More 2010 Ford Mustang Review goodness

Ford is handing out test drives with aplomb, and this time it's Autoblog that has the goods. Another reviewer, more positive comments, as the folks at Autoblog are very impressed with the new pony car. And we are too. Call us jealous as they were able to test one in our personal favorite color, grabber blue. When Ford decides to offer the new Mustang with a Boss 302 package, we'll certainly be waiting in line for one...

Video: 2010 Ford Mustang gets busy

Introducing the 2010 Ford Mustang
From all accounts, the new 2010 Ford Mustang is a marked improvement over it's predecessor in every way. We had to wait an agonizingly long time to see the car in it's entirety, and now we have to wait to drive or purchase one.

But in the meantime we can take solace watching some Ford drivers take the pony car through it's paces for the cameras. What you will witness here is 44 seconds of an intoxicating exhaust note along with a nice donut and smoky burnout. Is there any other way to drive one?

Okay, so it's obviously CGI. And it's the same video you see when you go to the official 2010 Mustang site. But hey, it's all we got right now.

In depth with the 2010 Ford Mustang

The new 2010 Ford Mustang is out in the open for all to see, and so far everything looks really good. The exterior looks more menacing and more modern than the outgoing model, and the interior is much revised with better materials. Autoblog was able to get the Mustang's head exterior and interior designers, as well as the pony car's head engineer to give them some detailed info about the car in this nice little video. And being as the Mustang in the video is my personal new favorite color, grabber blue, they receive many bonus kudos.

And it's official...the 2010 Ford Mustang

When the 2005 Mustang arrived, it reinvigorated the pony car. After 25 years of being built on the fox platform, the Mustang had an all new platform and some nifty retro styling. Known as the S197, this Mustang appeared at a time when it was in fact the only surviving member of the muscle car class. The Camaro and Firebird had been cancelled two years earlier and Chrysler had been out of the rear-wheel-drive sport coupe market since the 1970s. The Mustang's enormous success inspired Chevrolet and Dodge to create their own retro-styled muscle cars in the form of the new Camaro and Challenger. Fortunately for Mustang fans, Ford has not been sitting idle, and even while it was creating all those special edition Mustangs over the past few years, it was also working on thoroughly revamping its core pony. For the 2010 Mustang, Ford has taken the best parts of the S197 and fixed most of what was broken.

The 2010 'Stang is at once the same and different. Like the 2005-09 model, it's immediately recognizable as Ford famous pony car. If anything, it looks even more like a late '60s Mustang thanks to some additional curvature in its lines, especially along the belt-line. At the same time, it also looks more contemporary. The designers have improved the aerodynamics and reworked many of the design details. What may be even more important for drivers of the Mustang is an all-new interior that finally dispenses with cheap, hard plastics and looks like it was designed in this century, but more on that in a bit.

Starting at the front, the basic theme of the current 'Stang is retained with the forward-canted grille and inset headlamps. The turn signals have been moved into the pocket with the headlamps, which themselves appear smaller than before. The whole hood has been re-contoured with a "power-dome" in the center, which should provide plenty of clearance for performance hardware when tuners and owners begin modding their cars. Out toward the edges, the fender and hood are slightly concave leaving a ridge that runs back to the A-pillar. The whole leading edge of the hood now curves down smoothly to ease the airflow around the nose and over the top of the car. The old school antenna mast has finally been banished from the front fender and the windshield washer nozzles now sit under the trailing edge of the hood instead of on top.

At the outer ends of the lower front fascia are black plastic air deflectors to further enhance the airflow, directing it around the sides instead of underneath the car. All of this contributes to drag reductions of seven percent on the V8-powered GT model and four percent on the base V6. Better management of the air-flow around the front of the car also reduces lift by 23 percent.

Around the sides, the transition from the fenders to the wheel arches has been smoothed out, which eliminates the crease on the current cars. The longitudinal crease that starts at the trailing edge of the front wheels has been sharpened and now has a slight under-cut that makes it more prominent, while the "hockey stick" side scoop contour has been subtly re-shaped. The lower edge of each side window has been moved down and now intersects with the newly curved contour of the rear fender at the trailing edge of the door.

