Going from the S-Max to the Mustang is to go from the sensible to the sublimely ridiculous. There’s not really any good reason to sell a Yankee muscle car with no space in the back and an optional 5.0-litre V8 engine in the Irish market. Then again, there’s no good reason to climb Everest or dive to the bottom of the ocean but it might be rather interesting to try . . . With right-hand drive for the first time in its 50+ year history, the Mustang arrives here with Hollywood glamour on its side and a whiff of Steve McQueen’s aftershave (Sex Panther, definitely . . .) as you open the door. It looks like a comic book artist’s idea of a car – all improbable muscles and OTT detailing, but whether it’s the 320hp 2.3-litre four-pot EcoBoost or the 420hp rumble of the addictive V8 under the hood, the Mustang is actually rather good fun to drive and more composed than you might expect. Is it a ridiculous choice? Yes, of course it is but it’s a fun choice and one that will earn you more streetside cachet than an equivalent BMW or Audi. And, if you take the V8 as a rival to the likes of a Lexus RC-F or BMW M4 (which you can, sort of . . .) then it’s also a bit of a bargain . . .
Price range: €55,500 to €82,500
Co2 emissions: 179 to 289g/km
Which one? EcoBoost Coupe
PCP from €POA