Automotive

Ford unveils muscular new 2018 Mustang

Ford unveils muscular new 2018 Mustang
The Mustang has a new look, a new technology suite, and more muscle under the hood.
The Mustang has a new look, a new technology suite, and more muscle under the hood.
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Inside, the Mustang has some styling changes focused mainly on materials choices and comfort options
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Inside, the Mustang has some styling changes focused mainly on materials choices and comfort options
Seating with the 2018 Mustang remains traditional, with a 2+2 layout
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Seating with the 2018 Mustang remains traditional, with a 2+2 layout
Most noticeable to observers of the new 2018 Mustang are its exterior design changes
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Most noticeable to observers of the new 2018 Mustang are its exterior design changes
LED lighting all around the Mustang is now the norm, but the previous-generation’s controversial rear taillamps remain largely unchanged
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LED lighting all around the Mustang is now the norm, but the previous-generation’s controversial rear taillamps remain largely unchanged
Design changes for the 2018 Ford Mustang may be polarizing to some, though the more athletic look with a lower hood and updated aerodynamics are welcome
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Design changes for the 2018 Ford Mustang may be polarizing to some, though the more athletic look with a lower hood and updated aerodynamics are welcome
Driver-assist technology is also at the forefront of this new Mustang
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Driver-assist technology is also at the forefront of this new Mustang
The Mustang has a new look, a new technology suite, and more muscle under the hood.
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The Mustang has a new look, a new technology suite, and more muscle under the hood.
A few engine upgrades for the 2018 Mustang are accompanied by some chassis improvements as well
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A few engine upgrades for the 2018 Mustang are accompanied by some chassis improvements as well
Stiffening and the introduction of an optional active damper system should help improve the handling performance of the 2018 Mustang
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Stiffening and the introduction of an optional active damper system should help improve the handling performance of the 2018 Mustang
This rundown graphic shows the general improvements made to the 2018 Ford Mustang
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This rundown graphic shows the general improvements made to the 2018 Ford Mustang
In sketches, many of the 2018 Mustang's new attributes regarding performance are emphasized
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In sketches, many of the 2018 Mustang's new attributes regarding performance are emphasized
The 2018 Mustang's grille is now narrower and more Focus-like than previously seen on the ‘Stang
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The 2018 Mustang's grille is now narrower and more Focus-like than previously seen on the ‘Stang
Designers obviously wanted to keep the nostalgic Mustang appeal but move forward with aerodynamic upgrades as well
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Designers obviously wanted to keep the nostalgic Mustang appeal but move forward with aerodynamic upgrades as well
Some changes to the rear taillamps were meant, but not thoroughly followed through with. This sketch shows a much sleeker, "slashier" rear tail assembly
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Some changes to the rear taillamps were meant, but not thoroughly followed through with. This sketch shows a much sleeker, "slashier" rear tail assembly
Style has always been a big point of the Mustang and for the 2018 model, Ford kept that theme going
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Style has always been a big point of the Mustang and for the 2018 model, Ford kept that theme going
View gallery - 15 images

Ford would like to focus on the new tech adorning the 2018 Mustang, which includes a huge new information screen and a lot of driver-assistance technology. Mustang enthusiasts, though, are more interested about what's going on under the hood. And now that Ford broke the performance barrier with the last-generation 'Stang's new chassis, we want to see what's new in handling as well. Both get some upgrades, which will make pony car nuts happier.

Under the hood, Ford has simplified the 2018 Mustang's engine offerings to two – a four- and an eight-cylinder – and has tweaked the transmissions that go with them. The four-cylinder is the already-proven 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine that showed up in the last generation as a replacement for the 3.7L V6 before it. This little engine gets a bit of a tweak to improve torque output, though Ford has yet to tell us by how much.

Similarly, we're told that the big 5.0-liter V8 has been reworked. Ford promises more power and higher revolutions versus the previous GT, coming thanks to a new fuel injection system. The V8 is now a dual-fuel, high-pressure direct-injected engine with low-pressure port fuel injectors. This improvement increases fuel burn through better vaporization in the chamber.

Going with these engines are new transmissions. The manual transmission has a modified twin-disc clutch through a dual-mass flywheel to increase the torque delivery capability while improving clutch movement. In layman's terms, this makes it more difficult to "burn" the clutch during performance shifting.

Inside, the Mustang has some styling changes focused mainly on materials choices and comfort options
Inside, the Mustang has some styling changes focused mainly on materials choices and comfort options

The automatic transmission now offered for the 2018 Ford Mustang is a new 10-speed tuned to the Mustang's performance needs. This transmission goes with Ford's other introductions of high-gear transmissions for performance vehicles such as the Raptor pickup truck. Ford is promising faster shift times, better low-speed response rates, and more efficiency with this transmission, which replaces the six-speed automatic offered in the previous Mustang. Steering wheel shift paddles are offered as complements to this automatic trans.

Underneath the engine is a newly-refined chassis. The last-generation Mustang saw the advent of an independent rear suspension for the first time in this pony car. We witnessed that with the 2016 Mustang GT we reviewed. Now Ford has taken that a step further with a new cross-axis joint and improved shock absorbers on all models of the 2018 Mustang, which improves ride and lateral stiffness in the curve. Updated stabilizer bars help this even more. A new option is MagneRide dampers, which allow damper adjustment to further stiffen or loosen the ride quality as the driver wishes. This will be sold as part of the Performance Package for the car.

