika will show what to expect from the sixth-gen S550, primarily from a form and scope perspective.

We do know that the show car is a 5.0 GT model in a Premium specification, though it’s almost certain that there’s no optional Performance Pack on it (we’ll know soon enough) – the pack may or may not feature on the final iteration of the GT that eventually goes on sale here.

As mentioned in our story earlier today, the equipment groups that will be seen on the display 5.0 GT is likely to mirror or be very close to the Australian-specification Mustang.

In any case, here’s what we can possibly look forward to. Last week, Ford Australia announced provisional specs as well as the variants that will be heading Down Under – our Fastback and Convertible range is virtually identical model-wise, and so the details provide a good intimation of what to expect when our Mustang arrives at the end of the year.

Both markets will sell the 2.3 litre EcoBoost and 5.0 litre Coyote V8 engine variants (there’s a baseline 3.7 litre Cyclone V6 model, but that’s not coming into these markets), in Fastback and Convertible bodystyles.

Australia will sell the Fastback in both six-speed Getrag MT82 manual (standard) and ZF-based 6R80 automatic (cost-added option), while both 2.3 EcoBoost and 5.0 GT Convertible will be only be available with an automatic transmission, making for six variants.

By all reckoning, Malaysia should have three at the minimum – the auto versions of the 2.3 EcoBoost coupe and soft-top as well as the 5.0 GT coupe; manuals may be a possibility, but the guess is that we won’t be selling a 5.0 GT Convertible.

Standard equipment for the range includes HID headlamps with signature lighting, LED tail lights, DRLs, a rear diffuser, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry/push-start ignition, MyKey, leather upholstery with climate control front seats (heated/cooled) and six-way powered front seats.

There’s also rain sensing wipers, auto headlamps, a stainless steel dual exhaust, illuminated scuff plates, and the Premium specification adds a four-gang toggle-switch pack, which controls four selectable drive modes (Normal, Sport+, Track and Snow/Wet). No damper control, but the modes offer predefined powertrain and chassis-related calibration settings.

In what is a repeat of the comms/entertainment kit seen on the upcoming CD391 Mondeo, there’s also SYNC 2 infotainment system with an eight-inch LCD touchscreen, sat-nav, rearview camera, Bluetooth and USB connection as well as nine speakers, a step up from the base six-speaker system with a 4.2-inch screen.

Standard safety kit includes ESC, Isofix mount points, a tyre pressure monitoring system and front, front-seat side and driver knee airbags (for the convertible – the coupe adds on side curtain airbags) on top of an active glovebox knee-airbag for the front passenger.

The Australian 2.3 litre EcoBoost Premium will come equipped with a Performance Pack, which adds a 3.55 ratio limited-slip differential (on both auto and manual), Gauge Pack (oil pressure and boost readouts on the centre console, replacing one of the central air vents in non PP trim).

The brakes are also uprated to 352 x 32 mm vented front discs (with four-piston 46 mm fixed aluminium calipers) and 330 x 25 mm vented rear discs (with single-piston 45 mm floating iron calipers), and the EcoBoost rides on 19-inch Ebony Black five double-spoke alloys and 255/40 rubbers, as seen on the test mule during the international media drive of the car in Los Angeles.

The 5.0 litre GT for the Australian market will also be equipped with a Performance Pack, which adds on a 3.73:1 Torsen helical gear differential, Brembo six-pot front calipers and 380 x 34 mm vented front discs, Gauge Pack, new front springs, a unique chassis tuning and dedicated 10 double-spoke 19-inch Ebony Black wheels wrapped with 255/40 front and 275/40 rear tyres.

Cost-options for the Mustang in Australia include “over the top’ racing stripes or a black painted roof (one or the other, in this case) and prestige paint (likely to be the Triple Yellow Tri-coat). Twelve exterior colours are available for the S550, but no indication of what will be found for both markets as yet.

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