autoevolution
 

2018 Ford Mustang Facelift Goes Official, Its Face Still Looks Awkward

No V6, more powerful EcoBoost L4 and Coyote V8, 10-speed automatic transmission, and an ugly front fascia. That’s, in a nutshell, how the redesigned 2018 Ford Mustang rolls.
2018 Ford Mustang facelift 61 photos
Photo: Ford
2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang facelift2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack vs. pre-facelift S550 Mustang2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack vs. pre-facelift S550 Mustang2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack vs. Gen 6 Camaro2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack2018 Ford Mustang GT Orange Fury with Performance Pack
The mid-cycle update for the S550 Mustang leaked earlier today and, to the surprise of the ‘Stang crowd, it morphed America’s favorite pony car from a masculine sportster into an unlovely creature. On the upside, the Ford Motor Company hasn’t messed up the interior too much with this minor refresh.

You still get a Mustang plaque on the passenger side of the dashboard. You also get Dacia-like air vents, too many buttons on the steering wheel, and aluminum-like trim here and there. The only notable additions are two gauges located in the middle of the dashboard, as well as a digital instrument cluster.

On the technological front, the big news is MyMode with memory, a function that remembers the driver’s driving preferences. Ford’s Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection is on the menu too. Taking a cue from Chevrolet’s sixth-generation Camaro, the facelifted Mustang is available with MagneRide adaptive dampers as part of the Performance Package. In the S550 model line, only the Shelby GT350 and GT350R shipped with MagneRide 'till now.

Having lost its 3.7-liter Ti-VCT due to poor take-up rate, the 2018 Mustang is available with either the 2.3-liter EcoBoost or the 5.0-liter Coyote. The Blue Oval hasn’t offered any output figures at the present moment. What Ford is willing to tell you right now, however, is that the EcoBoost is torquier and the Coyote gets port and direct fuel injection, just like the Five-Oh V8 in the F-150. The Vee-Eight also boasts an increase in compression ratio (12:1 compared to 11:1), which translated into a higher redline and more ponies.

The real star of the show is the addition of the 10R80 transmission. Developed by FoMoCo and GM, the 10-speeder can be matched with either of the two engines. Paddles mounted behind the steering wheel allow the driver to row through the gears by his own accord. Last, but not least, the 2018 Ford Mustang GT can be kitted with an active valve exhaust system similar in design to Chevrolet’s Gen 6 Camaro dual-mode exhaust system (i.e. NPP).

“The new Mustang is our best ever, based on more than 50 years as one of the iconic sports car in America and now, the world,” explained Joe Hinrichs, the president of Ford of the Americas. “Tapping Mustang’s enormous fan base, we’re bringing the new Mustang straight to the people – and introducing the new car across multiple social media channels, reaching millions.” Oh, and by the way, Ford somehow convinced Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to endorse the company’s “most advanced Mustang ever.”

Sales in the U.S. are due to kick off this fall.

 

This one felt good. Very good. Our @Ford partners asked me to unveil the never seen before, brand new 2018 FORD MUSTANG to the world. As their Ambassador, I'm happy to do. With a twist. Myself and Ford compiled a big list of US veterans and from that list, I chose Army combat vet & Purple Heart recipient, Marlene Rodriguez to surprise and give it away to her. It was such a cool moment that all of us in the room will never forget. When Marlene, stopped and just looked at me and asked "Why?", well that's when I may or may not have gotten a lil' emotional with my answer - in a bad ass manly way of course. Why? Because of the boundless gratitude and respect I have for you, Marlene and all our men and women who've served our country. Just a small way of myself and the good people of FORD of saying THANK YOU. A HUGE thank you to FORD, our SEVEN BUCKS PRODUCTIONS and everyone who was involved in making this awesome surprise come true. Finally, thank you FORD for making the new 2018 Mustang straight , completely customizable for the world to enjoy. Thanks also for making sure I fit in it as well. Marlene, fits better. . Enjoy your ride mama. Enjoy that Dodger game. You deserve it. #2018FordMustang #FordAmbassador #HeFinallyFitsInASportsCar #ButSheFitsBetter #SheCanHaveIt #StoryOfMyLife * Click the link in my bio to watch this very cool FULL VIDEO.

A video posted by therock (@therock) on Jan 17, 2017 at 7:03am PST


If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
press release
About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories