Future Mustang GTs' sales linked

A strong sales performance for the standard versions of the new Mustang could clear the way for higher performance models down the track. That's the carrot global chief of engineering for Ford's newly formed Ford Performance arm, Jamal Hameedi, dangled in front of a small group of Aussie media in Melbourne last night.

In Australia for the opening of Carbon Revolution's new production facility in Geelong, Hameedi suggested the success of Mustang sales Down Under will determine the potential for hotter models in the future.

Hameedi told motoring.com.au, the company needed to "take it one step at a time" when it came to the potential of right-hand drive versions of the high-performance GT350 and GT500 variants.

"When we were developing the GT350, the Mustang was an unknown [quantity in terms of sale] globally at that time," Hameedi stated.

"I think the global marketing team wanted to take it one step at a time... Start out with the 5.0-litre, the EcoBoost [four-cylinder], and find out whether there was a global connection there," he explained.

According to Ford Australia, there are no plans to import the 392kW GT350 (or even hotter 500 and 350R versions) in "this model generation".

While this remains essentially a business case-based decision – Hameedi confirmed there is at least one technical impediment.

"The fact that the vehicle has been designed as a right-hand drive helps a lot. But the car [GT350] is not Ped-pro [Pedestrian Protection] compliant – at least it hasn't been tested," Hameedi told motoring.com.au.

Pedestrian protection regulations have been driven by European markets – to which Australia is closely aligned. Under US regulations pedestrian protection doesn't come into full force until 2019-20, Hameedi stated. It's at that time GT350 will need to be tested if it is to remain in the Ford Performance catalog.

Testing and compliance could be a likely trigger point for the GTs to join the local line-up.

"I know you guys like rear-wheel drive and high-performance V8s. That combination in anything, you guys [Australia] are good to go," Hameedi stated.