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Ford Mustang coupe and convertible pony cars show a new edge
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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MACKINAW CITY, Mich. -- Look out for the new Mustang: Ford's classic pony car shows a muscular edge design in the styling department as more horses hitch beneath that exaggerated front hood to mark the 35th anniversary of an American automotive icon.
When the original Mustang coupe rolled out in 1964, it set a generation on edge with envy. Many iterations followed, from the first variation with Mustang GT Fastback of 1965 and powerful 1969 Mach I to such muscle machines as the Boss 302 of 1970, 1984's GT 350 and a 1993 Mach III.
Current designs come from the revival of Mustang in 1994 in new schemes built upon Ford's so-called Fox platform.
With exterior lines less rounded now to show more creases and sharp angles, the look of Mustang for 1999 seems as much inspired from the original knife-edge coupe as Ford's more recent cutting-edge GT90 supercar whose taut shape consists of complex interlocking triangles.
Results from Ford's latest remake of the pony car were on display in Michigan recently with a preview test-drive program for the 1999 Mustang, cast as sporty 2-door coupe or sensuous convertible.
Long and low, Mustang carries vague impressions from the original -- note the extended hood with twin ridges, or scooped door panels and that prominent galloping pony emblem clad in shiny chrome and mounted to a honeycomb grille.
With brawny exterior shapes and impressive power packages purring below the long hood, Mustang still warps the mind with lust for those who love a slick set of wheels that feels good to drive and delivers fun in a racy package.
Yet Mustang represents a narrow focus that's clearly retroactive: Detroit steel muscled up with heady horsepower directed to the rear wheels.
Today's Mustang poses as three different animals.
In base coupe trim, it totes Ford's 3.8-liter Essex V6 engine, now with a split-port induction system and injected with 40 more power points to reach 190 hp. The engine was reworked with new dual-runner intake manifold to increase airflow into the combustion chamber and slick piston coatings installed to reduce friction.
Also, a new balanced shaft tames this plant and pares the shake-rattle-and-roll effect of the former V6.
Consider this the value story for Mustang '99, as it tallies to $16,995 plus $525 in delivery fees.
Then add $4,600 to drive the dazzling Mustang V6 convertible variation.
Yet Mustang's historical image as a raucous 'guy car' hinges on hunky power derived from a rip-roaring engine, and to find this kind of Mustang in 1999 you must step up in price as well as power.
Two revamped 4.6-liter V8 Ford engines slip into Mustang's serious editions, which also come with sport-tuned suspension hardware and other performance paraphernalia.
Mustang GT carries a revised version of Ford's single-cam V8. In this installation it produces 260 hp, up some 35 hp over the previous GT's V8.
This significant increase in horsepower was effected by improving the way the V8 breathes, particularly at engine speeds above 3000 rpm.
New camshafts can lift higher and for a longer period, as intake manifold runners were straightened to create a more direct path for incoming air, and bigger intake valves were inserted. Also, the engine's combustion chamber was reshaped and exhaust valves reset, then a new coil-on-plug ignition system was specified.
With GT, Ford's list price for a coupe runs to $21,395, and the convertible hits $25,395.
Both V6 and V8 versions mate with either a manual 5-speed transmission or an optional 4-speed automatic, but for the GT quicker gear ratios go to the automatic.
Late in the year new Mustang spins off a snake in the stable called SVT Cobra, and its power should choke the horse. Ford applies independent rear suspension and manual 5-speed stick mated to the 4.6-liter V8, but with dual cams and four valves per cylinder plus multi-point injection.
Expect output to climb as high as 320 hp.
In a spin around the northern tip of Michigan's lower peninsula, one driver tested V6 and GT variations of Mustang's new theme -- along with a stint in a predecessor which by comparison seemed as different as night and day.
The new version feels more sophisticated and fun to drive -- there's refinements to the foundation that eliminate roughness of the previous pony.
It now acts quite tight, even crisp, and the quietness factor has been dramatically improved due to the chassis boosted by sturdy new steel structural supports which take extra measures to ensure rigidity.
Changes to the chassis include an increase in the driveline tunnel height at the rear, which permits about an inch more vertical height for the rear suspension system. New linear-rate rear springs were then ordered, with springs and shocks and stabilizer bar retuned.
In addition, the track width of the rear wheels was increased by 1.4 inches, setting up a broader stance that helps settle the rear end during handling maneuvers.
Mustang's power-assisted rack and pinion steering system feels more precisely tuned in this version, and there's an enhanced on-center balance. It can cut a corner quicker too, as the diameter of the turning circle drops by about three feet, which means this is a more agile animal.
To rein Ford's pony, new twin-piston aluminum calipers go to front discs on brakes, reducing the unsprung weight by ten pounds and evoking a more linear and positive feel to the brake pedal. A computerized anti-lock system is standard equipment for GT, and Ford now offers all-speed traction control as an option for any Mustang edition.
Mustang's interior impresses with twin cockpit positions reminiscent of the original plan. The design defines each front passenger's post with a dash line arching high over driver's instrument panel and rider's storage box, then dipping low in an arc through the center section which clusters controls for Mustang's climate and sound systems.
Even Mustang V6 has many standard features, from analog instruments to air conditioning and remote keyless entry. Options include the GT's decklid spoiler and leather seat upholstery, plus anti-lock brakes and traction control.
1999 FORD MUSTANG COUPE
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1999 FORD MUSTANG COUPE Specs |
| Description: |
Compact coupe, convertible |
| Model Options: |
Compact coupe, convertible |
| Wheelbase: |
101.3 inches |
| Overall Length: |
183.2 inches
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| Engine Size: |
Mustang: OHV 3.8-L V6
GT: SOHC 4.6-L V8
Cobra: DOHC 4.6-L V8
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| Transmission: |
Manual/5, Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Rear |
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
3.8: 20/30 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 16,995 to $ 29,000 |
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