The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 made a stable first impression final 12 months on the Streets of Willow, so once we have been provided the chance to pattern it once more in the actual world, we didn’t hesitate. And since one Mach 1 is not sufficient to totally take a look at its abilities, we tried two.
This latest incarnation of the Mach 1 is a hybrid of two, now-departed Mustang nameplates: Bullitt and Shelby GT350. From the Bullitt, it inherited the warmer model of Ford’s 5.0-liter Coyote V8. From the Shelby, it picked up the sturdy Tremec six-speed guide gearbox. Among the GT350’s performance-oriented suspension and inside modifications have been absorbed into the Mach 1 too – or a minimum of made obtainable as choices.
The result’s a Mustang GT turned as much as 11. The V8 produces 480 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque (and sounds nice doing it). Along with the massive, six-piston Brembos, sticky tires and chassis/suspension upgrades inherited from the GT Efficiency bundle, the usual Mach 1’s aero produces 22% extra downforce. The Mach 1 Dealing with Package deal bumps that to 150%, whereas additionally bringing alongside a couple of biggest hits from the previous GT350 R bundle. Amongst them a rear-seat delete and a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s. It carries a $3,750 price ticket.
As talked about, we sampled a pair of Mach 1s, one with this key bundle and one with out. The automobile with the Dealing with bundle additionally had the six-speed guide, cosy Recaro non-obligatory seats and rear-seat delete possibility. It went to me in Michigan. The opposite, with a 10-speed automated, base Mustang seats in any respect corners and no Dealing with bundle, went to Senior Editor James Riswick in Oregon. Each have been Premium fashions with the Elite bundle painted Fighter Jet Grey, so their tools was in any other case just about similar.
Mach 1 No. 1: Dealing with bundle, Recaro Seats
Hurd: I used to be an enormous fan of the GT350 (R or in any other case) and had excessive hopes for the Mach 1. I briefly owned a 2015 Mustang GT with the Efficiency bundle and Recaro seats ($36,000 in 2015; are you able to consider that?) and completely adored it, however that was earlier than Chevy launched the Alpha-platform Camaro in 2016 and upped the ante within the pony automobile recreation.
One of many Blue Oval’s key counterpunches was the introduction of MagneRide – Ford’s model of the magnetorheological adaptive damper system that was as soon as unique to GM, however has since been made obtainable to producers worldwide. Ford launched MagneRide on the GT350 in 2015 earlier than letting it trickle all the way down to the GT and the EcoBoost Excessive Efficiency Package deal with the Mustang’s 2018 refresh.
Ostensibly, the purpose of MagneRide is that it may be all issues to all folks. Tender boulevard cruiser? No drawback. Again-road nook carver? Certain. It’s even nice for individuals who truly observe their automobiles, as a result of you possibly can flip it out of the organ-softening modes into one thing plusher for the drive to and from the efficiency venue of your selection. We praised the GT350’s duality of character on a couple of event, however as we came upon with the Mach 1, it’s not a cure-all.
The Sport Cup 2 tire is an outstanding piece of engineering, however its hybrid avenue/observe mission comes with inherent compromises. It’s no substitute for a real slick tire on the observe, and it’s a fast-wearing, tramlining-prone, rainwater-averse chunk of stiff, punishing rubber on the road. The GT350R managed to wrangle them nicely sufficient, however most of that appears to have been all the way down to its light-weight carbon-fiber wheels.
Even in MagneRide’s softest avenue setting, the Mach 1 borders on being a chore to drive. The tires need to comply with each groove, patch and contour within the pavement, and its heavy aluminum-alloy wheels (in comparison with the GT350’s carbon fiber rollers) deliver a heck of a variety of momentum to the scenario. This ends in the steering wheel being aggressively yanked round by each tarmac imperfection. Add some rain to the combination and a fair mildly worn highway floor gives extra hazards than a championship golf course. Frankly, it’s exhausting.
Discover a clean, dry highway, although, and it’s a complete completely different ballgame. These Sport Cup 2s verify in at 305/30R19 up entrance and 315/30R19 out again. That’s a variety of tire, which interprets to just about limitless grip. Along with the dealing with bundle, my tester additionally had the (cheap, at $275) rear-seat delete possibility. This doesn’t actually pull a ton of weight out of the automobile, however the diminished mass within the again half of the cabin appears to end in a bit extra noise. It’s not intrusive per se; in reality, it might make the automobile really feel a bit extra uncooked and communicative.
That brings a bit extra immediacy to the suspension’s darty shenanigans because it hunts round dips and bumps, tripping over its too-large toes like a Bloodhound pet following an elusive scent. That’s the type of tradeoff we’re usually keen to make for a efficiency automobile, particularly when outfitted with a devoted observe bundle (suppose Porsche 911 GT3 RS).
That’s what the Mach 1 is, a minimum of to a level. A toy is a toy, in any case, however these with Mustang budgets are seemingly going to count on one thing a bit extra versatile. With some further funding (perhaps a set of less-aggressive tires strictly for avenue use, maybe on narrower wheels), this is able to most likely make for a much more livable on-road expertise.
