Ford Mustang Mach 1 review: loud and proud


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Blasting across gravel-coated mountain roads walled in by jagged rocks, the Ford Mustang Mach 1 was metaphorically breaking through the sound barrier. The 5.0-litre V8’s angry bark echoed off the surrounding earthen walls while dust clouds billowed in the shark-nosed coupe’s wake. Henry Ford must surely be smiling.

Conceived as a bridging model between the standard 5.0-litre GT and the hardcore Shelby models, the limited-edition Mach 1 is the latest Mustang variant to land in Ford showrooms, reprising an evocative suffix that first appeared on a Mustang in 1969. In case you hadn’t guessed, the moniker is a tribute to Chuck Yeager, the US Air Force ace who broke the sound barrier (Mach 1 or 1,225 kilometres an hour) in 1947.

Efficient upgrades

Ford bills the Mach 1 as the “most track-capable 5.0-litre Mustang ever”, courtesy of a series of aero upgrades, beefed-up suspension and mildly upgraded power train.

The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm

Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

On sale: now

Although propelled by essentially the same 5.0-litre V8 as the GT, a new intake manifold enables the motor to breathe better and thump out 480 horsepower (20 horses more than the GT). The Mach 1 also features a more efficient cooling system, using components borrowed from the Shelby GT350.

A six-speed manual with short-throw shifter is the standard transmission in the Mustang Mach 1’s domestic market but, in our clutch-averse region, the default choice is a 10-speed automatic.

The Mach 1’s straight-line grunt is kept in check by an electronically controlled MagneRide adjustable suspension, and stiffer front springs and anti-roll bars. Rounding off the handling package are bespoke 19-inch five-spoke “Tarnished” dark-painted aluminium rims that hark back to the classic Magnum 500-style wheels worn by yesteryear Mustangs.

The car is equipped with bespoke 19-inch five-spoke dark-painted aluminum rims and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S rubber.
The car is equipped with bespoke 19-inch five-spoke dark-painted aluminum rims and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S rubber.

Also part of the Mach 1 recipe is an aero-enhancing package that allegedly increases downforce by 22 per cent.

Performance pressure

It all sounds pretty good on paper, but the acid test would be provided by pitting the Mach 1 against the sinuous roads winding through mountainous Hatta. Immediately evident is that the limited-edition ’Stang is a tauter package than the standard GT.

There’s a bit of body roll to contend with, but get past this and you’ll find the Mach 1’s low-profile Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S rubber grips the tarmac with a fair degree of tenacity. The brakes could be better, though, as they’re a tad spongy and lacking in bite.

Undoubtedly, the Mustang’s juiciest element is that intoxicating 5.0-litre V8. You’ll find yourself looking for tunnels, just so you can blast through with the windows down. The V8 is not only sonorous, but also decently potent, propelling the Mach 1 from 0 to 100kph in 4.4 seconds, and on to a top speed of 267kph.

The limited-edition Mach 1 pays tribute to Chuck Yeager, the US Air Force ace who broke the sound barrier (Mach 1 or 1,225kph) in 1947.
The limited-edition Mach 1 pays tribute to Chuck Yeager, the US Air Force ace who broke the sound barrier (Mach 1 or 1,225kph) in 1947.

The fly in the ointment is the 10-speed automatic, which fast-tracks to the highest gear possible in the chase for fuel economy. Disappointingly, the transmission is also slow to respond when you flatten the throttle, seemingly confused as to which ratio it should kick down to. The Mach 1 would be a vastly more enjoyable car with the six-speed manual, so it’s a shame the latter configuration will be a rarity in our region.

In the looks department

Visually, the Mach 1 hits the mark, and The National’s Jet Fighter Grey test car drew its fair share of appreciative glances from onlookers. Apart from the tasty five-spoke rims, the limited-edition model stands apart from lesser ’Stangs via satin black stripes on the bonnet and flanks with reflective highlights in red, white or orange.

Inside, there are leather sports seats with stitching in Metal Grey, and each Mustang Mach 1 features a dashboard badge with a Mach 1 logo and the car’s individual build number. Standard comfort and convenience technologies include heated and cooled front seats, SYNC 3 connectivity and a premium 12-speaker B&O sound system.

There’s much to like about the Mustang Mach 1, but its Dh306,000 price tag puts it up against the ultra-capable Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 and BMW Z4 M40i. The Germans are undoubtedly sharper sportsters, but the Mustang Mach 1 offers its own brand of raucous Yankee charisma.

How to wear a kandura

Dos

  • Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion 
  • Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
  • Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work 
  • Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester

Don’ts 

  • Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal 
  • Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

History's medical milestones

1799 - First small pox vaccine administered

1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery

1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases

1895 - Discovery of x-rays

1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time

1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin

1953 - Structure of DNA discovered

1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place 

1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill

1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.

1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out

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Three ways to boost your credit score

Marwan Lutfi says the core fundamentals that drive better payment behaviour and can improve your credit score are:

1. Make sure you make your payments on time;

2. Limit the number of products you borrow on: the more loans and credit cards you have, the more it will affect your credit score;

3. Don't max out all your debts: how much you maximise those credit facilities will have an impact. If you have five credit cards and utilise 90 per cent of that credit, it will negatively affect your score.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Ain Dubai in numbers

126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure

1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch

16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.

9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.

5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place

192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.

THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

SPECS
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Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

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  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19

July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan

Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US

Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

Secret Pigeon Service: Operation Colomba, Resistance and the Struggle to Liberate Europe
Gordon Corera, Harper Collins

Abu Dhabi traffic facts

Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road

The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.

Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.

The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.

The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.

Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019

 

'Top Gun: Maverick'

Rating: 4/5

 

Directed by: Joseph Kosinski

 

Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris

 
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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The specs

Engine: 5.0-litre V8

Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm

Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: L/100km

Price: Dh306,495

On sale: now

Updated: February 18, 2022, 6:02 PM`