What do you give the iconic Ford Mustang for its 50th birthday redesign? Lots and lots of presents.
Ford provided its quinquagenarian pony car with the equivalent of a heart transplant and a hip replacement. It added a turbocharged four-cylinder engine to the lineup and replaced its creaky solid-axle rear suspension with an independent multilink design. What does that mean? Strong power with decent fuel efficiency, and a chassis that's more planted than skittish.
But Ford's largesse didn't stop there. A rakish new silhouette provides a sleeker, sportier appearance that's modern yet true to the Mustang's Americana roots. Interior quality and ambience are improved immensely.
Coupe and convertible versions are available. We tested two coupes -- a GT V8 with a six-speed manual, and a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic. The turbo is a stylish, mildly sporty boulevardier; the GT is a tire-smoking brute that will summon your inner teenager.
With a snappy 0-60 mph acceleration time of 6.4 seconds, the turbo version lives up to the image of its sheet metal. Power comes on quickly, but the engine sound is raspy and gritty. Fuel economy of 25 mpg overall is more akin to a midsized sedan than a performance car. As for handling, the turbo Mustang has an appropriately sporty demeanor while leaving your molars intact on bumpier roads.
With its throaty 5.0-liter V8, the GT is more of a high-strung thoroughbred than an easy-going mare. Pumping out 435 hp, our GT roared from 0-60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, just a half-second slower than a Chevrolet Corvette or Porsche 911. The six-speed manual has smooth, low-effort action, and the clutch is light enough to avoid left-leg fatigue in traffic. That's a rare feat in a car with this much torque.
With the optional Performance package, we got stiffer springs, Brembo brakes, and a Torsen limited-slip axle. So equipped, the GT felt ready to race. But be aware that the Pirelli P Zero tires take forever to heat up for optimum grip, so we recommend getting performance all-season tires for real-world driving.
All Mustangs have improved interiors, with soft-touch materials offsetting some hard plastic surfaces here and there. A row of toggle switches in the center stack lends a cool, retro-racer flair. But the cumbersome MyFord Touch infotainment system won't be replaced by Sync 3 until the 2016 model year.
Unlike many sporty cars and coupes, the Mustang can serve as a daily driver without severely compromising visibility, ease of access, or drivability. The front seats are superbly supportive, but they lack a power recline feature. As for the rear seats, there's room for groceries but little else. It is, after all, a coupe.
A standard rear camera is helpful, as is the optional easy-to-use Sync 3 touch screen infotainment system. We'd also select the optional blind-spot monitoring.
So how does the Mustang look as it turns 50? Better than most of us.