Although we’ve seen and heard a lot of the Ford Mustang these past months, it is only now that Ford has begun series production at the Flat Rock Assembly plant.
The sixth-generation Mustang will go on sale this fall in the United States and next year in more than 120 countries, including 25 right-hand-drive markets such as the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa.
Ford offers three powertrains in the United States: a standard 3.7-liter V6, an all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost and an upgraded 5.0-liter V8. Available on the Mustang GT, the latter features upgraded valvetrain, new intake manifold and improved cylinder heads, resulting in an output of 435 horsepower and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) of torque.
The 2.3-liter EcoBoost uses direct injection, variable cam timing and a twin-scroll turbocharger to deliver 310 horsepower and 320 lb-ft (433 Nm) of torque. The base, naturally-aspirated 3.7-liter V6 produces 300 hp and 280 lb-ft (379 Nm) of torque. The new Mustang also has all-new front and rear suspension systems, with the big news being the integral-link independent suspension at the rear.
The Flat Rock assembly plant has been transformed following a $555 million (€420 million) investment, with Ford adding a fully flexible body shop to allow multiple models to be produced on the same line, and technologies such as three-wet paint process, dirt detection and laser brazing.
The plant also produces the Ford Fusion and has 3,000 employees who work two shifts at full line speed. “I don’t think there is any place in the world where this vehicle is not known. To build it right here in Michigan is something to be proud of,” commented UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles about the new Mustang.
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