Ford Mustang vs. the competition

Ford Philippines currently has a potent entry into the two-door coupe sports car segment with the S650 Mustang. 

As of its next-gen update, it received a more contemporary design, a punchier engine, as well as vastly improved handling capabilities. 

The question now is, how does the all-new Ford Mustang compare against its locally available coupe rivals? Let's compare it against the competition to find out. 

Before we list off the rival of the Blue Oval’s premier pony car, let’s take a glance at its specs. 

Ford Mustang

To begin, there are two available engine options for the Mustang. On the EcoBoost Premium  variant, it uses a 2.3-liter inline-4 engine capable of putting out 314 horsepower (hp) and 475 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. The top-spec GT Premium, meanwhile, uses a 5.0-liter V8 producing 486 hp and 567 Nm of torque. 

As standard, Ford’s pony car uses a 10-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. It also gets a limited-slip differential, a MacPherson strut front suspension, an integral link rear suspension, and Ford’s MagneRide dampers, among others. 

For outside illumination, the next-gen coupe gets LED headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, and LED taillights with sequential turn signal lamps. The vehicle also sports power-folding side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, active exhaust valves, and a set of 19-inch alloy wheels. 

The interior of the Ford Mustang is graced with plenty of amenities, including a 12-inch digital gauge cluster, a leather tilt and telescopic steering wheel, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, auto-dimming rearview mirrors, ambient lighting, wireless smartphone charging, and a pair of Recaro sport seats. 

Handling onboard entertainment on the Ford two-door model is a 13-inch central infotainment display that boasts wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sound, meanwhile, is fed into the cabin by a 12-piece Bang & Olufsen speaker system. 

For safety, the Mustang gets what you’d expect from a modern vehicle. Its standard safety features are likewise reinforced by an array of advanced driver-assist systems, which include automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, lane keep alert, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and many others. 

With regards to pricing, the Mustang EcoBoost retails at P3.499 million, while the top-spec GT is priced at P3.999 million. 

Nissan Z

Stepping in as Nissan’s entry into the two-door coupe segment is the Z. 

At the most, the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 of the Japanese marque’s coupe can output 377 hp and 475 Nm of torque. Depending on the trim, it uses a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic gearbox. It also has paddle shifters and a limited-slip differential. 

Other notable mechanical bits fitted to the Nissan Z are a double-wishbone front suspension, a multi-link rear suspension, Nissan Sport disc brakes, and a set of 19-inch wheels. 

On the outside, the Z gets LED headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, LED taillights, and power-folding side mirrors. 

The interior of the Nissan-made coupe, meanwhile, is graced by a 12-inch digital gauge, a separate three-bay gauge cluster, a leather steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustability, power-adjustable leather seats, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, wireless smartphone charging, as well as an automatic air-conditioning system. 

Entertainment and navigation inside the Z are done via an eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said screen is then linked to an eight-piece Bose speaker system. 

For safety, the Nissan Z gets adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, front collision alert, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear-cross traffic alert, and high beam assist, among others. 

For details on the pricing of the Z, interested buyers should contact the nearest Nissan dealership. 

Toyota GR Supra

Also rivaling the Ford Mustang in the Philippines is the Toyota GR Supra. 

For power, the Supra depends on a 3.0-liter inline-six engine capable of producing 335 hp and 500 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. 

To improve traction, Toyota’s flagship sports car gets a limited-slip differential. It also sports a MacPherson strut front suspension, a multi-link rear suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a set of 19-inch forged aluminum wheels. 

On the outside, the Supra is equipped with full LED exterior lighting elements, a power-folding side mirror, and a dual-tip exhaust pipe. Its interior, meanwhile, is fitted with an eight-inch digital gauge, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, power-adjustable leather sport seats, and a leather-wrapped tilt and telescopic steering wheel. 

For entertainment, the Toyota model comes with an 8.8-inch central infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said screen is linked to a 12-piece JBL surround sound system. 

Handling safety on the Supra is what one would expect from a modern car. 

The sole variant of the Toyota GR Supra starts at P 5.396 million in the Philippine market. 

Dodge Challenger

A notable American rival of the Ford Mustang is the Dodge Challenger. In the Philippines, the aforementioned model is available as the Challenger GT or the R/T Scatpack. 

The GT is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 that outputs 304 hp and 363 Nm of torque. The R/T Scatpack, meanwhile, uses a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 capable of putting out 485 hp and 644 Nm of torque. 

For its other mechanical features, the Challenger GT gets an eight-speed automatic gearbox, a set of 20-inch wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, an active exhaust system, a short and long-arm front suspension, and a multi-link rear suspension, among others.  

The exterior of the American muscle car, meanwhile, features LED lighting fixtures, dual exhaust tips, a power-folding side mirror, rain-sensing wipers, widebody fender flares (R/T Scatpack), and many other features. 

Inside, the Challenger gets Nappa leather power-adjustable ventilated seats, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, and a digital gauge cluster, among others. 

The Challenger's onboard entertainment is provided by an 8.4-inch infotainment display, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said screen is connected to a Harman Kardon sound system. 

Safety-wise, the Challenger has modern features, including a rear parking assist system. 

Concerning price, the Challenger GT retails at P4.490 million, while the Challenger R/T Scatpack Widebody is available for P5.780 million. 

BMW 2 Series Coupe

Yet another rival of the Ford Mustang is the BMW 2 Series Coupe.

Under the hood of the 2-door model’s M Sport trim is a 2.0 liter inline 4 engine capable of outputting 156 hp and 250 Nm of torque. The M240i XDrive variant is more powerful, with its 2.0-liter twin-turbo inline-6 outputting 374 hp and 500 Nm of torque.

 

All 2 Series engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. It also gets four-wheel disc brakes and the German brand’s M Sport suspension system.

For exterior amenities, the German-made sedan has power folding side mirrors and LED exterior lighting elements, among other features.

Its interior, meanwhile, features bolstered leather seats with electronic adjustability, an automatic air conditioner with rear vents, a curved 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a panoramic sunroof, and many other features. 

Handling the entertainment needs of the 2 Series Coupe’s occupants is a 14.9-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The said screen is linked to a 10-piece Harman Kardon sound system.

The BMW 2 Series Coupe also boasts an extensive standard safety kit. The said set of safety features is also supported 

Price-wise, the 2 Series Coupe M Sport retails at P3.59 million, while the M240i XDrive is priced at P4.89 million. 

Photos from Cesar Guiderone Miguel, Nissan Philippines, Toyota Motor Philippines, Dodge Philippines, BMW Philippines

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