Sigh! My first reaction to the headline was quite similar to yours, having realized that the Ford Mustang for the Indian market churns out lesser power when compared to the US and UK spec versions. Finally making its entry to India later in the second quarter of the year, the India spec Mustang produces 396bhp of power and 515Nm of torque, as opposed to the US version which belts out 435bhp and 542Nm of torque, whereas the UK spec model produces 410bhp and 530Nm of torque. All versions use the same 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine.
Also Read: Ford Mustang Unveiled; to Be Launched in India Later This Year
When compared to the power output on the US version, the difference is a good 40bhp, which does leave you disappointed. However, the lesser power output needs to be factored over a number of reasons. It is for the first time that Ford has produced the Mustang as a right hand drive (RHD) model and while it opened to the iconic sports car to newer markets, it also meant several changes will need to be made in order to comply with certain market conditions.
For the UK version, the power drop on the RHD Ford Mustang is largely due to the reworked positioning of the exhaust manifolds in order to accommodate the new steering mechanism. As a result, the length of the exhaust pipe is reduced, which affects the power and torque figures. On the Indian version, the reduced exhaust pipe length can be regarded as one of the reasons, but the further reduction of power could be due to the V8 engine being re-calibrated to adjust to the domestic fuel quality, which is lower when compared to the fuel quality found in Europe and North America.
Complete details on the power drop can be expected closer to launch. Ford India has already commenced importing the Mustangs in India, and three units were recently spotted parked at the automaker's Sanand facility. Being a CBU, don't expect this pony to be affordable, but it won't break your bank either with prices expected in the vicinity of Rs. 55-65 lakh (ex-showroom). That's a sound way to invest, if you ask us.
