Ford Mustang High Performance 2.3L set for Australia

The facelifted Ford Mustang with the updated Performance Package announced in May is heading to Australia, where it will go on sale in February next year as the High Performance 2.3L Mustang.

To be offered in both fastback and convertible body styles, the revised S550 will be distinguishable from the standard 2.3 litre version by a series of unique visual elements, led by a new specific front grille with an offset Pony logo. Also going on are bonnet spears and the Mustang GT’s more aggressive front splitter, as well as new colour choices.

The big ticket item is the increase in output from the 2.3 litre EcoBoost mill, which has been upgraded with a larger 63 mm twin-scroll turbocharger from the Ford Performance Focus RS. Output-wise, the Australian model’s power increase is still behind that announced for the US version, which ramps up the tune by 20 hp to 330 hp, along with 475 Nm of torque. For Australia, the unit will develop 316 hp and at 6,200 rpm and 448 Nm of torque at 3,800 rpm.

This is 16 hp more than the 300 hp for the 2.3 litre facelift that was introduced in Australia last year, while torque is marginally up from the 441 Nm on the current unit. The numbers don’t tell the whole story – Ford says that the update provides a broader torque curve that delivers 90% of peak torque between 2,500 and 5,300 rpm, and power output holds stronger up to the redline, enabling more usable power.

Transmission choices continue to be a Getrag MT82 six-speed manual and a 10R80 10-speed automatic, but the update introduces shortened gear ratios for both ‘boxes, which improves agility and driver engagement, and the manual’s final drive ratio has been revised to 3.55:1 (previously, 3.31:1). Elsewhere, the car gets a thicker 32 mm front stabiliser bar, while the rear stabiliser bar has gone up to 24 mm from 21.7 mm.

The Australian car will come with a machine-faced 19-inch alloy wheel fitted as standard, with MagneRide suspension available as an option. The 2020 model year variant is also said to improve on the updates that arrived with the current model in 2018 by offering more premium, tactile materials and textured interior finishes for a higher-end feel.

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