Ford Australia has closed the order book for the Ford Mustang as it tries to grapple with demand for the out-going sports coupe, while simultaneously preparing for the impending arrival of its replacement.
The new ‘S650’ generation Mustang is due to be revealed in Detroit on September 14, but the local operation isn’t able to put even a vague timeframe on when this new model will hit local showrooms.
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This is leaving the current ‘S550’ Mustang in an awkward position, with an uncertain end date meaning customers are still lining up to buy one but supply is becoming increasingly difficult for Ford Australia to secure. Add to this the on-going delays in global shipping and the local operation is facing multiple challenges for its still-in-demand sports car.
This is the reason why Ford Australia has opted to stop taking new orders for the car until it can clear the backlog and ensure those customers are accommodated.
The ‘S550’ Mustang is getting send-off with a final special edition, the Mustang GT California Special – or GT/CS for short – which was first announced back in December 2021 and has recently entered showrooms.
The GT/CS – which is inspired from a 1968 special edition built for the Californian market – gets several unique touches including blacked-out grille, lower body side accent stripe and rear wheel arch scoops.
It also gets some notable mechanical changes, including a larger front splitter, which is from the GT Performance Package, a rear wing (for the coupe but not the convertible) and 19-inch alloy wheels with a unique five-spoke design and painted machine finish.
COMING SOON: 2023 Ford Mustang – what to expect
This will likely have to tide over eager Mustang owners until the new model arrives, which could come as early as the second half of 2023 or as late as sometime in 2024. The good news for would-be buyers is even though the order book is currently closed, Ford Australia has indicated it would re-open orders if and when it can secure enough supply.
Ultimately though, there is a distinct possibility that there could be a gap between the end of the ‘S550’ supply and the arrival of the ‘S650’.
At least that’s the case on the road, on the track the ‘S650’ styling will be applied to all Gen3 Mustangs from the beginning of the 2023 season in order to rev up interest and demand in the new model – and save teams from building two different looking racers in consecutive seasons.
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