Ford UK, Always the Optimist, Enters Mustang GT in MPG Marathon

Michael Accardi
by Michael Accardi

Throughout its life, the Mustang GT has been called many things, from sexy, to speedy, to downright stupid — but never has it been called a fuel sipper. Ford UK doesn’t seem to care.

For the UK’s annual fuel economy challenge, one of Ford’s entries will be the 410-horse Mustang GT convertible, which is rated for an optimistic 20 miles per gallon in Great Britain.

“The great thing about the MPG Marathon is that it’s as much about driving style as it is about eco vehicles,” said event organizer, Jerry Ramsdale.

“By entering a car like the Mustang and showing the world how much the crew can improve the fuel economy over the standard MPG figure, Ford is demonstrating how even the most performance-oriented of cars can be fuel efficient if driven in a responsible, eco-friendly manner.”

It’s not like Ford is having trouble selling the GT in Blighty – two thirds of the Mustang’s 3,000 UK sales have been optioned with a 5.0-liter V8, making it the nations best selling high-performance car.

“A high power rating need not necessarily mean excessive fuel consumption – as this year’s MPG Marathon is set to demonstrate,” said Kevin Griffin, Ford of Britain sales director.

Staffing the Mustang will be former Ford works rally pairing of Andy Dawson and Andy Marriott, stacking the deck further, the duo previously won the 2012 MPG Marathon piloting a Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi.

The pairings are tasked with plotting their own routes to four different checkpoints across the country, including a jog up to Silverstone International. The aim of the MPG Marathon isn’t just an obvious sky-high MPG score, prizes are also awarded for significantly beating the manufacturer’s estimate – which is where the Mustang will look to put on a perception shifting, parsimonious performance.

Based out of Heythrop Park Resort in Oxfordshire, UK, the 2016 MPG Marathon gets underway on October 18.

[Image: Ford Motor Company]

Michael Accardi
Michael Accardi

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  • Wayne Wayne on Sep 30, 2016

    That must be with top up? Going topless on the highway can really take a toll on MPG in a convertible.

  • SD 328I SD 328I on Oct 01, 2016

    I'm assuming 20 mpg is UK city rating. The slightly more powerful US spec 2016 Mustang GT is rated 16 city/25 highway. Converted to the larger UK gallon, that should be 19 city/30 highway. Factory in Europe's more generous mpg rating system, and it would seem 20 mpg is likely their city rating mileage.

  • 1995 SC At least you can still get one. There isn't much for Ford folks to be happy about nowadays, but the existence of the Mustang and the fact that the lessons from back in the 90s when Ford tried to kill it and replace it with the then flavor of the day seem to have been learned (the only lessons they seem to remember) are a win not only for Ford folks but for car people in general. One day my Super Coupe will pop its headgaskets (I know it will...I read it on the Internet). I hope I will still be physically up to dropping the supercharged Terminator Cobra motor into it. in all seriousness, The Mustang is a.win for car guys.
  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
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