Ford's Mustang at the gate

You may have been one of 257 million people who witnessed online the reveal of the all-new 2015 Mustang on December 5. The Mustang, Ford has decided, is a world car being produced in left and right drive for Beijing, Berlin, Boston, Brisbane – and beyond the black stump.

Mustang like Coke and Levis is unmistakably American, yet global awareness is incredible. Ford claims Mustang has 5.5 million Facebook followers of which 55 percent are outside of the US.

Mustang will arrive in Australia next year, several months after being launched in the US in fastback and cabrio body styles. Ford won’t reveal exact timing, but expect it around mid-winter and don’t expect this Mustang to be anything like your expat uncle Bob’s Mustang.

It promises refinement and respectable driving dynamics thanks to an independent rear suspension and totally reworked front suspension, replacing architecture that was showing its age as long ago as last century. New Mustang will offer four driver-selectable driving modes to alter steering effort, power delivery and stability control.

The need for an IRS was a high priority, claims Jacques Brent, Mustang Marketing Manager, and IRS was locked into the program very early. The engine range now includes a 2.3-litre turbocharged four cylinder producing 227+ kW and 407Nm, obviously developed for the European market and likely to be offered in Australia.

Steering response and feel of the four-cylinder Mustang on road is definitely more agile than either the 5.0 V8 or 3.7 V6, says Dave Pericak. “It’s quick, but not as quick as the V8 Mustang GT.” And he claims the Mustang GT easily stomps the Boss 302.

Redesign of this American icon fell to Scotsman Moray Callum who’s recently returned to Ford after a stint with Mazda. There really is an international approach in its development. Pericak admits new Mustang’s power, handling and refinement were baselined against BMW M3 and Porsche 911 as well as other badges respected for their dynamic skills. He purposely doesn’t mention Camaro, which has out-sold Mustang for the past four years.

Callum played with proportions by lowering the roofline by 38mm. He moved the A-pillar rearward by 30mm and sat the bootlid 70mm lower. When you see new alongside previous Mustang, the lower stance and tauter body lines are obvious, as is the more unified glasshouse. Better use of interior space yields more shoulder, hip and knee room for passengers.

“There’s nothing subtle about the front when you see the new Mustang in the mirrors,” he says. The headlights are narrow and deeply set, and you almost have to look twice to see the trademark pony galloping across the grille. From side view, Callum describes new Mustang as having “a true fastback profile.”

New Mustang fastback arrives in US showrooms this autumn followed by cabrio with RHD production beginning around midyear.

Get the latest motoring.com.au news from the Detroit motor show

See all the photos in our 2014 Detroit show gallery

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site...

Don't forget to register to comment on this article.