Ford Mustang four-cylinder gets power boost

Mirroring the updates to the V8-powered 2020 Ford Mustang GT – including the retro Grabber Lime paintwork – an updated 2.3-litre four-cylinder Ford Mustang has been confirmed to arrive in Australia from February 2020.

Dubbed the 2020 Ford Mustang High Performance 2.3L, the new model will replace the current 2019 Mustang EcoBoost and will be offered in Fastback and Convertible body styles.

Pumping out more power (+12kW) and torque (+7Nm) from its tweaked 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine – now 236kW/448Nm – the new Ford Mustang High Performance 2.3L also gets bigger wheels and Brembo brakes.

It also benefits from many of the exterior features of its bigger bro, the Mustang GT.

That means a new grille, front splitter from the GT, Magnetic-colour bonnet spears and mirror caps, stand-alone badging and Fastback versions also get machine-finished 19-inch alloy wheels and the Brembo brakes with red callipers.

Four new colours will be offered, including the Grabber Lime and Twister Orange heritage colours, plus Iconic Silver and Rapid Red.

Ford Australia says that pricing will be confirmed closer to the vehicle's launch but expect to see prices go north, given the extra herbs in the engine, significantly enhanced chassis and interior mods.

The updated 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four-pot powerplant is shared with the bonkers Ford Focus RS Limited Edition (257kW/440Nm) and, despite selling in small numbers compared to the Mustang GT, the model's chief program engineer Carl Widmann says it's still a neat engine.

"It’s not just the power gains over the previous 2.3-litre engine," says Widmann. "It’s the broader torque curve that delivers 90 per cent of peak torque between 2500 and 5300rpm. Plus, horsepower holds stronger up to the 6500rpm redline – enabling more usable power and torque."

The updated engine features a bigger 63mm twin-scroll turbocharger, the same as in the Ford Focus RS, and gear ratios in automatic and manual models have been reduced to improve 'driver engagement' says Ford.

The final drive ratio for manual models has been shortened to 3.55:1 (up from 3.31:1) for a little more right-foot sizzle, although models fitted with the 10-speed automatic transmission remain unchanged.

Chassis upgrades include a thicker 32mm anti-roll bar up front and a bigger 24mm item at the rear, while Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres will deliver plenty of grip. The front tyres are 9.0-inches wide, while the rear are 9.5-inch, giving the car a tough stance.

Like the Mustang GT, switchable MagneRide suspension is available too.

Interior changes to the 2020 Ford Mustang High Performance 2.3L include what Ford calls 'more premium, tactile materials and textured interior finishes, for a higher-end feel'. Standard features include a customisable 12.4-inch digital instrument display, while oil pressure and turbo boost gauges and a dash plaque are added.

Leather seats are standard, Recaro sports seats are optional and the Ford SYNC 3 infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which work through an 8.0-inch touch-screen.

Other standard features include autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. It's expected the updated 2020 Ford Mustang will retain its three-star ANCAP safety rating.

Ford Australia has also picked up its aftersales game, by offering $299 annual (or 15,000km) service intervals for the first four years. Owners are also guaranteed a loan car when their vehicle is in the workshop, along with roadside assistance and car club membership as part of the package.

The warranty is five years, unlimited kilometres.

The Mustang is Ford's most popular passenger car in Australia, outselling the Focus small car this year with 2442 units sold in the first six months of 2019. This figure is down 16 per cent on the same period in 2018, when 2920 Mustangs were sold.

The Mustang has been the top-selling car in its category for the last 42 months in Australia.