The Ford Mustang continues to be the definitive muscle car experience

Not so long ago, the Ford Mustang was introduced in Britain for the first time in 2016, for the first time in 44 years, but barely two years later. facelift.

The iconic V8 has enjoyed some success since arriving in Europe – having sold more than 33,000 units since its arrival – and the American firm is hoping for more technology and a new look to continue its initial success.

The development of the updated Mustang for Ford has made it possible to upgrade its Euro NCAP security classification from two stars to three stars. As a result, it now offers pre-collision assistance with pedestrian detection technology and trajectory support.

This is not the only new thing, though. Providing fresh vocal cords to the gross eight-cylinder is an active exhaust system that features a "good neighbor mode", which can be set to reduce the exhaust noise between certain hours of the day to avoid disturbing peace. There is also the addition of the optional adjustable suspension 'MagneRide', which adjusts according to the driving mode.

• What's under the hood?

There's no real change in the choice of engines for the new Mustang, with a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder starting range, while the legendary 5.0-liter V8 also remains .

We drove the V8, which received a bit of trimming. The power is 444 horsepower against 410 on the original car, although the torque remains unchanged at 529 Nm. Paired with a six-speed manual gearbox (a ten-speed automatic transmission is also available), the Sprint from 0 to 60 mph is done in 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph possible. This is not exactly the last word in terms of efficiency, with a claim of 22 mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 277 g / km.

It's an archaic sensation, with a couple lazily at around 4,000 rpm before the power really starts to rise, which would be a disappointment in any other car – but it's a Mustang, and it helps to feel the old school muscles that buyers will want.

• What does driving mean?

On paper, a Mustang may look like an oversteer overdose with large dimensions (4.8 meters long and 2.1 wide) and a weight of 1.743 kg – but this is not the case. not the case.

There is no hot hatch in the turns, but it feels well composed and manageable on the road thanks to the adaptive suspension "MagneRide". The management also weighs very well in Sport + mode, although more sensations through the wheel will not go wrong.

Take the Stang on the highway and you'll have a very relaxed trip – although you make just a few fuel stops because of this bad economy. It really feels at home on great open roads, with the suspension providing a comfortable ride and the engine quieting to a quiet grunt at cruising speeds.

The Ford Mustang has never been a discrete thing, but some visual adjustments have certainly given it even more presence on the road. New ventilation openings have been added to the hood, while a revised lower grille creates an even more menacing look.

But that's not all. The new front splitter increases the force of support, while the addition of "rocker shields" to the wheel arches promotes the circulation of air under the car to reduce drag.

This is not a beautiful classic design, but the aggressive and bold look continues to perfectly match the mission of the Mustang. It's one of the most brutal things on the road and it's sure to turn heads – especially with the "Orange Fury" finish that was on our car.

To reach a price of £ 38k with the proposed performance, it is clear that Ford has cut corners inside the car. This is certainly not a bad place to be – most things feel well built and there are few hard plastics to find – but rivals offer more.

The controls and switches in the center console look a little old fashioned, while the faux leather upholstery is a bit hard to the touch.

Our test car was also equipped with optional Recaro leather seats. They sit well, offering great support all around and a lot of comfort, but this translates into a cramped driving position that is hard to adapt to. The mounting of these also removes the option of heated and ventilated seats – well worth considering if you plan to use it as a long distance cruiser.

The Mustang is rather well equipped. At no additional cost, the new safety rails and pre-collision technology, adaptive cruise control, a 12-inch LCD dashboard, Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system on an 8-inch screen, automatic headlights and a heated steering wheel. present. Mechanical features such as a limited slip differential and active exhaust system are also included. It's a generous package, which makes it not only great for pound-by-performance, but also for technology.

There is also a good amount of options to choose from. The Recaro seats will cost you £ 1,225 more (even if we stick to the standard units) and for the 'MagneRide' suspension you will pay £ 1,400.

New changes for the Ford Mustang have not revolutionized this brute, which is a good thing. He stays in his own league, offering an old-school, all-American muscle-car experience here in the UK.

Of course, the interior may not be at the height of its rivals at the same price, but others simply do not offer theater and gross entertainment that the Mustang brings to the table. In a world driven by electrification and autonomy, it's a relief that an atmospheric V8 monster with a manual gearbox remains on sale.