Almost 500,000 prospective Ford Mustang buyers have stampeded Ford websites to configure the new Mustang with the manual transmission accounting for two-thirds of all configurations.

ALMOST 500,000 Europeans have gone online to specify and price new Ford Mustang models in just the first month it was available to order, Ford says. There’s no data for Australia, but previously Ford Australia has stated it had received more than 13,000 enquiries for the new Mustang.

Obviously not all of the people specifying a Mustang will be buying one, but the numbers are impressive nonetheless. So, what did Europe choose?

According to figures, the 2.3-litre EcoBoost accounted for more than half of all configurations – the same engine coupled with the six-speed manual realised 37% of all configurations (indeed, manual transmissions were chosen for two-thirds of all cars configured). “The rush to configure Mustang online represents 50 years of pent up demand across Europe,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe. “For some people, the new Mustang is the car they have waited for their whole lives.” Hmmm.

Of the five largest European sales markets – UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain – the 5.0-litre V8 engine was most popular in the UK (54%) and Germany (60%). The EcoBoost engine was most popular in Italy (61%), Spain (59%) and France (55%).  

The top colours were Race Red and black, each accounting for 20%. In the biggest five sales markets, the most popular colours were:

▪UK–  Race Red (22%) and Deep Impact Blue (17%)

▪France– Race Red (24%) and black (19%)

▪Germany– black (21%) and Race Red (18%)

▪Italy– black (27%) and Race Red/Deep Impact Blue (13%)

▪Spain– black (27%) and Race Red (19%)

In China, where more than five million consumers have visited the Ford site to learn more about Mustang, Race Red is the leader, accounting for more than a third of Mustang orders. In the US, black is the number one colour. 

The Ebony leather interior finish was chosen by 61% across Europe, and 28% of those who configured models online also chose to specify the Custom Pack, which includes:

▪“Shaker Pro” premium audio system with navigation

▪Climate controlled seats, reverse parking sensors

▪Lustre Nickel multi-spoke 19in alloy wheels

▪Side window chrome surrounds on the fastback model

Ford made the first 500 Ford Mustangs for Europe available to reserve during the 2014 UEFA Champions League Final. More than 9300 people registered online for a chance to reserve one of the models during the match, the first 500 registrations placed in just 30 seconds.