Q.Driving the Ford Mustang GT at Buddh International Circuit

Fuel efficiency : Do you really want to know :') nice one [USER="6"]Roshun[/USER]

Awesome review Rosh! You are one lucky fella! Shubhang, it all depends on whether your wallet listens to your head or your heart! :D

[URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/6"]Roshun[/URL] The smile on [URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/profile/42"]CorsaVeloce[/URL]'s face says it all! I've been drooling over the Mustang since I saw it in the flesh at the Auto Expo. Too bad they wouldn't let me sit in one even with the media badge. Now that i've cleaned the drool off my keyboard and put my sensible hat on, I was thinking of alternatives/competitors based on the price. If I had only 65 lacs in my account to buy the only car in my garage, would you shoot me if I said that i'd rather have, lets say the S5? 4 proper seats!! Yes, i'm completely aware about the why and who will buy the Mustang. But honestly, What are your thoughts on it if you had to drive it to work everyday? I mean every single day? I'm sure we'd enjoy all the attention, but wouldn't it attract a bit too much? While I want a Mustang like right NOW! but.. you know.. P.S - I love the detail on the dial which reads 'Ground Speed'. Was looking it up, and apprently it's inspired from the A world War II Fighter - the P-51 Mustang

The Ford Mustang GT comes with a V8, 4957cc (5-litre) naturally aspirated petrol engine, mated to a six-speed 'SelectShift' dual-clutch automatic transmission, driving the rear wheels. It puts out 401 PS of power and 515 Nm of torque, slightly on the modest side for a muscle car of this calibre. The figures are detuned owing to our fuel quality. The good thing is, Ford says, the car can sip standard 91 octane petrol. It also loves 93 octane and will prefer 97 octane if you really want to push it on the track. Fuel efficiency? Who wants to know? It has a 60-litre tank that is good for about 300-400 km of fun, although it is supposed to give 13 kmpl under 'test' conditions (the figures are not given anywhere - this is a calculated figure from US mileage figures). [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14252[/ATTACH] Want to check out the exhaust note? Here's a small clip: [video=youtube_share;s37B_QpbZoc]https://youtu.be/s37B_QpbZoc[/video] The interiors of the Mustang are done up in all black, with driver focussed instrumentation. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14253[/ATTACH] It comes with Ford's SYNC 2 touch screen infotainment system, but that's something no one really wanted to check out. This car is all about the drive. The boot is 383 litres in capacity, but most of that cargo space was taken up by the 255/40 R19 full-size alloy spare wheel. I think this is an afterthought for India, because this car doesn't usually come with a spare. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14254[/ATTACH] The tail-lamps are LEDs. The inner two are the brake and tail-lamps while the outermost one houses the turn indicators. The reverse lamps and fog lamp are below the bumper. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14255[/ATTACH] In terms of safety, the Mustang comes with eight airbags. Two front airbags, two seat-mounted side airbags, two curtain airbags and two knee airbags for the driver and front passenger. It comes with seat belt pre-tensioners, roll sensor, and additional crash sensors on the front, centre and sides to cope with different crash conditions. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14256[/ATTACH] The headlamps feature HID projectors and tri-bar signature lighting. Indicators are under the bumper, just above the fog lamps. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14257[/ATTACH] The rear-seats are nothing much to speak of. There is hardly any space for even kids to squeeze in there if you want to sit in comfort. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14258[/ATTACH] This car is not about carrying people. It's about the individual behind the wheel. If you want that kind of fun, it can deliver. The badge on the grille says it all. A car that has been in production since 1964. Ford even proudly displays that in the passenger cabin. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14259[/ATTACH] [B]What I think[/B] The Ford Mustang is a car that you buy with your heart, not your head. It's a car for the true petrolhead. This is the car that one should pick if you want that massive V8, the good handling and the ability to turn heads wherever you go. It is iconic and that's reason enough to own one. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14260[/ATTACH] This badge says it all. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14261[/ATTACH] [B]Technical Specifications - Ford Mustang GT[/B] [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14263[/ATTACH]

