2008 Ford Mustang GT

Mustang was a marketing success from the get-go. Here was a car so in tune with its times that it grabbed a whole generation by the lapels and shook them up. The clean, cool styling of the first, 1965 models got buyers to nibble. But what really hooked them was the menu. Mustang's long-as-your-arm option sheet allowed people to personalize their rides, depending on tastes and budget. The combination of a hot looking car, a nice price and a have-it-your-way marketing approach made for record-breaking sales. By the time Mustang hit its second anniversary, over one million had rolled off the assembly line and into American driveways.

Design

America has logged a lot of miles on its odometer since then, but the original pony car continues to thrive today for largely the same reasons that the first ones did. The design resonates with young (or young-minded) buyers. And no matter where you are on the thrifty/sporty/luxury continuum, you can spec a 'Stang to fit the bill.


Mustang design for 2008 is substantially the same as it was in 2005—the year the car last underwent a clean sheet redesign. The body shows the influence of classic '67-'68 models. It's tricky business—styling with an eye toward history, without living in the past—but Ford's designers really nailed it. The nouveau retro look is muscular and modern: an old school Mustang vibe with some modern updates.

Features

Mustang is offered in coupe and convertible body styles. Two trim levels—Deluxe and Premium—can be had on either V-6 models, or the V-8 powered GTs. Ford also joins with revered car racer/builder Carroll Shelby to produce a limited run of high performance Shelby GT500 and GT500KR models, and 2008 marks the return of the Mustang Bullit, a 315-hp, enhanced Mustang GT. Our test drive focused on the heart of the Mustang lineup—the GT, in both hardtop and convertible guise.


Side airbags are a new addition to the standard equipment list, and three hues were added to the color charts. Among the newly available features for 2008 are High Intensity Discharge headlights, an interior ambient lighting system and the Warriors in Pink Package that supports Breast Cancer research and features pink interior and paint accents. A California Special package is available on GT Premium models and includes 18-inch wheels, side scoops, unique striping and exhaust tips, a larger air intake, and unique front and rear fascias.