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The Mustang Mach 1 deserves more respect. Offering more performance than regular GT models — but less madness than a Shelby — the Mach 1’s position in the middle of the lineup puts the track-ready car in danger of being overlooked and forgotten. Furthermore, iconic gas-powered Mustangs are losing relevance Fordthe electric vehicle segment is growing; in July 2022 the automaker reported selling 1,603 more electric Mach-Es, its electric Mustang crossover, than Mustang gas models.
But despite scaling the output of its electric cars, Ford hasn’t left enthusiasts in the dust since it launched the sixth-generation Mustang. Also known as the “S550” generation, Mustang models produced since 2015 have offered enough performance variants to keep fans happy. After the Shelby GT350 and Bullitt bowed out in 2020, the Mach 1 emerged to fill the gap for the 2021 model year. Now in its second year (after returning from a 17-year hiatus since the special 2004 model), the 2022 Ford Mustang The Mach 1 is a track-day worthy muscle car with daily driver credentials.
2022 Ford Mustang Mach 1: What We Love Most
In other words, the Mach 1 has the best performance of the non-Shelby 2022 Mustang models. Staying true to the spirit of the original 1969 model, the 2022 Mach 1 remains a performance-oriented muscle car. It has a 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 470 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. With rear-wheel drive (still the most fun layout to drive) and Tremec’s six-speed manual transmission inherited from the GT350, the Mach 1 offers power while still engaging the driver. In a drag race that Edmunds launched the American icon against the BMW M4 Competition, the Mach 1 managed to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a blistering 4.1 seconds — an impressive figure even if it falls short of lighter sports cars by 0.4 seconds.
HotCars Senior Writer Michael Van Runkle got a chance to drive the Mach 1 at Radford Racing School at Bob Bondurant’s purpose-built training track in Arizona. Despite the Mustang losing 10 horsepower for the 2022 model year, the Mach 1 impressed us most because of the features inherited from the Shelby GT350 and GT500 models. And while we’re not the biggest fans of the round fog light holes in the grille, there are enough exterior accents (including stripes) to make it look like a real track car.
Why The Mach 1 Is 2022’s Muscle Car To Beat
The Mach 1 faces stiff competition between 2022 muscle cars particularly from the likes of Chevrolet and Dodge. We like the Mach 1’s starting price tag of $57,665 compared to the 2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat’s (from $66,045) and 2022 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1’s (from $63,000). And while the ZL1 offers decent ride quality, poor visibility limits its prospects as a daily driver.
It’s worth comparing the Mach 1 to the Mustangs it replaced. Although we experienced some understeer at Radford — a track we also had to drive the Dodge Challenger Hellcat SRT — we suspect the Mach 1 is more capable of handling a wider range of driving conditions than its predecessor, the GT350. The Mach 1’s biggest competition may be the Mustang itself, with plenty torn between the GT Performance Package and the Mach 1. And while there’s no question the Mustang Shelby GT500 rules the nameplate as far as performance goes, the $80,815 price tag is a hard pill to swallow. For a cheaper price tag and daily driver appeal, the 2022 Mustang Mach 1 is probably the best Mustang Ford is selling right now.
Worthy of Mention: The Mach 1 Handling Package
For buyers on a lower budget Ford offers the Mach 1 Handling Pack. The optional package (for an additional $3,500) includes an adjustable strut top mount, GT500 rear spoiler, front aero splitter, revised chassis tuning, and more. The most notable addition is the 19-inch aluminum wheels that sport the design of longtime Mustang rim designer Mark Kaski. It’s no surprise that Ford devoted an entire infographic to showcasing the “performance art” that the Mach 1 exhibits.
Having test driven a Mach 1 equipped with the Track Handling Package, we found that selecting Track Mode helped the 3,900-lb Mach 1 feel lighter on the shocks that firm up the ride. Our time at Radford got us thinking about the Mach 1, one of the last gas-powered Mustangs ever: while its performance pales in comparison to the electric 2023 Mach E crossover, it offers something the latter cannot: an emotional connection to driving.
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