2005 Ford Mustang Preview

DETROIT, MI - Flat out, this car is going to be a smash hit. Taking its design cues from the classic Mustangs of the 1960s, the 2005 Ford Mustang is more powerful, more comfortable and more sophisticated than ever before, and it will be priced under $20,000 when it goes on sale in the fall of 2004. Two models will be available in two trim levels when the Ford Mustang debuts. The coupe was shown in Detroit at the 2004 North American International Auto Show, in both V6 and GT formats. The convertible will be introduced to the public later in the year, most likely at the New York Auto Show in April. Standard 2005 Ford Mustangs are equipped with a 202-horsepower, 4.0-liter SOHC V6 making 235 lb.-ft. of torque, driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. Called the Mustang V6, this model includes a MacPherson strut front suspension and a three-link live rear axle located by a Panhard rod for enhanced stability in bumpy corners. Rack-and-pinion steering guides this 3,300-pound pony car's 16-inch wheels, which are wrapped in 215/65 tires. Four-wheel, vented disc brakes are standard equipment, along with power door locks, keyless entry, one-touch up and down power windows, and a CD player. The Ford Mustang V6 will be the volume model.

Page 2: Features

The 2005 Ford Mustang GT receives a 300-horsepower, 4.6-liter 24-valve V8 engine making 315 lb.-ft. of torque on regular fuel, plenty to motivate its 3,450-pound curb weight. The Mustang GT's V8 is endowed with variable camshaft timing and drive-by-wire throttle control, emitting its characteristic rumble through a true dual exhaust system that suffers less backpressure than before. Ford promises that this will be the most affordable 300-horsepower car on the market. It shares its optional automatic transmission with the V6, but gets a beefier five-speed manual as standard. Also shared is the suspension design, the GT equipped with thick stabilizer bars front and rear. The Mustang GT's standard 17-inch wheels wear 235/55 tires, and this performance version receives larger front brake discs. The GT is easily distinguished by its inboard driving lights, mounted along the outer edges of the grille.Antilock brakes are available for both the Mustang V6 and the Mustang GT, bundled with a traction control system that ensures the ability to perform smoky burnouts at will. The 2005 Ford Mustangs can be equipped with side impact airbags; a Personal Safety System of second-generation airbags with occupant sensors is standard. Other options include the buyer's choice among two Audiophile sound systems equipped with in-dash CD changers and MP3 capability: one offers 500 watts of power and the other, entitled the Shaker, produces a whopping 1,000 watts of thundering sound. There's also an active anti-theft system that detects glass breakage or if the vehicle is being towed. An Accent Color Package puts a charcoal-colored interior into the 2005 Ford Mustang, with red leather seats, door inserts and floor mats providing flashy contrast with the available real aluminum dash panels.

Page 3: Changes

Inside, the 2005 Ford Mustang is retro-cool, with circular, chrome-ringed gauges imprinted with a classic 1960s-style font. Instrument panel illumination can be custom tailored to the owner's whims, offering more than 125 different background colors. Thanks to a wheelbase stretch of six inches, rear occupants enjoy added legroom, making the Mustang more palatable for adult thrill-seekers. It's easier to exit the back seats too, thanks to spring-loaded backrests that help to propel the occupants forward. Cargo capacity measures a useable 12.3 cubic feet.The 2005 Ford Mustang's body is 31 percent more rigid than the old car, which should increase steering responsiveness, improve the ride quality, and cut down on rattles and squeaks. Classic styling cues include the fastback roofline and rear quarter windows, the triple-bar taillights, the Mustang emblem dead-center at the rear of the car, C-scoops on the side that are now part of the sheetmetal rather than plastic add-ons of the old car, the "shark's nose" prow and chrome pony, and the overall stance and proportion of the body and wheels. Say that Ford took a shortcut, that the new car's design is uninspired and unoriginal - we think the 2005 Ford Mustang is just about perfect. What about the SVT Cobra, you ask? It's due back for 2006, with a rumored 400 horsepower and an independent rear suspension, with a commensurate price increase. Ask yourself if you really need 400 horsepower, and whether the price premium for such thrust is worthwhile. Then rush out and smack down a deposit with your local Ford dealer. Firm pricing has not been announced, but we'd bet a fully loaded 2005 Ford Mustang GT will be extremely price competitive with the Mazda RX-8 and Nissan 300Z. Yeah, this car is going to rock. -- Photos courtesy of Ford Motor Company