However a set suspension is loads cheaper to buy and preserve than one thing this complicated, particularly if the ensuing expertise remains to be so closely canted towards efficiency. In different phrases, should you’re going to spend a bunch of cash to make a Mach 1 daily-driver pleasant, why not simply purchase a less expensive GT and spend the additional on track-focused objects?
It’s not all dangerous information, although. The tuned-up 5.0-liter V8 takes to the Tremec TR-6060 six-speed superbly, and whereas it’s no substitute for the GT350’s 5.2-liter, flat-plane-crank Voodoo V8, it’s nonetheless an absolute gem, simply because it was again in 2014 when it debuted with “solely” 435 horsepower. But when the howl (and, you understand, the efficiency) of a high-revving V8 is all you need, you will get the 5.0 in a run-of-the-mill GT – and for lots much less cash.
Proper, cash. Let’s discuss that. My take a look at automobile, with its leather-wrapped Premium inside and Recaro seats, got here to about $64,000 – not fairly GT350R cash, however about $10,000 greater than a 5.0-liter GT mannequin with the equal inside, Efficiency bundle and MagneRide stand-alone possibility (which, not-so-coincidentally, is roughly the identical worth as a zero-option Mach 1).
Mach 1 No. 2: 10-speed auto, customary seats
Riswick: I might like to say {that a} much less hardcore Mach 1 is a extra agreeable Mach 1, however I simply cannot. The much less aggressive summer season rubber could not adhere so strictly to horrible pavement. The again seat, which existed in my automobile, could take in some highway noise whereas additionally offering a spot for a pair of small canines to sit down. The usual seats up entrance could regulate in additional methods than the six-way guide Recaros, whereas additionally being cushier. The ten-speed automated could make it simpler to drive in site visitors and can return higher gas financial system. This automobile was additionally $4,000 cheaper.
Alas, I used to be simply as upset by the Mach 1 as Mr. Hurd was in Michigan. Whereas he seemed to rekindle a number of the magic he loved with the GT350, my Mach 1 needed to stay as much as the rose-tinted aviators by which I considered the beloved Mustang Bullitt. I truly dubbed it “the right Mustang.”
MagneRide was an enormous a part of my affection for that automobile (it was an possibility on it), however not like within the Mach 1, its placement within the Bullitt truly resulted in a superbly livable experience on the pock-market streets of my neighborhood in Portland. Highway journey? No drawback, it was a grand tourer I would fortunately drive wherever for any distance. The Mach 1, however, uncouthly clattered and banged down the highway even in Consolation. It improved dramatically out on the open highway, however getting there obtained previous.
And here is the crucial factor: Such a beat-you-up experience high quality could be fantastic if it is paired to athletic reflexes and road-carving abilities, however the Mach 1 fell flat there, too. Byron famous that his automobile felt prefer it was “tripping over its too-large toes” and my automobile mirrored that precisely, particularly because it was sporting completely different sneakers. It feels actually massive, and there is a common lack of precision and communication given the speeds which are attainable. Notably with the steering, all of it falls in need of offering the kind of confidence you count on from a high-powered sport coupe. There’s an uncontrollable beast really feel to it, as if one errant toe wiggle will smoke the tires. That may be enjoyable, nevertheless it’s additionally incongruous with the Mach 1’s purpose of being an all-around efficiency machine.
I additionally do not do not forget that similar feeling with the GT350 – it might have been years fairly than months since I drove that, however I distinctly do not forget that automobile feeling like a prototype Ford sports activities automobile that was being disguised by a Mustang physique. It seemed like a muscle automobile, however did not drive like one. The Mach 1 does, but does not have the well-rounded drivability that often goes with it. Principally, worst of each worlds.
True, the Bullitt and its GT Efficiency bundle suspension would’ve been even much less exact and confidence inspiring on the identical mountain highway take a look at route, nevertheless it wasn’t meant to clear the identical dynamic bar because the Mach 1. It was additionally extra comfy, and if I could make an aesthetic judgment, far classier in look.
Now, let’s contact on a number of the variations in “my” Mach 1. First the usual seats. They’re six-way energy adjustable, with recline annoyingly sustaining a guide adjustment (I believe that is for fast back-seat entry). The important thing adjustment distinction, although, between the 2 seat choices is the front-of-seat tilt, which is most useful for tall people like myself. Certainly, it is simpler for me to discover a comfy seating place with the usual seats, which applies to each Mustang, not simply the Mach 1. The primary couple of minutes in them also needs to have you ever leaning of their route as they’re noticeably squishier. But, as time and miles wore on, they as soon as once more show that squishiness doesn’t equal help, each when it comes to long-distance and cornering. In the long run, the reply is the Mustang does not truly supply a superb seat possibility.
As for the 10-speed automated, it is a completely acceptable transmission. It glides by gear modifications like butter, which is sweet because it makes so many whereas getting on top of things (the ratios are modified from obligation within the GT). The smoothness of its uninterrupted momentum is nearly harking back to a CVT, which I imply in a great way. Its downshifting reactions to your proper foot are additionally completely acceptable in a efficiency software. That stated, get the guide. It even has a cue ball shifter just like the Mustang Bullitt. Really, simply discover a Mustang Bullitt someplace earlier than they’re priced to infinity. Or a GT350. Both approach, you will find yourself with a greater Mustang than the spork-like Mach 1.
