Ford Gives Saudi Woman Activist A Free Mustang GT After Driving Ban Lifted

Ford is among the automakers that have jumped on the marketing bandwagon in Saudi Arabia, after King Salman issues a decree lifting the ban on female drivers.

As part of their promotional efforts, the Blue Oval gifted a 2018 Mustang GT Convertible to Sahar Hasan Nasif, a retired university English literature professor.

The 63 year old is one of the Kingdom’s most outspoken activists, having spent years campaigning for woman’s rights. She was even arrested in the past for filming herself driving (illegally at the time – see video below) around Jeddah.

Sahar’s love story with the Ford Mustang began back in 1999, when she rented one in California. That’s when she knew she wanted her very own pony car. She eventually caught the attention of Ford’s Middle East arm last September after being quoted by news outlets that amid the lift of the driving ban, she can finally buy and enjoy her dream car, a yellow Ford Mustang.

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Ford handed over the keys to the muscle car during a special ceremony in Jeddah, where its new owner was surrounded by family and friends. And it appears that her loved ones will have to “form an orderly queue”, according to the automaker, in order to get a ride in the Mustang, as Sahar has 6 children and 16 grandchildren.

Built at Flat Rock in Michigan in March, the Mustang is finished in Triple Yellow Tri Coat, with black accents, while riding on 19-inch wheels. Inside, it gets Ebony Black heated and cooled sport leather seats, a SYNC 3 infotainment system and 12-inch digital instrument cluster.

The 560PS (552hp / 412kW) and 569Nm (420lb-ft) of torque produced by the 5.0-liter V8 engine and channeled to the rear wheels through a ten-speed automatic transmission won’t annoy Sahar’s neighbors, as the car is equipped with the ‘Quiet Start‘, or ‘good neighbor mode’.

The feature keeps the exhaust noise at minimum levels, and is joined by several driving assistance features, including Forward Collision Warning, Emergency Brake Assist, Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keep Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control and others.