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.

  • The Oracle Well, we’re 3-4 years in with the Telluride and right around the time the long term durability issues start to really take hold. This is sad.
  • CoastieLenn No idea why, but nothing about a 4Runner excites me post-2004. To me, they're peak "try-hard", even above the Wrangler and Gladiator.
  • AZFelix A well earned anniversary.Can they also attend to the Mach-E?
  • Jalop1991 The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged due to suspected improper assembly by the supplier. Over time, partial engagement can cause damage to the intermediate shaft splines. Damaged shaft splines may result in unintended vehicle movement while in Park if the parking brake is not engagedGee, my Chrysler van automatically engages the parking brake when we put it in Park. Do you mean to tell me that the idjits at Kia, and the idjit buyers, couldn't figure out wanting this in THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE????
  • Dukeisduke I've been waiting to see if they were going to do something special for the 60th Anniversary. I was four years old when the Mustang was introduced. I can remember that one of our neighbors bought a '65 coupe (they were all titled as '65 models, even the '64-1/2 cars), and it's the first one I can remember seeing. In the '90s I knew an older gentleman that owned a '64-1/2 model coupe with the 260 V8.
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