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2005 Ford Mustang Preview
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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
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About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
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