BIRTH OF A GENERATION - FORD MUSTANG

FORD MUSTANG

Ford Mustang 

A car which introduced a new automotive era, a car after which a whole automobile generation is named – The Breathtaking Ford Mustang. The Pony Car generation ( American class of automobile) is launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964 because the Mustang is the world’s very first Pony Car. The term describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image. The Mustang was the best selling vehicle of it’s day, and till today, it is one of the most popular and most loved sportscars ever. There are very few car names that survive a decade in car world, but the Mustang has been there for almost five decades now, and throughout these five decades, it has remained the best. This Muscle car was the reason why many other legendary muscle cars like Dodge Charger R/T, Challenger R/T and Chevrolet Camaro SS emerged. Till today, Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro are it’s main competitors. Over past 50 years, Ford has sold over 8 million mustangs! Everything in a Mustang, from it’s powerful engine to it’s bold muscular looks, takes one’s heart. Ford Mustang is surely one of the best cars in the world.

The Mustang has appeared in a huge number of movies, including James Bond – Gold Finger, Gone in Sixty Seconds, I Am Legend, Transformers and Need For Speed(2014) to name a few. It has appeared in almost every Racing video game including Need For Speed series, Forza series, Test Drive series, Gran turismo series and many more.

Ford Mustang Special Edition in Need For Speed (2014)

Ford Mustang GT in Need For Speed - The Run

Ford Mustang (1965 – 1973) – The Beginning

The first Ford Mustang launched in 1964 and was Ford’s most successful launch since the 1928 Ford Model A. John Najjar, executive stylist at Ford, is credited as having suggested the name as a result of his love for The World War II P-51 (Mustang) fighter plane. Engine choices started with the utterly lame 2.8-liter OHV straight six that made just 101 horsepower; then proceeded through a 3.3-liter OHV straight six rated at a flaccid 116 horsepower; 4.3-liter OHV V8 breathing through a two-barrel carburetor and making 164 horsepower; a 210-horsepower two-barrel-equipped 4.7-liter V8; a four-barrel 289 making 220 horsepower; and, at the top, the famous "K-code" high-compression, solid-lifter, four-barrel 289 pumping out a lusty 271 horsepower. K-code-equipped cars got a special badge on their front fenders indicating that not only did the engine displace 289 cubic inches, but that it was also the "High Performance" version. A three-speed manual transmission was standard with every engine except the 271-horse 289, which was available only with the four-speed manual that was optional on other models. The three most significant additions to the Mustang for 1965 were the neat 2+2 fastback body, the optional GT equipment and trim package and optional power front disc brakes. This first mustang generation sold a total of 1,288,557 units!

1965 Ford Mustang Fastback

Ford Mustang (2005 – 2014) 

In 2005, Ford introduced the redesigned Mustang at the 2004 North American International Auto Show. This generation echoed the fast back models from the late 1960’s. Ford's senior vice president of design, J Mays, called it "retro-futurism."  Between 2005 and 2010, the base model had a 210 bhp cast-iron block 4.0 L V6 engine and The GT added an aluminum block with a 4.6 L V8 engine featuring variable camshaft timing producing 300 bhp. Base models had a Tremec T5 5-speed manual transmission with Ford's 5R55S 5-speed automatic being optional. Automatic GTs also featured this, but manual GTs had the Tremec TR-3650 5-speed.

Ford Mustang GT (2005)

The 2010 model year Mustang was released in the spring of 2009 with a redesigned exterior — which included sequential LED taillights. The engine for base Mustangs remained unchanged, while GTs 4.6 L V8 was revised resulting in 315 bhp. Other mechanical features included new spring rates and dampers, traction and stability control system standard on all models, and new wheel sizes.

Ford Mustang GT (2010)

For 2011 model, A new 3.72 L aluminum block V6 engine which weighed 18 kg less than the previous version was introduced which produced 305 bhp 380 Nm of torque. GT models included a 32-valve 5.0 L engine which produced 412 bhp.

In 2012, the Mustang Boss 302 was introduced. The engine had 444 bhp 520 Nm of torque.

As of 2013, the GT and V6 models revised styling incorporated the grille and air intakes. The GT's 5.0 liter V8 gained eight horsepower from 412 bhp to 420 bhp.

Ford Mustang (2015 – Present)

This generation faced major changes after 9 years. The look, the engine, the styling, everything was changed. Changes include widened body by 1.5 inches, 1.4 inches lower body, trapezoidal grille, and a 2.75-inch lower decklid, new designed LED headlamps, LED taillamps and new colors. Three engine options are available now - a newly developed 2.3 L EcoBoost 310 hp four-cylinder introduced for more efficiency, 3.7 L 300 hp V6, or 5.0 L Coyote 435 bhp V8, with either a Getrag six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. A new independent rear suspension (IRS) system was developed specifically for the new model. It also became the first version factory designed as a right hand drive export model to be sold overseas through Ford new car dealerships in right hand drive markets.

Ford Mustang GT (2015)