Mustang to arrive in Oz from $44,990

One of the most anticipated muscle car arrivals of 2015 will soon land in Australia.

And today Ford has announced its new Mustang Fastback and Convertible range will hit Aussie dealerships "later this year" from a starting point of $44,990 (plus on-road costs). That's the list price for the four-cylinder coupe, coupled to a manual transmission. It's a keener price than expected, given the state of the Aussie dollar and expert opinion the price would range between $50,000 and $70,000.

The range extends through automatic and convertible four-cylinder variants, to the range-topping V8-powered Fastback and Convertible variants. At the top of the stack is the Mustang GT Convertible from $63,990 (plus ORCs).

Ford says the line-up is all about delivering choice to its customers; whether fitted with its 233kW/432Nm 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost petrol or menacing 303kW/525Nm 5.0-litre V8, the Mustang will deliver a sleek design and state-of-the-art suspension tune.

The entry-grade 'Stang will arrive with a six-speed Getrag gearbox, the six-speed SelectShift automatic attracting a $2500 premium. Convertible buyers will have only the automatic transmission in both variants, the four-cylinder model starting from $53,990 (plus ORCs).

For V8 buyers the line-up starts at $54,990 for manual Fastback models and $57,490 with a six-speed auto. The flagship GT Convertible sneaks in at just under $64k. All V8-powered models receive an upgraded brake package and a limited-slip differential.

"With such sharp pricing, we're signalling that there's a new Ford performance car coming and we intend to grab our rightful share of enthusiasts who value style, technology, performance and the history that the Mustang name brings," said Ford Australia's vice president of marketing, sales and service, Graeme Whickman.

"It's a technologically advanced car without forgetting the heritage that has inspired Ford customers for generations."

Ford says it already holds more than 1200 orders for its latest muscle car, with more than 15,000 potential buyers requesting more information through its on-line and social media hubs. The majority of the order bank is for the GT V8, although Ford says there's strong interest in the four-cylinder models.

Initial deliveries will include the option of OTT racing stripes, a black-paint roof and 19-inch alloy wheels with a Lustre Nickel finish. All will include Ford's SYNC2 infotainment system, accessed via an 8.0-inch colour touch screen, remote keyless entry, HID headlights and LED tail-lights, front foglights, LED daytime running lights and rain-sensing wipers.

Dual-zone climate control is also offered, as is sat-nav, dusk-sensing headlights, power windows and mirrors, push-button start, alloy-faced pedals, electrically-adjustable seats, tyre-pressure monitoring and an electrochromatic rear-view mirror.

The GT 5.0-litre Ti-VCT V8 adds bigger, six-piston Brembo brakes and black-painted 19-inch alloys.

Optionally, the aforementioned OTT racing stripes add $650 to the list price, while the black-painted roof attracts a $975 surcharge. The Nickel Lustre alloys cost $500, as does metallic paint.

For more on the 2015 Ford Mustang, check out our launch review.