Ford is offering a glimmer of hope that the new Mustang could be imported to Britain. Scooped here on test in the United States, the legendary muscle car will be revealed in soft-top form at January’s LA Motor Show. The new model could form part of a limited import run of Mustangs late next year or early 2006.
‘We have no plans at the moment, but we are constantly assessing the situation,’ said a spokesperson for Ford Britain. ‘If it did come to Europe, it would be left-hand drive only. We’re not saying that we will bring it, but we’re not completely ruling it out.’
The key factor is the weakness of the US dollar versus sterling. At the moment the pound is worth $1.90, which makes the $19,410 Mustang V6 and V8-powered $24,995 Mustang GT incredible value: the 210bhp V6 is £10,215, while the 300bhp GT, the most affordable 300bhp car on sale in the US, seems even better value at £13,155. However, homologation, transport and other costs would add to these figures.
Even if its US price was doubled, the Mustang GT would undercut the £28,650 Vauxhall Monaro V8 by over £2000.
An officially imported Mustang Convertible would allow Ford to steal a march on Vauxhall, whose drop-top Monaro is still a few years from production. In the product plan from the start of the Mustang project, the Convertible looks a neatly engineered soft-top in these scoop photographs.
The curvy rear screen is glass to ensure good visibility and, according to insiders, the roof folds flat, sitting under a hard panel.
The car is due to hit American showrooms in March next year.
Add your comment