2017 Ford Mustang Tickford Enhanced new car review
Tickford is a familiar name for Ford performance fans.
A long-time official partner of the blue oval, it has seen many iterations, starting with the development of the original XR6 and XR8 Falcons through to its own range of Ford Tickford Experience (FTE) vehicles before morphing into Ford Performance Vehicles and reviving the iconic Falcon GT as a full-time model.
Now under the control of businessmen Rod Nash and Rusty French, who co-own the Prodrive Racing Australia Supercars team that was formerly Ford Performance Racing (FPR), the Tickford brand is making a comeback as a specialist Ford tuning house.
Tickford re-emerged late in 2016 with a modified version of Ford's most popular model, the Ranger ute, but has also turned its attention to the legendary Mustang.
Instead of offering fully converted cars as it did in the past, this latest version of Tickford has taken a different approach by allowing customers to pick and choose which items they want individually.
As a result there is a menu of options to choose from, including power upgrades, modified suspension and improved interiors for both the V8-powered Mustang GT and the turbocharged EcoBoost version.
The 360 Power Pack for the V8 includes a hi-flow cold air intake and throttle body spacer, 3.0-inch stainless steel bespoke cat back exhaust with quad outlets, a Tickford developed rear diffuser and a Tickford Enhanced badge.
The end result of the engine modifications lifts power and torque in the 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 from 306kW/530Nm to 360kW and 585Nm.
The 270 Power Pack for the 2.3-litre turbo four cylinder EcoBoost gets the same treatment but is fitted with a 2.5-inch exhaust instead.
It gets a big bump in terms of grunt, with power rising to 270kW from 233kW and torque increasing to 520Nm up from 432Nm.
Both Power Packs costs $6990 for all parts and fitment.
If you only want the exhaust and rear diffusers you can add those for $3990.
Ride and handling can be altered thanks to a Wheel and Tyre package and a Sports Suspension kit.
The new rims are unique Tickford designed 20-inch alloys that measure 9.5-inches wide at the front and 11-inches at the rear. They are wrapped in Dunlop SP Sport Maxx rubber and come fitted and balanced for $4490.
The suspension package is another uniquely tuned product that incorporates new shock absorbers and springs and costs $3990.
Inside the cabin, Tickford offers a new leather interior package and upgraded seat foam for improved comfort for an additional $4490.
If you tick every box and go for everything Tickford has on offer you'll be spending $19,960. So, for example, added to the GT coupe your fully enhanced Mustang would set you back $77,450 plus on-road costs and an EcoBoost coupe would be $65,950.
Drive was given the chance to sample both a GT and EcoBoost version of Tickford-tuned Mustangs. Each was fitted with the Power Pack, Wheel and Tyre package and suspension upgrades.
While Tickford has minimised the amount of external changes, preferring to keep the iconic Mustang shape unmolested, the new dark-finished alloy wheels and lower stance immediately set these apart from the standard model.
The multi-spoke rims look nice and the new diffuser and exhaust tips are a subtle addition that fit nicely with the rest of the Ford styling.
Firing up the GT first there is immediately more burble from the new exhaust at idle. Not that the V8 needed more bark, as it already sounded nice, but it did lack bite. Whereas the standard 5.0-litre V8 lacks the punch you expect from 306kW the Tickford enhanced version feels stronger.
It isn't a massive change but certainly the Tickford version feels faster on the road.
It's a similar story for the EcoBoost. For many, the idea of a four-cylinder turbocharged Mustang is still unnatural but Tickford's new exhaust gives it a more pleasing soundtrack and performance.
The improved exhaust note is more noticeable from outside the car, where it sounds deeper and more purposeful, but even from the driver's seat it makes a nicer noise.
The extra 37kW and 88Nm give it better performance but it still doesn't match the experience of the V8.
The suspension package is adjustable but Tickford has tuned it primarily for road use. Tony Harris, Tickford's head of performance parts, said the company has focused on getting the best out of the Mustang in real world conditions, rather than the circuit, because that is what the majority of customers will use it for.
To that end, while the ride height can lowered up to 40mm with the new suspension Harris and his team have opted to only drop it 25mm in order to keep it compliant.
It feels like the right decision, based on our brief drive over a mixture of patchy roads south of Sydney. The standard Mustang was not tuned for Australia's unique road conditions so it struggled at times, feeling too stiff and lacking compliance.
Tickford's set-up retains the firm, sporty body control you expect in the 'Stang but it feels more balanced and less unsettled by bumps, both big and small.
Even with the larger wheels it still rides well for what it is, an affordable American muscle car.
The grip from the Dunlop tyres feels like an improvement too, making both Tickfrod machines feel more connected and responsive than the standard versions.
Our time in the cars was limited and without back-to-back testing it is hard to quantify exactly how far improved the Tickford Mustangs are over the factory-built versions. But they do feel like an improvement, rather than just being different.
The Mustang was a promising car but lacked the local knowledge and understanding we have become accustomed to with the locally-built Falcons and Holden Commodores. Tickford has managed to instil some Australian know-how into the American pony car icon.
2017 Ford Mustang Tickford Enhanced specifications
On sale: Now
Engines: 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol/5.0-litre V8 petrol
Power: 270kW/360kW
Torque: 520Nm/585Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual or automatic. Rear-wheel drive
Tickford Enhanced Mustang price list
Power Pack: $6990
Ride and Handling package: $3990
Wheel and Tyre package: $4490
Leather interior package: $4490