2023 Ford Mustang unveiled with both a V8 and manual!

At long last, the mighty American blue oval marque has unwrapped the seventh-generation iteration of its famed ‘pony car’ offering, the Mustang. What you see here is indeed the new-for-2023 model, and there’s plenty to note.

For starters, the 2023 Ford Mustang isn’t all new as it’s still based on the outgoing model’s S550 platform instead of Ford's latest CD6 architecture. Yup, it’s a comprehensive re-skinning of the outgoing Mustang, meaning it misses out on any possible electrification, though this might not be bad news entirely given the next facts.

Like its immediate predecessor, the Mustang can be had with either a 4-cyl or a V8, the latter being a carry-over of the outgoing car’s 5.0-litre Coyote mill. It’s still naturally aspirated but has been updated with new dual cold air intakes. As for 2.3-litre EcoBoost 4-cyl mill, it’s also a carry-over, but received more comprehensive changes like its new bore and stroke design plus an all-new turbo.

As for transmission choices, the V8-powered model gets a 6-speed manual as standard, and there’s an updated 10-speed automatic offered as an option alongside that. The 2.3-litre EcoBoost variant, on the other hand, will come primed with the latter 10-speed box only.

Ford hasn’t released any official performance figures for both powertrains but did claim that both now push out more power and torque whilst also being more efficient.

Styling changes are pretty evident too and, for the first time, Ford’s designers have provided strong visual cues to differentiate the V8 version from its Ecoboost 4-cyl twin. The latter now gets a more subtle and less aggressive stance, and it features a new grille inspired by the original 1964 Mustang that’s flanked by a pair of slimmer headlights with new tri-bar LED DRLs.

The V8-equipped Mustang 5.0 GT gets the most aggressive stance thanks the cues such as its gloss black grille surround with new intakes for the mill’s aforementioned dual cold air intakes, new lower front bumper, and a large bonnet extractor that both vents hot air and channels high-pressure air from the front air intakes to mitigate front axle lift. Lastly, this variant also has a larger rear diffuser and quad pipes instead of the 4-cyl model’s dual pipes.

As for the cabin, base models are laced with new twin screens, but mid-grade and higher trimlines sees them gain a new Mercedes-esque 'continuous' screen instead. The latter combines both a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel with a larger 13.2-inch infotainment screen running Ford's latest Sync 4 software with over-the-air update.

One cool party piece here is the ability to swap the modern gauge graphics for a digital recreation of the famed 'Fox body' Mustang's clocks from 1979 to 1993.

Under the skin, this new Mustang retains the previous model's MacPherson-style strut front suspension and independent rear suspension assemblies that first came in the sixth-gen coupé back in 2015. Both mounting points and linkages have been stiffened to match the new springs and dampers added.

Ford also has an optional performance pack that adds grippier, 20mm-wider 275-section rear tyres, Magneride adaptive dampers, larger 190-inch wheels (18-inch units as standard), as well as Brembo-sourced large six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers.

Apart from that, all models are also brimmed with a Torsen-style limited-slip differential and, for the first time, the Mustang gets a 'drift brake' feature that employs an electric handbrake to help coax the car to perform huge slides, but only in Track mode. Also available is a line-locking burnout mode.

With its unveiling, Ford also confirmed plans to produce right-hand-drive versions for key markets such as Japan, UK, and Australia. This also means there’s a chance that we’ll see this seventh-gen Mustang officially offered by Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) – the firm sold the previous-gen Mustang officially for a while.

As for deliveries, Ford says this will begin before the end of 2023.