Ford has chosen a convertible version of their V8-powered Mustang to take part in this year’s MPG Marathon.

The Mustang is just one of Ford’s entries in this annual fuel economy challenge, which is probably good since this is a car with 421 PS (415 HP) and 530 Nm (391 lb-ft) of torque.

In terms of performance, this translates into a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 4.8 seconds, but this is hardly the venue for any of that, which means we’ll be focusing on this Mustang’s 20 mpg (14.1l/100km) average fuel consumption figure instead of its straight line prowess.

“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.”

Driving the 5.0-liter V8 Mustang Convertible will be former Ford works rally crew Andy Dawson and Andy Marriott – former winners of the event back in 2012 on board a Ford Fiesta ECOnetic 1.6 TDCi.

“Since right-hand drive Mustangs arrived here for the beginning of the year, over 3,000 have been delivered to proud new owners – two thirds of them with 5.0-litre V8 engines,” stated Ford UK sales director Kevin Griffin. “They powered Mustang to the top of the sales charts as the UK’s top selling high performance sales car. But a high power rating need not necessarily mean excessive fuel consumption – as this year’s MPG Marathon is set to demonstrate.”

Also, if you’re looking to get a sense for the diversity you’ll be seeing during this year’s MPG Marathon, try picturing this Mustang alongside something like the hydrogen fuel-cell powered Hyundai ix35.

The event takes place on Oct 18-19, when competitors will try to achieve the highest possible MPG figure while driving to different venues across the country – including the iconic Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire.

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