2023 Mustang Round Up highlight – 2023 ‘Gen7’ GT fastback

It may have escaped attention at the 2023 Mustang Round Up, but an all-new, seventh-generation version of the pony car was on display – more than six months before its official release in Australia. But, with almost 500 Mustangs on display, this pre-release car had plenty of competition for attention on the day!

Hosted by the Victorian chapter of the Mustang Owners’ Club of Australia (MOCA VIC), the Mustang Round Up had been cancelled for the past three years, due to COVID and extreme weather, but was back in a big way in 2023.

Thanks to the local success of the sixth-generation Mustang, the first to be factory built in right-hand drive, the upcoming seventh-generation is locked in for an Australian release. Previewed at the 2022 North American International Auto Show and already on sale in the US, the new Mustang is due to arrive in Australia in Q2, 2024. Familiar fastback and convertible body styles will be offered, with the EcoBoost turbo four and GT V8 carrying over from the current generation, too. A new addition will be the ‘Dark Horse’, a high-performance version of the GT that’ll be limited to 1,000 units for Australia.

Both engine options have been updated, delivering more power or torque, depending on the model, with Australian-delivered examples to receive an Active Valve Performance Exhaust as standard, regardless of engine choice.

On the EcoBoost 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder, changes to the turbo and electronic wastegate, exhaust manifold, camshaft timing and injection have improved torque to 475Nm at 3,000rpm, compared to 448Nm at 3800rpm on the current model. Power actually drops a little, though, down to 232kW at 5,500rpm from 236kW at 6200rpm.

For the GT, the Coyote 5.0-litre V8 gains 80mm throttle bodies, compatible air inlets and a dual fuel delivery system, resulting in 347kW at 7250rpm and 550Nm at 4750rpm. This compares to 339kW at 7000rpm and 556Nm at 4600rpm from the sixth-generation GT fastback manual.

The Dark Horse uses the same V8 as the GT, but power is slightly greater at 349kW at the same 7250rpm redline. Maximum torque is reduced to 548Nm, but it’s reached higher in the rev range, at 4850rpm. The Dark Horse also gets a stronger Tremec six-speed manual transmission, while the GT uses a Getrag ‘box.

The seventh-generation car on display at the Mustang Round Up, a GT fastback in bright yellow, showed the changes in styling that define the upcoming model, like a reshaped and larger grille opening, larger side ducts and slimmer front bumper. Headlights are familiar, but now with three elements in the housings.

The bodyside crease is gone, with the flanks smoother overall, but there is a more pronounced hip over the rear wheels as part of a wider back end. Rear track is wider than the front by 2.7 inches (62.0-inch front, 64.7-inch rear) on both the EcoBoost and GT. Wheel designs are new, too, with the EcoBoost, GT and Dark Horse each getting their own unique rims, all in 19-inch sizes.

Seventh-generation design changes are much more noticeable at the back end, with the contrasting tail light panel gone and the concave treatment more pronounced, creating a defined peak to the tail. The lower valance is more prominent and the EcoBoost drops the old-style tail badge for one that’s almost the same as the ‘galloping horse’ grille badge. The Mustang GT continues to run a ‘GT’ badge in this space, but it’s more prominent on the MY24 version and drops the surrounding circle.

While the interior of the seventh-generation Mustang on display wasn’t fully visible, it’s been described as the most technologically advanced and driver-centric to date. Two large digital screens - one for instrumentation and the other for infotainment – both offer customisable display information.

The 12.4-inch instrument screen can display different animations and drive mode-dependent visuals, including ‘track apps’ data like a lap timer, launch control, acceleration timer, brake performance and line-locker. The 13.2-inch centre infotainment screen flows on from the instrument screen and is angled toward the driver to create what’s said to be a more immersive digital experience.

Australian pricing for the new Mustang, which will be released here in Q2, 2024, as a 2024 model, was announced just before the 2023 Mustang Round Up. The Australian range starts at $64,990 for the EcoBoost fastback and $77,002 for the GT fastback. The convertible will only be available here in GT form, starting at $86,752, while the Dark Horse starts at $99,102 for the manual and $103,002 for the auto (all pricing excludes ORCs).

For a full rundown on the new, seventh-generation Mustang features and pricing for Australia, click HERE.

For JUST CARS report on the 2023 Mustang Round Up, click HERE.