SEVENTY-THREE YEARS AGO, over Rogers Dry Lake in Southern California, the world flew faster than ever before with the first-ever sound barrier-breaking flight. Mission accomplished: Mach 1 was achieved. Seventy-three years later, the thirst for speed is quenched again. Mach 1 has returned as a truly global model and will join the Ford Mustang line-up in Australia for the first time in 2021.
“Achieving Mach 1 for the first time was a significant human feat,” said Andrew Birkic, President and CEO, Ford Australia. “That spirit and determination to keep pushing, never settling and always trying to go further is what the Mach 1 Mustang was all about – and it’s fitting that we can bring Australian customers, who’ve made Mustang part of our motoring landscape, a 2021 Mustang Mach 1 of their very own.”
The iconic Mach 1 model, which first went on sale in North America in 1969, will be offered in Australia and New Zealand in 2021 with the first ever factory right-hand drive model produced at the legendary Flat Rock, Michigan, plant.
Mustang Mach 1 brings a new pinnacle of naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 pony car performance. Following the lead of the original 1969 Mustang Mach 1 that bridged the gap between the Mustang GT and Shelby models, the all-new Mach 1 delivers additional V8 power, driver-focused cockpit and a track-focused upgrades above the Mustang GT.
“It’s a stunning looking vehicle, but above all it really is a Mustang made for enthusiasts – it is all about how it drives around a track, which is why I’m so pleased to be working on this project with Ford,” said Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing Ford Mustang Supercars driver and Mustang Mach 1 ambassador. “Racing a Mustang Supercar around tracks like Mount Panorama, where we’ll be this weekend, has been a highlight of 2020 for me, but Mach 1 is such a unique opportunity for fans and customers, so I am pumped for its arrival here next year.”
Since its arrival in Australia in 2015, the Ford Mustang has become the best-selling sports car in Australia, and has seen a passionate customer base for special edition models, including Mustang BULLITT and the supercharged Mustang R-SPEC. Additionally, Mustang became the choice for Ford Performance global racing programs in 2019, which saw Mustang spread to NASCAR, GT4, NHRA and, in Australia, the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, where it has won the 2019 and 2020 Manufacturers Titles for Ford.
The Mach 1 will be offered alongside the Mustang 2.3L High Performance and Mustang GT in 2021, with Australian specification and pricing to be announced closer to launch.