FORD MUSTANG 2.3L

TURBO FOUR’S NO HALFWAY HOUSE, BUT…

- TRENT GIUNCO

ON FACE value, ‘but’ seems such an inconsequential word; simply three letters and one syllable. Yet, it has great impact. What follows said ‘but’ is usually the kicker, the part of the sentence that goes for the jugular. And in the case of the four-cylinder-powered Ford Mustang 2.3-litre High Performance (HP), it has a big ‘but’, commonly served up in a broad Aussie drawl: “Yeah, but it’s not a V8, mate.” Therein lies the caveat it cannot escape.

It seems as though Ford knows this all too well. How could it not? The local arm admits that around 80 percent of all Mustang sales Down Under are for the Coyote 5.0-litre V8. And while history might reveal a greater acceptance of differing powertrains in the USA (a fuel crisis will do that), in Australia, Sally has always been seen to be powered by a bent-eight. Still, that hasn’t stopped the Blue Oval from trying to change our minds with this MY20 update for the four-pot.

Visually the update generates a new four-cylinder-specific front grille with a more aggro front splitter and silver bonnet spears. The badging has also changed, with the front quarter panel gaining a 2.3L High Performance badge in lieu of the dropped EcoBoost nomenclature. And the machine-finished 19-inch alloys expose the red Brembo brake calipers more than ever.