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The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine is a gem to drive
Performance – The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine is very tractable yet super thrilling on the straights. The typical NA V8 feel is there giving you a linear pull initially that gets progressive near the mid range and goes ballistic when you reach the redline. There is absolutely no flat spot in the entire rev range and the power gets stronger as the RPM needle rises, giving you a good dose of adrenaline while you are hard on the throttle. You just don’t feel like lifting off near the 7000 redline, the acceleration is quite satisfying.
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Straight line performance of the Mustang is just ballistic
The unadulterated feel of the naturally aspirated V8 engine just tugs your heartstrings while you throttle it hard
Mated to this beast of an engine is a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifts. The transmission is quick enough for part throttle inputs but pin the throttle to its limit and the cogs take a tad while to upshift. Manual mode is fun and very accurate if shifts are timed well and it doesn’t upshift on its own in the manual mode. 1st gear tops at 65 km/hr while the 2nd tops at 110 km/hr. The Mustang is quite a capable cruiser as well, doing 100 km/hr in top gear at a relaxed 1500 RPM.
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The versatile nature of the engine makes the Mustang an easy car to drive
The Ford Mustang also comes with some fancy tricks up its sleeve. There is a ‘Line Lock’ function to help launch the car without much hassle. You can toggle the settings in the MID and once you select Line Lock, press the brake hard until it gets activated, throttle it hard simultaneously and it locks the front tyres so that you can do a burnout which gives it better traction for launch. Leave the brake while pinning the throttle and it launches smoothly with a heavy dose of power and torque built up. 0-100 km/hr comes up in just 4.5 seconds if you launch it in the right way.
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Our Goa to Bangalore drive required 4 full tanks of petrol
One of the best aspects about the Ford Mustang is its exhaust note that justifies its muscular character. Push the button to turn on the engine and it settles to a rumble full of bass. When you are on the move, pin the throttle and it turns into a growl in the mid-range that later transforms into a beautiful loud V8 symphony, which is very satisfying and addictive. It sounds the best when you are just resting your foot on the throttle between 3000-4000 RPM, feels like a lion is preparing to pounce on its prey. You can expect a real world mileage of 7-8 km/l on the highways, which is good considering the mammoth 5.0-litre V8 engine.
