On the Road Review: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1
The sixth generation Mustang offers a comfortable cabin with buttons, knobs, and toggle switches that provide real tactile feedback.
It was April 17, 1964, at the New York World’s Fair, that Ford introduced one of its most popular cars of all time, as well as creating a whole new genre for enthusiast driving — long hood/short deck pony cars. With over ten million sold worldwide since, and an incredible 1 million sold in the first 18 months of production, the Ford Mustang is THE iconic two-door for multiple generations of drivers.
As with many automakers, Ford has reached back into its past, again, this year for the Mach 1 label. Through the years, Ford has featured many high-performance models — GT350, GT500, Boss 302, Boss 429, Cobra, Bullitt, and the Mach 1, all establishing high-water marks for performance during their respective eras. This year’s Mach 1 essentially replaces the departed GT350 and Bullitt models, slipping into the lineup ahead of the GT Premium and below the extroverted 760-hp GT500.
Buyers get a modified 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 that pumps out twenty horsepower over the GT model, 480-hp total, using active-valve exhaust with giant 4.5-inch quad tips, open-air injection, (the throw-back circular headlamp shrouds in the grille are fake) plus selectable drive modes that include apps for track and drag-racing. A Torsen limited slip rear diff, aided by additional cooling, plus a beefy Tremec TR-3160 6-speed manual instead of the standard Getrag gearbox (our tester featured the quicker 10-speed automatic, $1,595) all work with a stouter chassis setup complimented by the excellent Magneride electronic ride system to create a crisp handling coupe that is also supple when necessary.
Six-piston Brembo brake calipers, in orange, automatic rev-matching on downshifts, specific hood decal and fender badges, plus huge Michelin Pilot Sport Cup-2 tires around out the $53,915 Mach 1 portfolio, which made a nice visual statement in Fighter Jet Gray paint with black and orange striping. With additional appearance options and features, our limited production #39 sample car stickered for $59,390.
Yet, if this isn’t enough, there is an optional Handling package ($3,500) that upsizes the rubber to 305ZR/315ZR, larger front splitter, and functional rear spoiler to really exploit the Track mode settings.
(photo credit: Tim Plouff - The Ellsworth American)
