Wild Horses
The iconic Ford Mustang coupe gets a performance boost from a new limited-production Shelby GT model.
The Mustang Coupe is available with a V6 or V8 engine, and five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission. It is an excellent value, offering more style and performance than most vehicles in its price range. It seats four, but the backseat is cramped.
Besides the tiny rear seat, the Mustang Coupe's major drawbacks are its lack of sophistication (inherent in all muscle cars) and claustrophobic interior.
The 2005 redesign incorporated elements from the original ’60s Mustangs: a long hood, short trunk area, three-element tail lamps, side scoops and blacked-out front grille with a galloping-pony emblem. The interior has similar throwback appeal. But the redesign was more than skin-deep, with wheels pushed farther toward the corners of the car and a six-inch longer wheelbase, providing both better stability and additional passenger room.
The base Ford Mustang Coupe has a 210-horsepower, 4.0-liter V6 engine. Performance buffs will appreciate the Ford Mustang GT Coupe variation, with its all-aluminum, 4.6-liter V8 engine that generates a healthy 300 hp and 320 pound-feet of tire-burning torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on both versions, while a five-speed automatic is optional.
A Shelby GT variation was added to the lineup in the middle of 2007 as a limited-production model for performance-minded collectors. It's a Ford Mustang GT that’s specially modified by Shelby Automobiles in Las Vegas, a legendary tuning company closely associated with the Mustang.
On the Shelby GT, a Ford Racing Power Upgrade Package is added to the 4.6-liter V8 to boost its output to 319 hp. A Hurst short-throw shifter is included with the standard five-speed manual gearbox (an automatic transmission is also available).
The car rides lower to the ground and a Ford Racing Handling Package features performance-tuned dampers, sway bars, and 18-inch wheels and tires for improved cornering. It also features a 3.55:1 axle ratio for quicker acceleration.
The Shelby GT includes unique aerodynamic elements like a front fascia, lower air dam, and a large hood scoop. It comes painted only in Black, Performance White, or Vista Blue (the last including silver stripes), with a total 2008 model run limited to about 2,300 units.
A solid axle — an antiquated but cost-effective setup — continues to be the foundation for the Ford Mustang’s rear wheels, but the rest of the suspension was completely revised in 2005. It affords sharp handling, with a ride that’s on the rough side, although not unduly so.
Disc brakes are fitted at all four corners, with antilock technology standard on the Ford Mustang GT and optional on the base car. Traction control is included on GT versions and is bundled with the antilock brakes as an option on V6 models. For the benefit of enthusiastic drivers, this system allows a bit more wheel slippage — more than you might otherwise find in a passenger car. Yet it will engage more aggressively in icy, snowy, or wet conditions.
A handful of options are offered on the Ford Mustang, none of which are particularly high-tech. Of note is the 1,000-watt Shaker audio system with MP3-playback capability. A GT California Special Package pays homage to the Golden State with unique front and rear treatments, side scoops, 18-inch wheels and tires, door stripes and specially trimmed seats. A GT Appearance Package comes with bright exhaust tips, an engine cover with a Mustang logo and a hood scoop.
The Ford Mustang is also available as a soft-top convertible, in base, GT and Shelby GT versions (see these vehicles in the Ford showroom). A limited-edition Bullitt version, created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the legendary Steve McQueen movie of the same name, is offered with visual and performance upgrades.
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