Just In: 2010 Ford Mustang

From our engineer’s shopping experience for our new Ford Mustang: “I got in the car and I started it. The moment I heard the engine, I told the salesman, ‘I’ll take it.’” That’s what we get for sending one of our vintage Mustang-owning staff members to buy the car...

(Well, to be fair, we were going to buy the car anyway; the dealer had exactly what we were looking for. And I can’t really argue--it does sound pretty sweet.)

Our new Mustang GT Premium is well equipped. But to get this out of the way: yes, we’re testing a coupe against the Challenger and Camaro coupes, not a convertible as seen in our pony car preview video. (There were a lot of questions online about the cars seen in the video. Yes, we could only borrow a Mustang convertible for filming.)

Along with “Red Candy” metallic paint, we have a $1,095 set of 19-inch machined wheels, a Comfort Package with heated seats, and the “3.73 rear axle package.” That cryptic name only hints at this package’s contents: it also has a competition mode for the stability control, which I’m sure will get quite a workout. All told, the car came to $34,725.

I drove the car to work this morning, reveling in the pony’s soundtrack, enjoying the eager engine. But I couldn’t help thinking about the headline of the day’s newspaper: already something of an indulgence, V8 sports cars like this likely won’t survive a 35-mpg fleet average. (They could survive as high-end, low-volume toys, but probably at a higher price.)

It all leaves me wondering: what can Ford’s engineers do with the exhaust note of a turbocharged four-cylinder?

--Tom Mutchler

Comments

[Steve Bier]

Tom-

I'm assuming that the road test for these cars won't be for another couple of months. Fair to say late fall/early winter?

Obviously, we already know what three of the cars in this group will be (Camaro, Challenger, Mustang) - will the 370Z and the Genesis Coupe also be tested in this group?

Lastly....are there any plans to test the V6 versions of these cars?

[Marcus]

'It all leaves me wondering: what can Ford’s engineers do with the exhaust note of a turbocharged four-cylinder?'

Not much, after all, the band will miss 4 key members even though the rest will play on electric instruments ...

Joking aside, since I am coming from Europe and most 'sport cars' here have some sort of low displacement turbocharged engine, I can already tell you it will be the end of V8 sport cars as we know and love them today.

[Tom Mutchler]

Steve, it will be a few months before we test these cars, but they'll be published this (magazine) year. We just bought a V6 Genesis coupe and we have a 370Z. Along with a Camaro, that will likely round out the group.

[Vic]

I'd like to see a 4 liter V8 Eco-boost.

[david]

Tom, why not throw in the Porsche Cayman S? I know different price ranges, but CR should be able to get a new one (MY08) for $49k - MSRP $68k. However, the MY09 has a new engine and PDK transmission. I'll be happy to help CR find one. :-)

[coolcar]

Just wondering: will CR be testing out the BMW M3, Audi S4, Cadillac CTS-V, and such, again, like in your sep. 2004 issue? Possibly the new Lexus IS-F and Mercedes C63 AMG?

[Jeff Bartlett - Consumer Reports]

We do have a cool sporty car collection undergoing testing right now, but we won't be going to the extremes of limited-production, high-performance models any time soon.

[coolcar]

How far is CR in testing the three domestic muscle cars? I would like to see how they stack up against each other.

[Jeff Bartlett - Consumer Reports]

Muscle car testing is well underway. For a preview, see this blog and video:
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/05/preview-muscle-car-showdown.html