The New Ford Mustang Mach 1 Is Back After 17 Years On The Bench

Ford has finally dropped details on its upcoming Mustang Mach 1, the top-tier, naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 newest addition in the lineup. And a good chunk of its DNA comes from the high-power Shelby GT350 and GT500.

The heart of the 2021 Mach 1 will be a 5.0-litre with 480hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, a jump of 20hp over the Mustang GT and the same power as the outgoing Bullitt model. It gets that extra power using a Shelby intake manifold, oil filter adapter and engine oil cooler, which increases engine oil cooling capacity by 50 percent. Available transmissions will be a Shelby-sourced six-speed manual (complete with cue ball shifter and rev-matching) or a 10-speed automatic with a more rugged torque converter. Both transmissions get extra cooling heat exchangers, while the differential also gets its own cooling system, like the GT500.

Ford claims the Mach 1 will be the most track-capable 5.0-litre Mustang of the lot, so the suspension has undergone major upgrades over the GT as well. Every Mach 1 comes standard with MagneRide magnetorheological dampers, stiffer front and rear sway bars, front and rear subframes from the GT350 with stiffer bushings, and a brake booster from the Mustang GT Performance Pack Level 2. New 19in x 9.5in, and 19in x 10in five-spoke Tarnished Dark-painted aluminum wheels are standard.

Aerodynamics have also gone through the track wringer, and in base form the Mach 1 gets 22 percent more downforce than a Mustang GT with Performance Pack Level 1. The lower front grilles are right from the GT500, cooling either engine or transmission. Underneath, the belly pan, which extends 20 inches further rearward than the GT Performance pack, features large wings for extra downforce as well as airfoils that help cool the brakes.

Need more performance? You’re in luck; FoMoCo is also offering a Handling Package for the Mach 1 (manual gearbox only), which includes wider 19-inch x 10.5-inch front, and 19-inch x 11-inch rear Tarnished Dark-painted aluminum wheels. A larger front splitter, rear spoiler with a Gurney flap (again, both from the GT500) and revised front wheel lip mouldings combine to increase downforce by a whopping 150 percent over the  Mustang GT with the Performance Pack Level 1.

The Mustang Mach 1 nameplate first debuted in 1969, and was instantly regarded as a top dog in the muscle car field. That name was retired in 2004 before this 2021 model, which looks to live up to the legend when it arrives in dealerships in spring of next year. Expect it to be around $50,000 USD.

*Images courtesy of Ford Motor Company