Exterior designer George Saridakis describes the rear haunches and other changes as giving the Mustang a more voluptuous look. At the very back, the outer ends of the rear fascia are now angled forward, which helps to reduce the visual impression of the rear overhang. Also contributing to that revised impression is a rear bumper with a reduced offset.

Around the back of the car, Ford designers have taken advantage of the illusion that results from using contrasting colors. The lower part of the rear fascia is now a contrasting black with a molded-in diffuser. The darker color reduces the visual height of the rear deck. The tail-lamps, which still feature the traditional three bar look, have been re-shaped and now feature sequential turn signals. When the turn signals are on, the three lamps light in sequence from the innermost to the outer. The rear badge has also been reshaped and the keyhole has been removed as the Mustang finally gets an interior trunk release.

When the 2005 Mustang debuted, one of the biggest and most justified criticisms was its interior, specifically the cheap materials and hard plastics. Those criticisms are completely banished in the 2010 Mustang. All the plastic surfaces on the dash are now soft to the touch and pleasant to look at. Even the trim across the dashboard is aluminum rather than metallic-finished plastic. The same goes for the spokes on the steering wheel. The dual-brow look across the top of the dashboard that dates back to the early Mustangs is now also reflected across the lower edge.

The center console of the current model has elements at a variety of heights and many drivers complain about hitting their knees on the parking brake lever when bracing themselves during cornering. The brake lever on the '10 Mustang has been shortened and moved back, well clear of driver's right knees. The arm rest is now flush mounted and there is a retractable cover over the cup holders. The entire surface of the center stack and console now mirrors the arm-rests on the door panels with everything at the same height and matching contours.

The designers have also taken elements that previously stuck up above the dash surface like the A/C registers and gauges and made them flush or even set them below the surface. The sub-flush gauge mounting reduces the impression of looking down a tunnel at the instruments. The back-lit gauges also now have a translucent arc where the numbers are. The numbers normally appear in black against a white background unless you go for the MyColor option. In that case, the background will appear in whatever color the driver chooses. MyColor also brings a back-lit "Mustang" kick plate that is kind of gimmicky but looks cool when you open the door.

The designers have also added a couple of nice detail touches. The standard icon that normally appears on traction control disable switches has been reworked to look like a Mustang including the tri-bar taillights. The basic shape of the steering wheel is carried over but the spokes have been chamfered allowing for a more comfortable grip. The overall impression of the Mustang's new interior is that Ford has improved its execution in making the cockpit both look more appealing and feel better to the touch.

When Ford redesigned the Escape CUV for 2008, the body and interior were also completely redone but the mechanical components were largely carried over. Similarly, the drivetrains and suspension components of the 2010 Mustang are mostly carried over, although some improvements have been made on the V8 GT model. According to chief engineer Paul Randle, the current Bullitt has been considered the best Mustang ever in many respects thanks to its wonderful balance of handling and power, so it was chosen as the baseline for the new GT.

The 2010 GT retains its 4.6L three-valve V8, which has now been bumped up to 315 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The air intake has been reworked so that fresh air is drawn from behind the grille rather than from the wheel well. The duct from the air filter box to the throttle body has been straightened and smoothed out to reduce flow restriction. The whole car has also been stiffened and new sound insulation has been added for a quieter driving experience.

Since Mustang drivers still like to hear the roar of a big V8, the engineers have compensated. A small tube coming off the side of the duct runs to the passenger compartment giving occupants some of that V8 induction sound directly. GT models with the new 19-inch wheel-and-tire package also get an aluminum strut tower brace to stiffen the car's structure further. The base 4.0L V6 remains unchanged for 2010, although 2011 or soon after will probably see the Mustang follow the Escape's path with more significant powertrain upgrades. That's when we're likely to see Ford's smaller displacement, turbocharged, direct-inject EcoBoost engines added to the pony.

