Promising to bring back the speed, style, and the heritage that once defined the Mach 1 moniker, Ford revealed that it’s bringing back the Mustang Mach 1 for the 2021 model year. The Mach 1 nameplate has not been seen in production since 2004, and Ford is keen on taking the lessons that it has learned during this 16 year hiatus, and craft the Mach 1 into a newfound spearhead of Mustang performance.
While Ford is choosing to keep key details about the revived Mach 1 largely to itself for the moment, the Dearborn based automaker did reveal three teaser images of the new model undergoing track testing. While the tester in question is still heavily camouflaged, the disguise still allows us to see that the car has received a tweaked front fascia, with two all new circular inlets in the front grille. The lower front bumper also appears to be tweaked, and a slightly bigger front splitter also defines the package. The rear fascia features quad exhaust tips, a big rear wing, and a subtlety tweaked rear bumper assembly. With the Mach 1 rumored to be formally replacing the GT350 in the high performance Mustang lineup, we suspect that the Mach 1 will still try to retain some of the features that defined that particular model, but also add its own distinct flavor into the mix. This could include trim exclusive graphics, and perhaps other heritage focused cues to truly make it feel like a long lost time machine to the past. Like the Bullitt edition Mustang, that preceded it, look for the interior of the 2021 Mach 1 to ooze retro flavor, with a model exclusive shifter ball, as well as other details that pitch some of the chrome bits in lieu of a more understated business first look.
Performance for the Mach 1 will come from a tweaked version of the familiar 5.0 liter V8 which would make much more muscle than the stock Mustang GT. Like the Bullitt, look for horsepower to be a sizable bump over the mainstream Mustang, but we suspect that the Mach 1 will not be quite as potent as the Shelby GT350 and its 526 horsepower 5.2 liter V8. The final teaser Ford released reveals that the Mach one will come with Brembo brakes, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 summer tires. Look for this combination to help make the Mach 1 into a very potent track day weapon on weekend track days, but befitting the Mach 1 badge, expect the rest of the suspension tune to be softer than a GT350’s, which would help improve day to day comfort out on the open road. The teaser also showcases a new rim design that we have not seen before, and look for it to perhaps be exclusive to the Mach 1.
Ford promises to have more information on the 2021 Mach 1 sometime in June, with the company hopefully trickling more teasers out into the spotlight to wet the appetites of Mustang enthusiasts just a little while longer.
The CRD team has been quite eager for this model’s return! We took a look back at the iconic Mach 1 concepts and rendered what a future Mach 1 variant might look like with a chopped roof and lengthened engine compartment. Check out all the renders and pics over here.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.