Photo provided to China Daily

Ford's iconic sports car made a bold entrance to the Chinese market when a hanging container opened and slowly slung a scarlet Mustang onto a central stage in Guangzhou on Tuesday. The masculine car's premiere also included three young artists' pulsing music, an illuminating light show and sculpture showcase.

The first batch of the new models are powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged direct injection engine.

The 2.3T Mustang proved it was capable of accelerating to 100 kilometers per hour in about 6 seconds in media test drives, yet is still a fuel-efficient choice when compared to the 8-liter V8. When the 2.3T engine revolves between speeds of 2,500 to 4,500 rounds-per-minute it sports a peak torque of 434 Nm. Its maximum power hits 231 kW at 5,500 rpm.

Transmitted by a 6-speed Select-Shift auto-manual gearbox, the new car can shift into sports gear for driving fun and, with one touch, into the aggressive driving mode. The standard configuration for all the models shipped to China includes four driving modes, eight airbags, 19-inch wheels, paddle shifters, large piston brakes, a Sync infotainment system and genuine leather sports seats with ventilation and heating.

The new models are now available through 53 authorized imported car dealers with suggested retail prices starting from 399,800 yuan ($65,540) to 429,800 yuan for the 50th anniversary special edition.