The Mustang's suspension architecture has also been carried over from the S197, meaning struts with lower control arms up front and a live axle trailing links and a panhard rod out back. The engineers have re-tuned the springs and added new dampers that should improve wheel control and ride. New wheel-and-tire packages are now available across the board with a one-inch increase in diameter. The V6 Mustangs now have 17-inch wheels standard with optional 18-inchers, while the GT has 18-inch or 19-inch packages.

One feature that is new to the 2010 Mustangs is electronic stability control which will be standard on all models. The ESC always defaults to on when you start the car. On the V6 Mustangs the driver will have the option to turn the system off. On the GT, the system can be turned off, or switched to a performance mode that allows more slip before intervening to limit the fun.

One important thing that hasn't changed much is weight. The 2010 V6 Mustang only picks up 15 lbs compared to the 2009 model, while the GT climbs just 35 lbs. That means Mustangs still have an advantage of about 400-500 lbs over the new Camaro and even more compared to the larger Challenger.

We'll be allowed behind the wheel of the new 2010 Ford Mustang in mid-December, at which time we'll let you know how it behaves compared to its predecessor. From what we've seen already, the new interior is far beyond both its new competitors and its predecessor in the areas of design, ergonomics and materials. Assuming Ford doesn't significantly increase the price, the Mustang should continue to offer the affordable performance it always has with a new measure of refinement.

Ford to unveil 2010 Mustang live on Speed TV

Image by Ford Motor Company via FlickrIf you are unable to make it to the Los Angeles Auto Show to see the official unveiling, have no fear! The Blue Oval and SPEED TV have teamed up to provide live coverage of the 2010 Mustang's unveiling next week. The cameras will be rolling next Tuesday at 11:00 p.m. EST, so either put it on your schedule or set your DVR. Regardless, we'll be bringing you all the pics of the new 'stang along with any other noteworthy items from the show next week.

Tenth and final weekly teaser pic of the 2010 Mustang

What a long, strange trip it's been. For way too many weeks now, we've been tortured with little snippets of the new 2010 Mustang. Now we've reached the grand finale with the tenth and final picture revealing the rear quarter view of the car.

We really like what we see, especially the rear spoiler which now has a ducktail design instead of being raised from the rear decklid. The taillights maintain their classic three-pillar design, although they now have a more tailored look that flows along the line of the rear bumper.

According to Ford, there will also be an option for a rear-view camera, although we don't know exactly where the camera will be placed. We'll bring you all the details and plenty of photos next week from the LA Auto Show, when we will finally get a complete unveiling of the car.

2010 Ford Mustang Teaser pic of the week

Finally, Ford has zoomed out a little bit on it's camera lens to give us a pretty revealing look at the interior of it's soon to be revealed 2010 Mustang.

The Dearborn-based automaker appears to be modernizing its retro duds with the latest edition. There's plenty of metal-look silver plastic and black leather giving everything a suitably sporty appearance.

The center stack looks to have some sort of LCD panel at the top with its controls grouped in a nice tight pattern below. We dig the pleated seats and triangular inner door panels along with the contrasting white stitching, as well.

After this latest shot, we'd guess that the Blue Oval team will switch back to the exterior now that there isn't much left to see on the inside. There's just two more agonizing teaser shots left before the 2010 'Stang's official unveiling at the LA Auto Show in a little over 13 days, and we're looking forward to seeing it all in person and up close.

2010 Mustang teaser pic of the week - the center console

And the agonizingly slow trickle of detailed pictures continues. This weeks teaser picture of the 2010 Mustang reveals the lower part of the center console and full view of the gear shift. The short shifter with the metal ball grip can be seen rising from its leather boot in a chrome-trimmed rectangular recess, while buttons for the trunk release, traction control and hazard lights are embedded close by. We also see the HVAC controls are situated at the bottom of the center stack below the stereo controls. There are only three more locked slots left to reveal on Ford's mini-site for the 2010 Mustang before the car itself is revealed in full at the LA Auto Show next month.

Fresh spy shots: 2010 Mustang

Spy shots of the new Mustang are easy to come by nowadays, as Ford has seemingly been tooling around Detroit in them without a care in the world. This time we bring you shots of the '10 GT model, taken in the parking lot of a shopping mall.