Ford's focus on the release of the 2018 Mustang, however, was with technology, not engines. Ford is now offering a 12-inch LCD screen for the dashboard as a new instrument cluster. Emphasizing customization, Ford is touting the new screen as the centerpiece for that, allowing the driver to fully customize what's being shown in the instrument cluster and driver information screens. Other customization options include body colors, wheel choices, and so forth.

LED lighting all around the Mustang is now the norm, but the previous-generation’s controversial rear taillamps remain largely unchanged
LED lighting all around the Mustang is now the norm, but the previous-generation’s controversial rear taillamps remain largely unchanged

Alongside that, the driver can also control some of the engine's sound – or at least how much of it is piped into the cockpit. As with previous generations of the Mustang, the V6 engine's sound can be created through the speaker system to give it a more robust, muscular track. The GT model has an active valve exhaust system that produces authentic sound that can be controlled by the Mustang's computer.

Driver-assist technology is also at the forefront of this new Mustang. In addition to adaptive cruise control and active braking for crash mitigation, the 2018 Ford Mustang also has options for Pre-Collision Assistant with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warnings, lane-keeping assist, and more. If you ever fall asleep driving a Mustang (which is theoretically possible, we suppose), Ford's Driver Alert System is now also an option.

In infotainment, the latest Ford SYNC Connect is available to the Mustang for the first time. This allows the Ford Pass smartphone app to access the car remotely for remote start, door lock/unlock, and more.

The 2018 Mustang's grille is now narrower and more Focus-like than previously seen on the ‘Stang
The 2018 Mustang's grille is now narrower and more Focus-like than previously seen on the ‘Stang

Most noticeable to observers of the new 2018 Mustang are its exterior design changes. These may be polarizing to some, though the more athletic look with a lower hood and updated aerodynamics are welcome. This comes at the expense of the grille, which is now narrower and more Focus-like than previously seen on the 'Stang. LED lighting all around the car is now the norm, but the previous-generation's controversial rear taillamps remain largely unchanged.

A new color is shown on the showcase 2018 Mustang unveiled in Los Angeles as Orange Fury. Inside, the Mustang has some styling changes focused mainly on materials choices and comfort options rather than design changes. We see the center console is changed, with vents on top and a larger touchscreen housing with busy buttons below, but the dashboard otherwise looks largely the same. Seating with the Mustang's traditional 2+2 remains as it was as well.

The 2018 Ford Mustang is slated to enter showrooms in North America in the third quarter of 2017. Ford has not yet announced pricing details.

Source: Ford

View gallery - 15 images
9 comments
9 comments
JemThomas
Now there is a right hand drive version, in the UK it is proving to be the spiritual successor to the legendary Capri, the ultimate Chest Wig chariot.
harry190
The GT made a name for itself in the 1960s, and the nameplate returned to Ford for the 2005 and 2006 models. Since then, the vehicle has truly evolved into a supercar, evident by it’s $100,000+ price tag. The company has made some changes to the third-generation GT, prioritizing handling and track capabilities in their 2017 model. The result? Not only one of Ford’s most impressive cars ever, but perhaps one of the most innovative cars to ever be released.
TaylorChance
I simply love it, the color is by far my favorite and by the way I was surprised today reading at repokar that it has a V8 instead of the usual V6
Maxwithershins
The 2016 Mustang was NOT the first to have independent rear suspension. The 1999 through 2004 SVT Cobra Mustangs also had IRS. Now, if you had stated that 2016 was the first year the entire Mustang line has IRS, then......
LordInsidious
I realize most people who are going to buy this fell in love with the mustang years ago. I don't think this will do well with undecided car buyers as this muscle car is out preformed by high end all electric sedans, which are in the same price range if harrys 100K+ price tag is accurate. I know it takes years for a car like this to come to market but at some point Ford needs to cut it's losses on projects in the pipeline and accept that the market place has changed.
HalSlater
How can anybody in this day and age get the least bit excited about a gas guzzling schortenzoomer? EV is the only way to go. I smoke em all at stoplights with my little old Volt. Silent but deadly!
Bob
I'm not sure why we need more than six speed transmissions and any performance gains past 400hp diminish rapidly. Great for a racing car but just wasted dollars for a street car. I like it but the price rapidly goes out of reach for most drivers. I also think that any design changes that depart too far from the original Pony car will be a bad move. Put a real back seat in it for the family or you may as well buy a Vette for the money.
keith14
A beautiful car!! But what was once in the sixties, seventies, and eighties, the blue collar workers car has priced itself out of the reach of the working class, and into the hands of the mega rich. Ford should make a Mustang for the working class people and drop the price accordingly.
Captain Danger
Mustangs are a relatively affordable car. I don't know where the commentators that came out with the 100K price tag got their numbers from but they are way off base. Google mustang Gt and you will be directed ford or a dealer ship that will have pricing. As to the the chvy volt driver , I don't think you ever raced a Mustang Gt and if you did then the Mustang driver either lit the tires up or wasn't trying. A mustang GT shoud hit 60 in 5.5-6 seconds , a Volt will be 2 -3 seconds behind. My understanding is that a Tesla is much quicker but I have never heard how fast that discharges the battery.