This iconic American muscle car, the Ford Mustang, has been in production since 1964 and in 2016 we finally see the sixth generation [URL="https://www.zigwheels.com/forum/posts/3162-ford-mustang-india-unveiled"][B]Ford Mustang [/B][/URL]arrive in India at a sticker price of Rs. 65 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. I got to drive this legendary pony car at the Buddh International Circuit - a drive that had me grinning from ear to ear like an excited 10 year old. (See: [URL="https://www.facebook.com/zigwheels/videos/1081325931932987/"]Ford Mustang on ZigWheels Facebook LIVE[/URL]) Why not? This car has been on my bucket list of cars in my dream garage. So what's so special about this Ford Mustang GT? [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14212[/ATTACH] Well, for one it's a car that you can drive to work in every day (turning a million heads along the way), take to the track on a weekend or even take on a road trip (provided you are doing that on good highways only). It does live up to its GT (grand turismo or touring) badge. Before I get into the nitty gritty of the four laps I took, let me quickly summarize for you what I liked and didn't quite like about the car. [B]What I like about the Ford Mustang GT[/B] * Muscle car looks, staying true to the original legend * Sweet, naturally aspirated V8 engine * Precise steering feel and handling * Excellent ride and suspension * The price tag: At Rs. 65 lakh, it's the cheapest V8 you can get in India. [B]What I didn't quite like about the Ford Mustang GT[/B] * For that size, only 401 PS of power and 515 Nm of torque. It has been detuned to meet Indian fuel conditions * Rear seats are not really usable. Why would you want rear seats anyway? * A louder exhaust - sure it meets emission norms, but a little more volume wouldn't have hurt. Got some aftermarket ones, Ford? Getting really impatient? Here's a video of [USER="42"]CorsaVeloce[/USER] doing a quick lap of the BIC in pouring rain with the Ford Mustang GT. [video=youtube_share;INlOOnK8fPQ]https://youtu.be/INlOOnK8fPQ[/video] [B]Driving the Ford Mustang GT[/B] I reached the Buddh International Circuit more than an hour early. What to do? I had butterflies in my stomach. It's not everyday that you get to meet a legend you have lusted after for so long. Walking into the paddock, I was greeted by a silver Mustang GT. Hello there! [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14235[/ATTACH] And this lady in white... [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14236[/ATTACH] Registration and indemnity formalities done, I scooted across to the pit lane to see these yellow beauties gliding in. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14237[/ATTACH] All lining up for another set of laps. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14238[/ATTACH] I peeked into the start-finish straight to see this red number doing a hot lap. Vrooom, a rather muted rumble from the twin pipes as they played the V8 soundtrack. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14239[/ATTACH] Well, I had to wait just a little while longer as Anurag Mehrotra, Ford India executive director and acting managing director, went through the formalities of detailing the Mustang, its features and finally the price tag. And then it was time to get out on track and have a go (See our Facebook LIVE feed in the link above for some footage from the lap). My date...I mean drive, for the next four laps of the BIC was this grey Ford Mustang. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14240[/ATTACH] I got into the Mustang, belted up, and thumbed the starter button, while Bobbie Bhogal (one of the rally drivers cum instructors, got into the co-driver's seat). The engine hesitated a wee bit and then fired up. Burble, burble, burble.... Not exactly loud, but it told you what nested underneath that mammoth muscular hood. The 4951 cc, V8 naturally-aspirated petrol engine was ready to sing. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14241[/ATTACH] The car comes with four drive modes - Normal, Snow&Wet, Sport Plus and Track. I selected the third mode, as I was still getting to know the car. Check out the switch on the far left of the console. That's the mode switch. Next to it is the steering settings options, then traction control, hazard lamps and of course, the engine start/stop switch. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14243[/ATTACH] The transmission is a six-speed 'Select Shift' which is a dual-clutch automatic six-speed gearbox with paddle shifts behind the steering. I slotted it into S mode and let up on the brake to get moving. Mustang, on the BIC, ready to roll out of the pit lane. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14242[/ATTACH] My first lap on the track was a warm up one, as well as one where I was talking a lot, as we were doing a Facebook LIVE broadcast as well. Thankfully, the LIVE feed went blank after turn five, allowing me to sit back and really enjoy this car. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14246[/ATTACH] In sport mode, the car will rev till its redline of just below 7000 rpm and then shift up. The shifts are pretty gentle, unlike other DSG boxes, and so you really don't feel that punch that you expect. The engine note is also pretty muted, you do get that rumble from the V8, but it's not really loud. Still, I would highly recommend NOT using the stereo system (Sorry, Ford SYNC 2) in this car if you want to listen to that sweet engine note. On my second lap around the track, I had figured some of the dynamics of the car and began to push it a bit. The car has a very precise steering, aim for the apex of the turn and steer and it tracks true. Well, kind of. You see, if you are pushing it, the car has a tendency to understeer on the sharper turns. Lift off the throttle and the back snaps out into oversteer quite quickly - it's really fun. Some quick opposite lock and get on the throttle again and its burbling away quite happily back in a straight line. Want to push it a little faster, use the paddle shifts. It will hold gear and not shift up if you don't which is a good thing for seasoned drivers who want that complete manual feel from the car. The Mustang runs on different sized tyres front and rear. The front is 255/40 R19 and the rear is 275/40 R19. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14244[/ATTACH] Being a rear wheel drive, all the power is going to the back and it needs those wider wheels to put the power down. 401 PS and 515 Nm of torque don't sound like much, considering it has been detuned for India, but it's more than adequate for the purposes of this car. Pushing it on lap two, I managed to get it up to an indicated 230 kmph on the ground-speed indicator (that's what Mustang calls the speedometer, since it's designed like a cockpit). One more flying lap of the BIC and I managed to get the tail out at turn three, taking it a bit too fast. Again some quick opposite lock, letting off the throttle and we were happy to be going in a straight line once more. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14245[/ATTACH] Lap four was a cooling off lap. The brakes, although being made by Brembo, get super, super hot and sticky. Just check out the scouring on the discs from one of the sessions. These cars are going to need some serious maintenance if you drive them like you own them. But what the heck, it's a Mustang! You've got to drive it like that. Just stock up on tyres and brake pads. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n14247[/ATTACH] At the end of the fourth lap, I pulled into the pits with a silly grin on my face. The Mustang is addictive. I wanted more. That's for another day. Now to take you through the finer points of the car.