IT MUST BE TOUGH to keep models fresh, but car companies are still finding ways of doing it.

Ford has announced new options and eye-catching (some would say “eye-popping”) colours for 2020, building on ehancements made to Mustang in 2018, which included a new 12.4-inch customisable digital instrument display, a forged 19-inch alloy wheel option and Recaro seating, the MY2020 Mustang GT brings even more opportunities for Australian sports car enthusiasts to make their Mustang stand out.

“The Mustang is an icon, and Australian customers have been asking for more ways to customise and individualise their particular vehicle, so we’re pleased to offer more ways of doing just that,” said Ford Australia President and CEO, Kay Hart. “These new offerings help make the 2020 Mustang really stand out, and for the first time, our Ford Service Benefits program, with our Service Price Promise, is part of Mustang ownership, too.”

The expansion of the Ford Service Benefits program to Mustang owners means that for the first four years/60,000km (whichever comes first), eligible customers will be able to service their MY2020 Mustang for a maximum recommended price of $299 (incl. GST) per A or B logbook service at participating dealerships.

This demonstrates the strength of Ford Service Benefits, including the added value of a Service Loan Car, Auto Club membership (including Roadside Assistance), SYNC 3 sat-nav updates, Vehicle Report Card, and experienced Factory Trained Technicians when customers service at participating Dealers.

Mustang was re-introduced to Australia in December 2015, and has since become Australia’s most popular sports car. Offered in Fastback and Convertible models, the Mustang has been the best-selling sports car in Australia for 30 consecutive months. In addition, Mustang – now a truly global model – was the best-selling sports car in the world for 2016, 2017 and 2018.

For 2019, Mustang became the Ford Performance model of choice in competition, joining the 2019 NASCAR Cup and XFinity Series in North America. In Australia, Mustang made its competition debut in 2019 in the premier motor racing category, Supercars (although the Supercar Mustang bears only a superficial resemblance to the road cars). Mustang currently leads the 2019 Supercars series, with victory in its debut race at the Adelaide 500, and is set to race at the famed Bathurst 1000 this October with Shell V-Power Racing and Tickford Racing teams.

MY2020 Mustang GT: Black Shadow Pack

The MY2020 Mustang GT Fastback will be offered with a new Black Shadow Pack that gives the Fastback model a unique look. The pack, exclusive to Fastback GT and priced at $1,000, adds:

Black painted roof

Black bonnet stripes

Black side stripes

Unique ten-spoke dark-finish 19-inch alloy wheels

Black grille Pony badging

Black 5.0L guard badging

The optional High-Rise rear spoiler is also blackened when the Black Shadow Pack is selected.

“The Black Shadow pack takes the Mustang GT Fastback to another level,” said Mustang Chief Program Engineer, Carl Widmann. “It gives the classic Mustang lines a sinister flavour that really adds a raciness and competition look to it, and harks back to some of the graphic and decal packages that we’ve had in the past.”

Heritage Hues: Mustang’s goes back to the future

Four new colours see Mustang GT make its mark in 2020, including Grabber Lime. One of a number of heritage colours, which in Australia have previously included Grabber Blue and Dark Highland Green, ‘Grabber’ paintwork was first offered in North America on early 1970s Mustangs and is the inspiration for Grabber Lime.

“It’s lime green on steroids,” said Barb Whalen, Ford colour and materials manager. “This colour traces back to a Mustang heritage colour while bringing it forward with more modern, dynamic pigments and bold new energy.”

A second heritage colour – Twister Orange – is also new for 2020, and gives a colourful counterpart to the guttural sound of its 5.0-litre V8, complete with four-mode active quad-exhaust, as standard. Capping off the new colour range for Mustang is a fresh Iconic Silver, as well as the appropriately named Red Hot paintwork.

“These bright, vibrant retro colours are trending in design – in home furnishings, sportswear and even appliances,” said Whalen. “Aspirational and confident, they are fun, youthful colours that make a statement of how you want the world to see you and who you want to be. And your car is an extension of that.”

The 2020 Ford Mustang will be on sale in Australian Ford Dealerships from November 2019, with pricing and further details to be announced closer to on-sale.