For ten long years, the last Mustang carried the pony car torch for Ford. By 2005, the long-in-the-tooth car was finally relieved of duty by the new, fifth generation car—a vast improvement. However, they didn’t throw out the Mustang’s long history and legendary image—in fact, the new car’s profile and proportions are closer than ever to the original idea of the Mustang, particularly visible in the grille with inset driving lights. Sit in the cockpit and the gauge cluster, with large twin pods for the tachometer and speedometer, recall the best parts of Mustangs of the past while being thoroughly modern. The same goes for the drivetrain; while still utilizing a live rear axle, an advanced Panhard rod setup with three trailing links keep the axle located and well-behaved, such that it would be hard to tell from behind the wheel that it’s not independently sprung out back. The same goes for the engine—there’s nothing revolutionary about the 4.6-liter “Modular” V8 with new, big-valve heads, but its prodigious power figures (300 horsepower and 315 ft-lbs. of torque) make it clear that the Mustang GT can perform. It’s the perfect update to a classic icon of American performance, and it’s also a blast to drive.
