VIDEO: 2023 Ford Mustang revealed, Australian launch confirmed

Ford has pulled the covers from its seventh-generation Mustang sports coupe and convertible, revealing an incremental evolution of the iconic Pony Car design, rather than a daring ground-up overhaul.

Full details for the 2023 Mustang are yet to be released, including exact power and performance figures as well as an Australian launch date, but Ford Australia says late 2023 is most likely that this stage.

In the meantime, the Blue Oval has now offered a first full view of the next-gen model, along with some high-level technical information to keep us keen.

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Like the sixth-generation Mustang that launched in 2014, the new model will continue to be offered as the performance hero GT with a naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8, while a 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder will again power the Ecoboost.

Power and torque figures for either variant are yet to be confirmed, but Ford says a significant revision of both engines has increased power and torque, as well as efficiency in both cases.

Lift the bonnet of the 2023 GT and the changes are immediately obvious with twin throttle bodies and induction replacing the previous single inlet, combined with less conspicuous steel oil pan, revised cam timing and redesigned exhaust manifolds to maximise power with the increased airflow.

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Visual changes to the 2.3-litre engine are less obvious but mechanically more extensive with revised bore and stroke, new turbocharger, revised fuel delivery and injectors along with new camshaft design.

As before, the GT will be offered with a choice of six-speed manual gearbox or an ‘improved’ 10-speed automatic transmission, but the manual Ecoboost has been discontinued and is now only on offer as an automatic.

For the sixth-generation Mustang, German designer Kemal Curic – the same man who led the design of the sixth-gen car – applied the same exterior design to both 2.3-litre and 5.0-litre variants. But, significantly, the new versions can be easily identified with individual styling now differentiating the pair.

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While the Ecoboost has more subtle front vents, grille and splitter framing a tri-bar projector LED headlamps, the GT has more aggressive front-end styling with bigger air scoops, extended splitter, a functional extractor vent in the bonnet and ‘nostrils’ incorporated into the grille design.

Overall, the Mustang’s profile, broad stance and ‘coke bottle’ inspired overhead view is still immediately recognisable, while features such as the deep V-shaped boot undercut have been accentuated along with a lowered beltline for a more aggressive stance.

At the tail end, four-cylinder Mustangs have dual exhaust pipes, while the V8 has a quad design with both featuring revised tuning for an optimised but ‘legal’ note. New to the 2023 Mustang is a noise cancellation system to remove undesirable mechanical sounds as well as adding in some augmented noise to enhance the natural soundtrack.

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Wheels sizes include 17-, 18- and 19-inch designs, along with a number of brake upgrade packages also available.

In the largest form, 19-inch wheels house six-piston Brembo calipers at the front end while four-piston versions on the rear axle are a first for the model.

Depending on the body colour combination, brake calipers can be optioned in a choice of black, silver, red or Grabber Blue with contrasting Brembo or Mustang lettering.

As before, the Mustang palette is generous and the new model is available in a choice of 13 paint colours including a pair of new hues – Vapor Blue and Yellow Splash 3C, while a ‘Sinister’ Bronze customization pack applies bronze finishes to wheels, badges and other trims where available.

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All versions are equipped with a limited-slip differential with a traditional clutch type for all but the higher-tier Performance grade GT and Ecoboost, which get a Torsen type LSD.

Steering feel improved, says Ford, thanks to a completely new steering system including rack, stiffer column and revised mounts. A faster steering ratio has sharpened the front end response, complemented by lower drag and reduced lift at speed all round.

Ford was unable to confirm kerb weight for the new Mustang, but it says the figures will be ‘comparable’ with the previous model, which ranged from about 1700kg to 1855kg for the GT convertible.

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Inside, the 2023 Mustang has undergone a similar gradual evolution, including its digital instrument cluster and central touchscreens, which are now connected under a single continuous pane and have grown to 12.4 inches and 13.2 inches respectively.

Some of the Mustang’s quirky cabin touches, such as mechanical toggle switches and machined aluminium finishes, have been superseded by a simplified layout that incorporates almost all climate and audio controls into the larger touchscreen.

The removal of some dash clutter has allowed more space to be liberated in the central console storage, which can now accommodate a phone along with wireless device charging.

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Hide-effect materials for the seats and dash have been replaced by ‘white noise’ grain or a new ‘carbonite’ effect that mimics carbon-fibre weave, while a fine ‘laser grain’ can be found all about the Mustang from the front splitter to the speaker covers, where the linear pattern is continued through the perforations.

As before, Recaro seats will be available as an option but the interior upholstery palette has grown to include a new Space Gray lighter tone or Carmine Red wine colour and can be matched with colour-coordinated or striped seatbelts.

Perhaps taking inspiration from Jeep, the new Mustang hides a number of Easter egg surprises about its cabin, although we’ll not detail them here to save the fun of discovery for owners.

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Mustang owners who hoon responsibly will welcome the return of the line-locker function that allows perfect tyre-warming burnouts, and is now provided with a stopwatch to perfectly time tyre-roasting recipes.

It’s accompanied by another unique feature and a handbrake lever which is oldschool-mechanical in operation, but controls an electro-hydraulic drift brake. Capable of generating up to five times more braking force for the rear wheels than a conventional cable park brake, the PPB was developed to allow easier drifting … where safe to do so. (Ford Australia has asked, however, that we note the PPB has not yet been confirmed for our market.)

A flat-bottomed steering wheel replaces the gen-six round version for all new variants, along with fewer buttons and a new silver mode switch and more angular centre trim.

Mustang owners who dislike their neighbours will appreciate a new remote start function that allows the Mustang’s engine to be revved from a distance, using the key fob.

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Its cabin is said to have been inspired by jet fighters, with an instrument and display layout angled toward the driver and a more immersive interior. The distinctive ‘double brow’ dashboard design has been dropped, however, to accommodate the larger pair of digital screens.

Ford’s technology team brought touches from the gaming world to the new Mustang, including the ‘unreal engine’ display which illustrates vehicle drive modes, transmission and engine settings, using a 3D rotating image akin to video game setup screens.

There’s retro revivals too, with a new Fox-themed digital display customisation option that harks back to 1980s graphics, and even switches the dials to green at night as a nod to the Fox platform Mustang that ran from the late 1970s to the early 1990s.

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As before, a unique Track cluster design is activated in the most potent driving mode, with new touches including a tachometer needle that changes colour along with the shift light, and choices of three or five digital auxiliary gauges which have now been moved to the central screen.

In response to poor safety ratings in some countries, the new Mustang has more driver assistance and safety features, including AEB with adaptive cruise control that functions down to stop-start traffic, speed sign recognition and lane departure assistant to name a few. Full safety specs will be available soon.

While petrol powered Mustangs are now confirmed safe for another generation, any plans to introduce a rumoured hybrid Mustang in this seventh-gen form have been abandoned.

Watch for more details to come in the weeks and months ahead.