The pictures show off most of the goods, including the new front end inspired by the Giuigiaro Mustang Concept that debuted in 2006 at the LA Auto Show.

The 2010 model has a tougher job on it's hands than the '05 model. This time it's a refresh instead of a major design change. Not to mention that the Mustang faces some stiff competition in the form the the Challenger and Camaro.

And no, the cow-like paint scheme will not be a factory option.

2010 Mustang dash revealed

The Paris Auto Show has come and gone, and we're still looking at sneaky pictures of various pieces of the 2010 Mustang. Ford continues to toy with us by revealing the dash of the car in it's entirety this week.

The poorly lit, extreme closeup picture at least reveals the entire dash, unlike a previous photo that showed an angled shot, with a partial look at it.

While GM has just given up on trying to camouflage the new Camaro, Ford presses on and has plans to drop six more weeks of pictures to tease and annoy us.

The new Mustang will be officially unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show on November 19th.

Teaser pics of the 2010 Mustang's front fender and mirror

The painfully slow reveal of the 2010 Mustang continues this week with the unveiling of the front fender and mirror. The photo reveals a more curvaceous hood line that dips down to the headlight more so than the current design.

Another difference is the fender, which flows from the hood to the wheel well in one smooth line rather than the current one that has a more pronounced and angular flare.

We also get a look at the rear view mirror, the top half being painted instead of the previous textured black look.

While Ford continues to play with our emotions, we still have seven more weeks of teaser pictures before the official unveil of the car.

2010 Mustang Dash

This week's exciting revealing picture of the upcoming 2010 Mustang is....the dash.

But in all seriousness, it is indeed a nice looking piece. It appears that the quality of the parts involved is much improved over the previous 'stang.

I must say that the previous generation had a nice looking dash for pictures, but it felt pretty cheap to me. Hopefully all of this has been fixed with the new dash.

The materials involved have a high quality look to them, and are accented by a three spoke steering wheel featuring the new Mustang logo in the center.

The circular air vents at each end and gauge cluster are adorned with chrome bezels, and the seats appear to be finished with some stitching work, as does the steering wheel. A square vent appears above the center stack.

Stay tuned for next weeks revealing photos leading up to the 2010 Mustang's official unveiling.

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2010 Mustang Interior Pictures

Here's the clearest view yet of the 2010 Mustang's interior, courtesy of the folks at KGP Photography. What you see here is an extensively reworked cabin with many all new components combined with some existing pieces.

The center stack distinctly shows tightly packed multimedia and climate-control units surrounded by what appears to be aluminum trimming. Two new rectangular center vents sit directly above the center console. On either side of the center stack are revised oval air vents as well.

Positioned in front of the driver are updated white-faced gauges complete with classic elongated musclecar font. Set in front of the tachometer and speedometer is a beefier three-spoke steering wheel featuring rearranged multimedia functions. The cruise control is now on the left side while the controls for the Sync entertainment system are on the right.

All in all, it appears that the interior of the new 'stang will be more refined and upscale than previous models. Perhaps a twist on Ford's move to more European models?

More photos of 2010 Mustang show up on web

More pictures of the ever elusive 2010 Mustang have been posted on the web, courtesy of the folks at Mustang Forums.

The pictures reveal a mule in some pretty ugly camo gear, much like what we saw at Road of America. Ford is working to build excitement in the new model by releasing only little tidbits of information about the car until it debuts later in the year.

The biggest detail by far is the new placement of the turn signals. Ford has moved them up next to the headlights in the grill and given them a very retro look. We can see enough of the grill through the camo to say that it should be reminiscent of Mustangs of yore.

There appear to be some new scoops in the bumper on either side of the radiator opening. In current Mustangs they hold foglights, but since the new car already has fog lights up by the headlights, it is speculated that they could be openings for brake ducts.

The bulge in the hood is clearly visible in the pics, giving validity to the previously posted pictures of the new alleged hood.

Check out AmericanMuscle.com's selection of 2009 Mustang Parts