Body style
2-door sports coupe2026 Ford Mustang GT Premium First Drive
Can one of the world’s most recognisable performance cars, with its svelte yet muscular bodywork and 5.0-litre V8, prove that the original pony car still has its magic in the digital age?
The Ford Mustang needs little introduction. First introduced in 1964, it helped define the pony car formula, combining accessible performance with a sense of theatre that appealed to both dreamers and drivers. More than six decades later, the Mustang remains the most recognisable survivor among traditional American muscle cars and has long been regarded as one of the world’s best-selling sports cars. In a world increasingly dominated by digital interfaces, electrification and silent speed, we took the Mustang GT Premium out to get a feel for the original spirit. But is it a one-trick pony? We find out.
Exterior design: Svelte muscle-car drama
The Mustang still follows the classic recipe, with a long hood, short rear deck and sweeping fastback roofline. Up front, the smoothly bulging hood flows into a serious-looking face, where the three-element LED signature gives the car its sinister, squinting eyes The pony badge upfront remains instantly recognisable, while the large air intakes and hood vents add proper muscle-car attitude.
The pronounced wheel arches give it a planted stance, and the GT Performance Package brings 19-inch wheels, with wider rear tyres. The star-like alloy design gives the car a slightly exotic flavour, almost Ferrari-like appeal.
At the rear, the fastback roofline flows into a short deck with a conspicuous wing spoiler, triple LED tail lamps, sequential indicators and loud 3.5-inch quad exhaust tips. It has the look of a goon who cleaned up well. More importantly, it remains a poster car, whether you are a child, a teenager or an adult who grew up around V8 dreams.
Interior design: Retro-digital cockpit
The cabin is instantly recognisable as a Mustang interior, carrying cues from the 1960s originals, later revived during the fifth-generation car’s neo-retro phase and now evolved for the digital era.
The dashboard has a strong horizontal layout, with chrome surrounds around the chamfered rectangular air vents. Ahead of the driver, a large digital display arrangement angled towards the wheel combines a 12.4-inch digital instrument cluster with a 13.2-inch SYNC 4 infotainment screen with navigation. The GT Premium also gets a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting and illuminated door scuff plates.
The flat-bottom steering wheel feels good to hold, with large, tactile controls, while the cue-ball-inspired gear shifter adds a retro touch. Sit low in the cabin and you feel properly cocooned, giving you that cool-driver vibe before the engine even starts.
The heated, ventilated and power-adjustable leather-trimmed front seats, with driver memory, are comfortable for long drives and sufficiently bolstered for corners.
The rear seats are less convincing, with tight access, limited headroom and the rear glass sitting close above passengers, letting the sun beat down. It is technically a 2+2, but the back seats are best reserved for children, short trips or extra luggage.
Powertrain: Analogue musclecar energy
Under the bonnet sits Ford’s famous 5.0-litre Coyote V8, a displacement Vanilla Ice may have sung about decades ago. But this configuration has come a long way since the days of around 225 hp.
In this specification, the V8 produces 486 hp and 567 Nm, paired with a 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, paddle shifters and rear-wheel drive for extra fun. It also gets independent rear suspension, selectable drive modes and Brembo brakes. Start it up and the Mustang comes alive with a deep, theatrical rumble loud enough to wake the neighbours, with a sense of drama reminiscent of a Lamborghini Huracán. Step on the throttle and it fires forward with old-school thunder, quick enough to scare passengers and turn heads outside. A 0-100 km/h time in the under-five-second range feels entirely believable.
On the move, you are always aware of the long bonnet ahead. Around corners, it does not feel like a pointy sports car. The rear is easy to provoke, and controlling the yaw angle is part of the charm. It can be driven quickly, but it wants your input.
Ride comfort is surprisingly compliant, feeling sporty without being harsh thanks to MagneRide damping, so long journeys are possible without regret. Fuel economy, however, depends heavily on your right foot. After a mix of hard throttle use and cruising, we saw around 4 km/l, far from the claimed 9.2 km/l, though a lighter foot should improve that.
First drive verdict: Classic muscle, modern ride
With its bad-boy image, sweeping fastback silhouette and old-school V8 soundtrack, the Ford Mustang GT Premium proves that the quintessential muscle car still knows how to charm in the digital age. It also offers a usable boot, decent comfort and advanced safety, making it more than a one-trick pony.
At around AED 250,000, it is not cheap relative to its rivals, and the rear seats are clearly compromised. But as an emotional, usable and attention-grabbing performance car, the Mustang still knows exactly what it is.
