The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1
The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Posted on June 17, 2021
The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 might have just been a concept to start, but it is thundering into dealerships this summer with glowing reviews under its belt. 17 years since it was last in production, the Mach 1 name has been dusted off, polished, and adhered to a powerful fastback coupe that bridges the gap between the GT and Shelby models.
History
The Mustang Mach 1 was one of the original highlights of the muscle car wars of the late 1960s. Introduced in 1969, the Mach 1 only lasted for two years despite its staggering Detroit muscle, and it returned again for another two years in 2003 and 2004 before going back on the shelf.
Performance
When discussing the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1, performance is the first, second, and third things that matter the most. To start, the Mach 1 is built with a 5.0-litre V8 engine that delivers 480 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.
Ford bills the Mach 1 as the most track-capable 5.0-litre Mustang ever. This reputation gets a hand up thanks to a newly designed front end, an available handling package for great at-the-limit handling, and the addition of Ford Performance parts from the Shelby GT350 and GT500 models.
A Mishmash of Mustangs
A 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 review would not be complete without discussing how the Mach 1 picks and chooses parts from both current and classic Mustangs to form one cohesive, powerful vehicle.
The base of the Mach 1 is a Mustang GT outfitted with the Performance Pack 1, which includes a stiffer front suspension, K-brace, heavy-duty radiator, limited-slip rear differential, and more.
Next, the Mach 1 pulls its 5.0-litre engine from the discontinued Bullitt model, and it offers a drivetrain upgrade to the Tremec TR-3160 six-speed manual pulled from the Mustang GT350. Even more parts are pulled from both the GT350 and GT500, including the rear subframe, bushings, differential cooler, and more.
But How Does it Drive?
All this talk about the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 concept and initial reviews is nothing if it does not speak to the actual driving of the vehicle.
The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 drives like a dream and instills confidence in the driver as the trip continues. The steering is accurate and predictable, the front-end grip is tremendous, and braking is sublime. Together, the tires, suspension, rear assembly, and other parts form an impeccable combination that makes the Mustang Mach 1 the star of the show.
The Mach 1 accelerates to 97 km/h in 3.8 seconds and 161 km/h in 8.3 seconds, and it boasts a top speed of 270 km/h. It offers 13.1 L/100km combined fuel economy, but does fuel efficiency even matter in a muscle car?
2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Review
In a true review of the Mach 1, it is easy to see that is a bona fide track star, but it also can be driven gently for drivers who want style and power on the highway instead of on the track. Starting around $55,000, it is ready to wow drivers in Spruce Grove and across Canada.