EXCLUSIVE
Ford is developing a right-hand-drive version of the legendary sports car as part of a 50th anniversary redesign next year. The first Mustang was unveiled at the New York World’s Fair on April 17, 1964, and the carmaker will reveal a heavily revised Mustang at the New York Auto Show on April 17, 2014, exactly 50 years on.
With a right-hand-drive option for the Mustang now available, Ford has plans to market it in right-hand-drive markets like Australia and the UK. Ford is also looking at launching the Mustang in the Indian market as a ‘halo’ product. Currently, Ford’s range in India consists of mainly compact cars and an iconic car like the Mustang could not only give the Ford brand a shove upmarket but also showcase the company’s heritage.
The current generation Mustang is available with three engines, a 3.7-litre V6, the 5.0-litre Mustang GT and the Shelby GT500 that is powered by a 5.8-litre supercharged V8. Ford also sells the Mustang as a drop-top, but it remains to be seen which variant would make it to India.
The company is still evaluating the feasibility of launching the Mustang in India, which with the current duty structure for imported cars would cost no less than Rs. 40 lakh, depending on the variant. If Ford gives the green light, the Mustang could be in a showroom near you by early 2015.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
Lenny D'sa
Saptarshi Mondal
