2010 Ford Mustang Review

The Ford Mustang has been in continuous production for 45 straight years, and more than 9 million Mustangs have been built and sold to date. That gives the Mustang the longest production run of any single model in Ford history. For 2010, the Ford Mustang is all-new.  The new model is quieter and more refined than the previous years. The 2010 Mustang GT offers a thrilling ride; the clutch pedal is light and easy to use in heavy traffic and the manual sifts smoothly. The handling is crisp, the suspension feels tight, and the brakes work better in this latest generation. The 2010 Ford Mustang comes in three body styles: coupe, convertible, and a glass-roof coupe. A rear stabilizer bar now comes standard on the V-6 models, and the entire suspension system has been retuned for more performance feel. Ford's Sync electronics, navigation with Sirius Travel Link and a rear-facing camera are among the options never before available on the Mustang. Standard safety features include front airbags, all-disc antilock brakes, side-impact airbags for the front seats and an electronic stability system, which is new for 2010. Styling changes for 2010 give the Mustang a more modern, less retro appearance. The new car features a forward-swept grille like its predecessor, but it has a compressed look and a new power-dome hood. The grille also carries a new Mustang badge, and the front fenders feature smoother styling.

Mustang Shelby GT500

 A Mustang review would not be complete without a section devoted to the Shelby GT500, Mustang's extreme-performance model.  The 2010 Shelby GT500 gains the same styling revisions and interior improvements as the regular Mustang, and then takes them up a notch.  The Shelby GT500 still gets an aggressive look to it.  The large front grille and lower bumper opening incorporate black mesh inserts, and the grille has a Cobra logo in it. The hood is made of aluminum and features an air extractor to vent the engine bay. Coupes have 19-inch forged aluminum wheels, while convertibles get 18-inch rims. Power comes from a 5.4-liter V-8 engine that's fitted with a supercharger. The combination makes 540 hp at 6,200 rpm and 510 pounds-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm.

2010 Mustang Exterior

Again, as the 2010 Mustang got a slight overhaul the exterior design of the Mustang is similar than previous years, but could definitely be called more modern.  The 2010 car features a forward-swept grille like its predecessor, but it has a compressed look and a new power-dome hood. The grille also carries a new Mustang badge, and the front fenders feature smoother styling. The profile of the new car closely resembles the previous one, but there are some changes in the rear; the taillights have been restyled, and this really changes the appearance of the back of the car.  For wheel type the base V-6 has standard 17-inch aluminum wheels and can be equipped with optional 18-inch aluminum rims. The V-8-powered GT uses 18-inch aluminum rims but can have 19-inch aluminum wheels.

Powering and Driving the Ford Mustang

The standard engine on the 2010 Mustang is a 4.0-liter V-6.  The Mustang GT model will get a new powertrain, 5.0-liter V-8, which will replace a 4.6 liter V8.  This new V8 is rated at 315 hp and 325 pounds-feet of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard for all engines, and both are also available with a five-speed automatic. The Mustang, unlike other modern cars, uses a solid rear axle.  Rather than installing a modern independent rear suspension along with the rest of the updates to the 2010 Mustang, Ford retained this design.  The EcoBoost engine, a more efficient powertrain, is a likely option in the near future, as Ford must prepare to meet CAFE standards for their V8. 

You have to drive a Mustang to know what it really feels like, for some reason being at the driver's seat of a Mustang gives you a thrill and a confidence. The wheelbase is relatively long, six inches longer than the previous generation (pre-2005), and that makes a difference in terms of ride quality. The ride is fairly smooth, even with the available 18-inch wheels. The rear suspension uses coil springs and a lightweight three-link design with a Panhard bar to keep all motion under constant control. In the Mustang convertible, there is slight waver in the windshield frame, but overall rigidity is impressive.

Inside '10 Mustang

Although the cabin of the 2010 Mustang has gotten an update, the overall layout remains the same.   There are more premium materials, including a new soft-touch dashboard surface, and a restyled gauge cluster.  The Mustang is also available with Ford's new navigation system that features Sirius Travel Link technology. The navigation system uses a large 8-inch touch-screen, and Travel Link provides occupants with information - like local gas prices - that's not available on many navigation systems. Standard features include manual air conditioning, a CD stereo with an auxiliary input jack and cruise control.

Conclusions

The Ford Mustang is the ideal representative of All-American homegrown style.  It's got a reputation of one of the most widely recognized, respected, nameplates in the auto industry. Ford Mustang muscle car got a retro look in a 2005 model year redesign. There are many updates and minor adjustments for the 2010 Mustang.  Available in coupe and convertible, the Mustang gets a restyled exterior and interior, a more powerful optional V-8, and new convenience and safety features.  This is a vehicle that is pure fun when driving; it has a high level of performance, all at a great value.  It's quick and fun to drive and offers combination of style, performance, and handling that's hard to beat for the money.  As far as trims go, the V6 Deluxe is a sporty cruiser, the GT and Shelby GT are serious performance cars, and the Shelby GT500 raises it to near Corvette performance levels. Prices for the 2010 will start around 20,000 and go up from there.  The Mustang competes with the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger. The 2011 Mustang is here, for all the latest updates and details, visit Ford's official '11 Mustang page.



Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com.