The positions of Ford Mustang in the pony car market segment are pretty far from perfect. Though the current generation had some improvements, such as restyling in 2010 and two new engines the year after, it didn’t help Ford outsell its rival – Chevrolet Camaro. The difference in sold cars is +17,811 for Chevy, so there is nothing surprising that Ford has taken serious measures to improve the business launching its new 2013 Mustang.
The lights of the new Mustang were reworked substantially. The head lights now use HID lamps as a standard equipment, in addition there are two LED bars in the outer section. The tail lights retain its traditional tree-block design, but they are made entirely from LEDs. Each block has an inner section used as braking and turning signals, and the surrounding LED ring is used as tail lights. The reverse lights are hidden in the central block as they switch to white when going back. According to Dave Pericak, the chief engineer of Mustang, the new lights are more expensive in production than the incandescent set used for the previous models. However, Pericak says that these changes were necessary to show that the new Mustang is filled with modern technologies and corresponds to the new trends in car design. The premium Mustangs will receive the Comfort Package that includes the Pony Projector lamp – a LED in the external mirror projecting the Mustang logo on the ground.
Performance improvements
The engine of the new 5.0 liter Mustang GT was slightly tuned by the Ford engineers to get eight horsepower more resulting in 420hp total, while the torque is still on the 390 lb-ft mark. Such a performance boost was made possible after conjuring with the pistons and changing the program in the ECU.Obviously, we were not able to feel the increase in 8 horsepower in our tests, but our Mustang equipped with manual transmission was as good as before. It still gives you lots of fun during acceleration and gear shifts, reaching the speed limits effortlessly. No surprise that the traction control had to turn on frequently as we rode with the wind along the wet roads in Portland, Oregon.
The Mustang GT we tested had Recaro seats that are an excellent option for speedy driving. They provide sufficient support in quick turns and still are one of the most comfortable sport seats we have ever seen.
We were also able to try a 3.7 liter V6 engine that comes in the base configuration of Mustang convertible. This is the well-known engine used on previous models that delivers 305hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. The convertible was equipped with new SelectShift automatic transmission that uses buttons to shift gears manually. In the sport mode the gearbox lets you control the process entirely, meaning that it doesn’t change the gear up even at max revolutions, same as it doesn’t downshift during stops. These changes are intended to give the driver an ability to get the best out of the car and satisfy his sporty driving habits with no limitations from the gearbox.
However, the question is, why not use the paddle shifters on the driving wheel instead of the toggle buttons on the gear lever? Pericak explained to us that paddle shifters are suitable for cars like Ferrari that are able to shift gears with lightning speed, and the Mustang automatic is not capable of such maneuvers. Maybe Ford engineers have forgotten that even their Taurus and Flex have paddle shifters, and these models are, well, not sport cars.
More high-performance options for all models
Ford is concerned about making its Mustang more affordable for young people. As a part of this new tendency, many features from hi-end Boss 302 and Selby GT500 cars will be available on GT models and even base V6 configurations. This will allow driving enthusiasts to improve the performance of their cars and enjoy the benefits of Mustang even if they can’t afford the most powerful models.The Recaro seats that were optional exclusively for Shelby and Boss series can now be reserved for Mustang coupe. Several performance packages are not available for a variety of Mustang models. For example, the GT Track package including the Torsen differential and improved engine cooling system with a larger radiator is available for all models with manual transmission. In addition to that, you can reserve a Brembo Brake package including larger brakes, aggressive brake pads like in the Boss 302, electronic stability control features and the upgraded suspension. The Brembo Brake package is also available for Mustang GT with automatic transmission. The V6 owners can upgrade their cars with the Performance package that consists of strut tower brace and sporty sway bars plus a reduced final drive ratio and summer tires set.
The new feature present in the premium 2013 Mustang models is a dashboard with 4.2 inch screen and Track Apps that come with it. The LCD displays all the necessary information and allows to record your acceleration and braking times, and measure the G-forces. For those who like drag racing there is another cool feature – the “Christmas tree” that counts seconds before the start and encourages for aggressive driving.
Cars with manual transmissions can receive a hill-hold system that helps starting up the hills by applying brakes if the car goes back. The new sound systems are a good match for the cars powerful performance. Customers can choose from a Shake unit with 8 speakers and 370W or go even further and install a Shaker Pro with 9 speakers and 500 watts of power. The extreme speaker power has even made engineers reinforce the car doors, says Pericak.
The Shelby GT500 and Boss 302 models were also not left untouched for 2013. The first one receives an upgraded V8 with an increased volume – from 5.4 to 5.8 liters that brings the horsepower to the insane mark of 650hp and 600 lb-ft. The coupe can reach the speed of amazing 200 mph, while the convertible’s speed limit counts 155 mph. As to the Boss 302, the engine power will remain the same and the novelties are connected with the body painting, such as body colored roof and hockey stick decals that remind the ones on the Famous Boss 302 of the ‘70s.
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