Seven Signs the Mustang Will Stay True to Its Powerful Legacy
Rolling into 2014, with Ford’s push to make the Mustang more of a global phenomenon, there had been talk that the pony could be losing its street cred as an American muscle car. And while the addition of that four-banger EcoBoost engine certainly gives the lineup more appeal in fuel conscious markets like Europe, here are seven indicators from 2014 that speak to the fact that some of the Mustang’s best performance days are still yet to come.
1. More Power for the 5.0 – It didn’t take long to silence critics last year who said the Mustang was going soft when Ford announced that the 2015 Mustang 5.0-liter V8 would be rated at 435 horsepower and 400 lbs-ft. of torque, an increase of 15 horses and 10 lbs-ft. of torque over the previous model.
2. Roush Approved – If you know anything about the history of Jack Roush, you know his credibility is undisputed when it comes to high performance Mustangs. So, the fact that he’s fully invested in the 2015 model with a new line and talk of even more performance plans for the car is another sign that the Mustang hasn’t lost its power.
3. SEMA Says So – You’ll find some of the toughest critics in the world at SEMA when it comes to performance cars. So winning the approval of this crowd, as the new Mustang did by being selected as the show’s 2014 “Hottest Car,” goes a long way.
4. Gittin Gives It Props – After spending some time with Vaughn Gittin Jr., there’s one thing you quickly learn: For a drifter, he’s awfully straightforward and direct. That said, I can’t imagine he’d put his name behind the new Mustang RTR launched last year if he didn’t believe in the performance attributes of the car.
5. Shelby Nameplate Still Intact – Early rumors that Ford was considering ending its relationship with the iconic Shelby nameplate might have stirred some of the most concern that the car might be losing its punch. Of course, that speculation was laid to rest with the unveiling of the new 500-plus horsepower Shelby GT350, which might be one of the biggest signals sent in 2014 that Ford has no plans on sacrificing its performance legacy for fuel efficiency.
6. One Named Rocket – The idea of Fisker trying to make a comeback in the car world with a new Mustang might not hold a lot of weight with some. But the fact that longtime Ford partner Galpin Auto Sports played a role in the 725-horsepower limited model called “Rocket” is definitely worth taking note.
7. Finalist for Car of the Year – While it might have seemed like a shoe-in, the fact that the 2015 Mustang has earned a spot as a North American Car of the Year finalist was no easy feat, given the stiff competition for the award every year. Don’t think for a second that the jury of 57 auto writers would have voted the car in on its good looks alone if the Mustang didn’t live up to its performance tradition.
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