The Introduction of the First European-Spec Ford Mustangs

1. The 2015 Ford Mustang Will Be the First Mustang Made Available Throughout Europe
2. European Specifications
3. Will It Be Successful?
4. Which Version Will Be More Popular?

The 2015 Ford Mustang Will Be the First Mustang Made Available Throughout Europe

General Information

At the Paris Motor Show in October 2014, the Ford Mustang was officially on display for the first time to the general public, making its debut in Europe in a special Euro-spec version. In fact, there are two main versions that will be offered, which are a fastback version and a convertible version.

What's interesting about Ford's decision to release the car in Europe is that it has sold over 9 million units in the United States since it was introduced over 50 years ago. It's certainly a car that has been built and designed for American roadways, but in spite of this, it seems to be garnering a significant amount of interest from Europeans and is now one of the most anticipated vehicles in 2015

European Specifications

Scheduled to go on sale during the first quarter of 2015, it'll be available with two different engine variants.

The first variant will feature a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbo generating, four cylinder engine, with 227 kW / 305 bhp and 406 Nm / 300 lb-ft of torque.

The second variant will feature a 5.0-liter V8 engine with 313 kW / 420 bhp and 528 Nm / 390 lb-ft of torque.

Both versions will have completely newly-designed front and rear suspension systems, 19-inch wheels, performance brakes, park assist, and black leather seats that will have full ventilation and heating options. Furthermore, another notable aspect of the vehicle is that it will be one of Ford's first offerings in Europe to contain their new infotainment system, which is named the SYNC 2. It will feature options for sophisticated voice control, as well as an 8-inch touch screen.

Of course, being a Mustang, a six-speed manual gearbox will be the standard, but Ford is also offering the option of choosing a six-speed automatic for an extra fee.

Interestingly, there will be no V6 version offered, which is the base model in the United States.

In addition, those who choose the hardtop option will receive their car in Race Red, while those who choose the convertible option will have it in Magnetic Silver.

In the UK, it'll even be produced with the steering wheel on the right-hand side!

Will It Be Successful?

The demand for it seems to be strong so far. Earlier this year, Ford held a special registration event in which 500 slots were available for those who wanted to reserve the vehicle. They were all reserved in just 30 seconds, with close to 10,000 people trying to obtain one.

This is certainly an encouraging sign. While car enthusiasts and analysts in Europe do feel that it will be successful, it certainly will be interesting in seeing how European tastes fit in with the Mustang. It's certainly a bit large for traditional European tastes. Another issue is its level of environmental-friendliness. Europe has different environmental regulations compared to the United States. The EcoBoost version of the vehicle is designed to appeal to those who are environmentally-conscious.

Ford has also tried to make the external design of the new Mustang much more appealing to Europeans. There's no doubt though that the Mustang is a bit bigger than the average sports car produced in Europe currently.

One of the ways that Ford has also tried to cater to European tastes is by choosing to release the Mustang in Europe with a much softer suspension compared to the U.S. version. The main reason for choosing to do so is that the car feels comfortable when being driven at low speeds. Originally, the impetus for this change was when a few journalists in Europe complained about how it felt during a low speed. Remember, in Europe, given the less amount of "open road" that's available compared to the United States, including much of the living space being more condensed, drivers there don't, on average, drive as fast.

A potential issue with making a softer suspension is that it may affect the handling of the vehicle unless Ford's engineers can get it right.

Some its main rivals will be the Audi TT and the BMW M325i, both of which have received stellar reviews already. That will surely make Ford's challenge in penetrating the market a bit more difficult.

Which Version Will Be More Popular?

Ford believes that close to two-thirds of European consumers will opt for the 2.3-liter version, due to its cheaper sale price and the lower cost of refueling it, not to mention the fact that it will be able to be driven around European cities and towns with less hassle.

Based on early test drives on pre-production models, the V8 version is getting the better of the reviews. In fact, some have stated that the BMW M135i and Audi S3 are a better value than the EcoBoost version, but since the final specs and version hasn't been released yet by Ford, this could change by the time it available.

Given what's known about both vehicles, it seems as if the V8 version is the one for serious car enthusiasts who want high-level performance and the authentic "muscle car" experience, while the EcoBoost is for those who simply want to own a Mustang and don't place as much of an emphasis on muscle car performance. There's no denying though that currently there's no rival to the V8 version in terms of having as big of an engine or as much power for the price tag.

Time will tell if the Mustang sells well in Europe, but the early signs are very good so far.

Check out http://blog.caranddriver.com/europe-digs-the-2015-ford-mustang-first-500-reserved-in-30-seconds/ for more information.

Regardless, there's always the option of shipping a Ford Mustang from the United States today, provided that it meets the environmental regulations. A-1 Auto Transport can help you out!