Ford reveals 465kW Mustang

Ford has revealed two Mustang concept cars fitted with an official 465kW supercharger kit that will soon be available through all Ford dealers in the US and could also eventually be offered in Australia.

At the same time, however, motoring.com.au has learned the standard 2015 Mustang – Ford's first global pony car – is still more than a year away from Australian showrooms.

The sixth-generation Mustang went on sale in May ahead of first deliveries in the US in September, but until now Ford Australia has only said it will go on sale here next year.

Now it has revealed that first shipments of the new Mustang won't arrive here before October 2015, ahead of a media launch the following month and first customer deliveries next December.

Ford Australia spokesman Neil McDonald told motoring.com.au the Mk6 Mustang coupe and convertible will both be available from launch here, each with the option of 231kW/433Nm 2.3-litre turbo-petrol and 324kW/542Nm 5.0-litre V8 engines – the latter reserved for the GT.

He said Australian production was on target and supply will not be limited, but stressed that before then Ford will release at least five new models here.

"We're confident Mustang will be available by December [2015] as planned," he said. "Things like Mustang are not a priority at the moment because we have a number of major product launches before then, both this year and next."

Of the 625hp (465kW) Ford Racing supercharger kit that powers both the official 'King Cobra' and Roush Mustang concepts at this week's SEMA show in Las Vegas, McDonald said: "We've confirmed EcoBoost and V8 for the 2015 Mustang but it's too early to discuss other possibilities."

A co-development by Ford Racing and Roush Performance, the 'Super Pack' will be available for the 2015 Mustang GT from all Ford dealers, Roush Performance retailers and independent Ford Racing distributors in the US by the end of this year.

It comprises a 2.3-litre Twin Vortices Series (TVS) supercharger, six-rib belt drive system, intake manifold, electronic throttle body, air inlet system, fuel rail, high-flow fuel-injectors, air-to-liquid intercooler and a revised ECU with Ford Racing calibration.

Ford says the blower kit, which comes with a 'limited' warranty when installed by authorised dealers, is good for more than 600hp (447kW).

However, a placard displayed in front of the King Cobra at SEMA claimed the kit delivers 625hp (465kW) and achieved a 10.97-second quarter-mile pass at the Milan Dragway in Michigan on August 26.

"Ford Racing and Roush are known for our winning collaborations in professional and sportsman racing," said Doug White, Ford Racing Performance Parts manager.

"By combining our mutual expertise and high-quality engineering, we are delivering an outstanding supercharger kit for 2015 Mustang GT owners.

"Our software and calibration was developed using Ford Racing calibrators and test facilities. The result is a kit that delivers peak performance and exceptional driveability."

The King Cobra Mustang concept also showcased a variety of other new Ford Racing performance options for the 2015 GT, including a Drag Pack comprising heavy-duty half shafts and a rear sub-frame with pre-installed high-performance bushings.

It also brandished a Handling Pack featuring new rear shocks, a stabiliser bar kit and shorter, stiffer springs that lower the car about an inch.

The King Cobra name was first introduced by Carroll Shelby in 1963 for the high-performance Cooper Monaco sports racing cars he built with mid-mounted 289 cubic-inch Ford V8 engines.

Ford revived the name in 1970 for an aerodynamic NASCAR prototype based on the Torino but it was never raced. King Cobra was most widely known as an option package available for the 1978 Mustang II – the first Ford pony car to wear a '5.0' moniker symbolising the metric equivalent of 302 cubic inches.

Before the Mustang hits local showrooms in just over a year, Ford Australia will this month launch final upgrades for its Territory and Falcon (including new XR8), as well as expanded and upgraded Kuga mid-size SUV range in December.

As well as transforming its entire dealer network, Ford Australia's extensive 2015 launch schedule kicks off with the new Mondeo mid-size passenger car line-up in February, followed by the facelifted Focus small-car range including the Focus ST hot hatch (second quarter), the facelifted Ranger ute (mid-2015) and the all-new Everest seven-seat SUV (third quarter).

Beyond refreshing its entire model range by 2016 – the year in which it will cease local manufacturing – Ford last year committed to expanding its vehicle line-up by 30 per cent in the same timeframe, suggesting three additional models.

Since then it has launched the EcoSport compact SUV and the Everest will make two. We expect the Territory to be replaced by not one but three new models, including the Thai-sourced Everest and two North American-made crossovers, the five-seat Edge and (next-generation) Explorer seven-seater.

However, speculation that Ford's next-generation Taurus, development of which is at least being partly conducted in Australia, could be sold here as a successor to the Falcon is wide of the mark, with the Mondeo set to remain the Blue Oval's flagship sedan post-2016.