New Mustangs secured in 30 seconds

16 June, 2014

 

The nerves of Ford executives about releasing there “baby” were eased when the first 500 Euro-spec 2015 Mustangs were reserved within the first 30 seconds of the UEFA Champions League Final in Europe.

There were 9300 people who tried to secure one of the 500 spots when registrations opened during the match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. The 500 secured ended up being spread across 20 countries

The vehicle goes on sale officially next year and it is the first one ever to be made available across Europe.

“We knew there was huge excitement building for the new Ford Mustang coming to Europe, but the response during the UCL Final was overwhelming,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, marketing, sales and service, Ford of Europe.

“It was a truly special way to kick off the Ford Mustang era in Europe.”

The models made available for the UEFA final release were the fastback models in Race Red and the convertible models in Magnetic Silver. Securers were able to choose from Ford’s all-new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine with more than 309 PS and 407 Nm of torque; or the 5.0-litre V8 engine which delivers more than 426 PS and 529 Nm of torque.  They’ll also get Ford’s SYNC 2 connectivity ad navigation system,, heated and ventilated seats, Park Assist, black leather trim, chrome detailing, and 19-inch alloy wheels.

You can see the thoughts behind the redesign of the iconic vehicle here:

NZ Classic Car magazine, November/December 2026 issue 408, on sale now

Star status for classic Porsche
A long search ends: finding the right car
Unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1963, the Porsche 911 heralded an iconic lineage of sports cars, known for their exceptional performance, remarkable racing reliability, and adaptability, second to none.
New Zealand Classic Car, in conjunction with Star Insure, recently conducted a photo competition to find 13 suitably impressive classics to grace the pages of the magazine’s 2027 calendar. A flood of entries showed that Kiwis recognise eye-catching designs and restorations. Many are handy with a camera, too, and have entered some outstanding results.
The choice was not straightforward, with multiple stunning entries, and Geoff Long’s immaculate 1990 Porsche 911 (964 Factory designation) took top honours. Fortunately, Geoff had Ethan Hanlon handy to take the accompanying photos while working in his office.
“I’ve got a young employee who is doing work experience in my office at the moment, and he’s a very avid photographer. So, I said, I’ll buy you breakfast and then why don’t we go and take some photos. He found the right spot, and he spent over an hour photographing.”
Originally sold new in Japan, hence the right-hand drive, the Porsche was resident there for four years before being exported to New Zealand, as Geoff recalls.
“I bought it two-and-a-half years ago, but I looked for it for over two years, because it’s just the colour scheme, interior and exterior I was after. The service file that came with it is extensive; I mean, it’s been beautifully looked after, which is what I wanted to continue, as it does get driven. It doesn’t sit in the garage.”

Classics on the green

Many pretenders vie for the title, but the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance gets my vote as the biggest thing since sliced bread.
The 71st edition of the world’s pre-eminent and best-known concours event featured 28 classes, judged by a 180-strong jury, which also chose the recipients of 26 special awards.
The size of the event, the number of visitors, and, most mind-numbingly, the sheer number of amazing cars, is almost overwhelming. There are so many quality cars to gaze upon, and so many people gazing at those cars, that it is almost impossible to cover everything.
Notable among the many attractions were the centenary celebrations of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an elegant Talbot-Lago Grand Sport, Hermann Graber’s Swiss-bodied cabriolets and coupés, the jewels of Otto Vu Italian V8s, early Alfa Romeos, Lincoln and its centenary, and cars with unorthodox propulsion systems.