Introduction

The Ford Mustang defined the pony car segment in 1964 and was a runaway sales success. It helped create a niche that exploded in popularity with the Camaro, Firebird, Barracuda, Cougar, Javelin, and Challenger. They're all gone now, leaving the Mustang with no direct competition, at least for now. Fortunately, today's Mustang, introduced three years ago, is a superb example of the genre. The Mustang GT comes with a 300-hp V8 and is an absolute hoot to drive, making all the right sounds, hanging onto corners tenaciously, and delivering thrilling acceleration performance. The American pony car has never been better than the current Mustang GT. The Mustang is available as a coupe or convertible. The Mustang V6 Deluxe is a nice cruiser and its 4.0-liter V6 engine is a solid performer, all for around $20,000. But the Mustang GT is what the Mustang is all about and the basis of the legend. For 2008, a new Bullitt model joins the herd. Faithfully styled to celebrate the hero car in the famous chase scene starring Steve McQueen, the 2008 Mustang Bullitt is tuned to a higher level than the standard GT. Some media have positioned the Bullitt as nothing more than a hopped up Mustang, but that sells what's going on here a bit short. Rather than simply bolting on some modifications and re-tuning the setup, Ford took the higher road, thoroughly re-engineering and painstakingly massaging the Bullitt to attain its additional performance. In other words, they did it the hard way, the right way. Ford used technology learned from development of the Shelby cars, and the chief engineer for the Mustang says technology gained from the development of the Bullitt will be used in the next-generation Mustang. In any case, the Bullitt is more responsive than the Mustang GT. We found the Bullitt to be superbly balanced, making for a more enjoyable, more sophisticated car to drive on a daily basis, a car that responds beautifully to the driver's whims. Ford plans to build about 7,000 Bullitt models. For 2008, three Shelby models are available: The 319-hp Shelby GT comes in coupe and convertible form along with the 540-hp Shelby GT500KR coupe. The Shelby GT500 offers near-Corvette performance and we found it easy to drive, and fun for gymkhanas, race tracks or back roads. Its solid rear axle is bouncy on bad pavement, however, and all this comes at a substantial price increase. For 2008, front side airbags come standard on all Mustangs, and high-intensity discharge headlights and interior ambient lighting are newly available. While its styling is retro inspired, the Mustang is a thoroughly modern car. Redesigned from a clean sheet of paper for 2005, the current Mustang is fast and agile, more so than any past Mustangs. It delivers the bold styling, rear-drive performance and affordability that have been Mustang hallmarks for decades, but it's smoother and quieter and better built than older models. The interior looks like a throwback from the '60s, and we think it's really neat. We just wish the interior materials were a wee better. A navigation system is available and it works well. The Ford Mustang is an American success story. It holds true to an idea that still appeals to people of all ages, decades after the original was launched; 44 years after it created an automotive niche, the Mustang has returned to its roots and it's better than ever.

Walkaround

Nothing says modern American sporty car better than the Mustang. Its long hood and short rear deck capitalize on more than 40 years of pony-car heritage. The current Mustang features classic design cues that have defined Mustangs since the 1960s: C-scoops in the sides, three-element tail lamps and a galloping horse badge in the center of the grille. Its menacing shark-like nose is reminiscent of the 1967-70 models. Yet the Mustang follows modern trends by offering ever-larger wheels, including two distinct 18-inch wheel designs for the GT and a new 18-inch wheel for V6 models. So trimmed, the Mustang looks more aggressively handsome than ever, and much like the concept cars that grabbed everyone's attention at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And while the Mustang's retro-inspired look pleases the eye, there's a lot of modern technology you don't see, starting with an aluminum hood to trim weight. The modern Mustang is based on the same mechanical platform as the Jaguar S-Type, albeit with some cost-trimming measures such as its live-axle rear suspension. All Mustang engines are secured to the body with hydraulic mounts, which absorb and counteract vibration and pulsing. By adapting ideas and components from luxury cars, Ford has given the current Mustang a level of sophistication its predecessors never had. Yet the Mustang heritage of low-cost performance and flashy styling has not been compromised one iota. Like their muscle-era namesakes, Shelby models get unique front grilles and bumper fascia. The GT500 grille is designed to provide a functionally larger and unimpeded air intake, while reducing airflow under the body. The GT500 has a unique hood with dual air-extraction slits. Around back the GT500 has a vintage-style ducktail spoiler on the decklid and a series of four strakes under the rear fascia. Carroll Shelby's signature striking-Cobra emblem glowers from the center vertical portion of the decklid of the GT500, a characteristically off-center position in the grille, and both front quarter panels. It comes with 18-inch rims with the Ford SVT (Special Vehicle Team) logo. Just as in 1968, the Shelby models are topped by Le Mans-style racing stripes. They look terrific, though we're not sure they should carry down onto the rear bumper where they compete with the rear license plate. GT500 convertibles feature a premium fabric for the top. The Shelby GT500KR has a carbon fiber hood with hood pins and a unique hood scoop, as well as 40th anniversary Shelby snake emblems.

Interior Features

The Mustang interior is as blatantly throwback as the exterior, but not as well done. It's sporty appearance and straightforward in function, but materials quality is lacking. There's a heavy dose of 1967 Mustang inside, with the dash divided into distinct right and left pods, blended with modern touches. Chrome-ringed air vents align with the gauges across the dash, and the steering wheel has three spokes with a center hub marked by the horse-and-tricolor-bars logo. While the look is retro cool, many of the materials have a cost-saving look and feel, especially the plastics on the dash panel. An interior upgrade package adds red leather seats, red door inserts and red floor mats on cars with appropriate exterior colors. Mustang offers an optional color-changeable instrument panel display, with 125 color schemes to choose from. It's a gimmick, to be sure, but it's easy to use, and it can brighten your day, and especially your night, as you drive. We're all for that. Speaking of brightening, however, there's enough shiny metal on this car's dash and steering wheel to create some glare problems for drivers on sunny days (just like in the original Mustangs). The available Interior Upgrade Package, with satin or dark-finish aluminum inserts instead of chrome, goes a long way toward eliminating the feel of cheapness. These are the good old days in terms of roominess in the Mustang. The 107-inch wheelbase and 187.6-inch overall length of the current model are the longest of any Mustang since 1973, and are within an inch of the dimensions of the 1969-70 model. But Ford has learned something about space efficiency since then, so today's Mustang offers more front-seat hip, leg, elbow and shoulder room than any previous generation. We found the front bucket seats to be comfortable, supportive and retentive in hard corners. The back seat, however, isn't much more accommodating than in the old fastback 2+2 variant of 1965-68. It's not a place adults will want to spend any time. However, it folds flat, just like in the old days, to expand luggage capacity. And even without folding the back seat, the Mustang's trunk is as large as those in some more overtly practical sedans. Seats in the Shelby GT500 are more aggressively bolstered, and the positions of the speedometer and tachometer are swapped. The GT500 is upholstered in black leather, with or without red inserts. All interior chrome is replaced by satin-finish aluminum for reduced glare. Snake logos slither on the seatbacks and steering-wheel hub. The standard sound system that comes in the Mustang is good. The 500-watt upgrade is reasonably priced as part of the premium package, and adds a six-CD changer. The 1000-watt upgrade will impress most audiophiles, but the extra subwoofers in the trunk steal a good chunk of cargo space. We'd be inclined to pass on those.