Europe’s Latest Ford Mustang: A 52 Horsepower Reduction

Tougher emissions standards lower performance of pony cars.

As emissions regulations become more stringent, car manufacturers operating in Europe have been compelled to reduce the number of cylinders and incorporate turbocharging in their vehicles. As a result, the primary offerings in the new car market for 2024 consist of models equipped with three- and four-cylinder engines featuring forced induction. However, the Ford Mustang stands out from the rest. Despite the odds, the classic pony car still boasts a powerful V8 engine under its hood, relying on the familiar Coyote 5.0-liter naturally aspirated mill.

Unfortunately, there is some disappointing news to report. Ford UK has recently released its seventh-generation performance vehicle, equipped with a notably downgraded V8 engine. While the typical Mustang GT boasts 440 horsepower, the Blue Oval had to sacrifice 40 of those horses in order to meet more stringent regulations. Even worse, the torque output has also suffered, with the engine now producing just 540 Newton-meters (397 lb-ft). This is a decrease of 28 Nm (21 lb-ft) compared to the previous version used in North America.

Despite the challenges of downsizing, Europeans can still find some positivity in the “S650” Mustang, as it offers more power than its previous generation. According to Ford, the new model boasts an extra 29 horsepower and 10 Nm (7 lb-ft) compared to its predecessor. This is definitely something to be grateful for, especially for those of us living on the Old Continent where V8 cars are becoming increasingly rare. While the Mustang may not have the same level of power as before, there is still enough punch to satisfy most drivers. And for those who may disagree, there is always the option of the Dark Horse.

Europe’s primary Mustang produces a remarkable 448 horsepower and 540 Newton meters (397 pound-feet) of torque, making it fall behind by 52 horsepower and 28 Newton meters (21 pound-feet). If you opt for the six-speed manual transmission, the acceleration to 62 miles per hour (100 kilometers per hour) will take 5.2 seconds. However, selecting the ten-speed automatic transmission will decrease that time to just 4.4 seconds.

Even though the latest version of the Mustang was first introduced in Europe during September of 2022, it is only now that the rear-wheel-drive sports car is being put up for sale. Starting at a price of £55,585 for the GT model and going up to £65,585 for the Dark Horse, it is significantly higher than its American counterpart which can be purchased for $42,710 in GT form and $59,485 for the Dark Horse. The noticeable dissimilarity is primarily attributed to the inclusion of the value-added tax (VAT) which is set at 20 percent.

The Mustang GTD will soon hit the market in the US, expected to be available either towards the end of this year or early 2025. However, interested buyers will need to prepare themselves for a steep price tag of around $300,000 and obtain approval from Ford before purchasing one. The European division of the company has yet to confirm if they will offer a high-performance version with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine producing over 800 horsepower.

Source: Ford UK