Almost half a century ago, Ford created an icon: the Mustang. Now 47 years later, the Mustang is still around and still as popular as ever. It's pretty easy to see why it's been popular for so long. It looks good, it makes a great noise, and it's really fast. The new Mustang has a bit of the older looks and mechanics, with a few technological upgrades. The 5.0L V8 has been upgraded to produce 420 bhp and 390 ft-lb of torque. That's a lot more power than previous Mustangs have ever had. This creates a 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds and up to a top speed of a limited 143 mph. Of course, the best way to get a higher top speed is to get the Shelby GT500 which has 650 bhp and 600 ft-lb of torque. This savage Shelby Mustang has a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 200 mph.
With all this great power and good looks, the Mustang is still the ultimate muscle car. There is still the one problem that all Mustangs and all muscle cars have, they can't do corners. Every Mustang, including the GT and the Shelby, has a live rear axle. Even turning at speeds around 40 and 50 mph, the back end want to spin out and oversteer. If there was an independent suspension instead of the pre-historic live axle, the Mustang would evolve from a simple mscle car to the ultimate sports car.
The interior has improved from earlier Mustangs. More leather has been added, but there is still some plastic on the dash. There is a new SelectShift automatic, but the old fashioned manual is still the best option. The ball style shifter not only looks good, but feels comfy as well. Some new features inside include the LCD display that show gps, mechanical info, and even has a track feature that allows you to view g-forces created, your acceleration times, and your braking times.
The dash has the old feel to it, with the same gauge setup as the original Mustangs. Now, in between the gauges is a screen where you can view fuel and oil pressure, temperature, and switch to different modes. You can change to sport mode, which puts more fuel into the engine and the new hood and side scoops allow more air to enter the engine than before, giving more speed and better acceleration.
I do believe the Mustang could be around for another half a century. It looks like something you don't want to mess with, it sounds incredible, and it moves faster than you think. If it only had an independent rear suspension system, it would definitely be one of the best American cars ever built. We'll have to see what the next Mustang brings to the table.
Special thanks to Gervais Ford of Ayer for test vehicle.
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