 2013 Ford Mustang. Click image to enlarge |
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Review and photos by Paul Williams
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2013 Ford Mustang
Portland, Oregon – The 2013 Ford Mustang goes on sale later this spring, with the new model featuring a more aggressive exterior design and updated technology. It’s an evolution of the current Mustang, continuing the “retro” theme introduced in 2005. Prices rise slightly, to $23,999 for the base V6 Coupe, and $39,299 for the base GT Coupe.
The most obvious visual differences are the more prominent grille for both V6 and GT cars, with functional heat extractors for the GT. Body colour rocker panels, gloss black rear panel and smoked appearance tail lights further distinguish the 2013 models.
Also new are standard high-intensity discharge headlamps with light emitting diode (LED) bars on both V6 and GT models, and LED bars in the rear lights (which retain their signature sequential operation).
Along with a choice of new wheels — still standard 17 inch for V6; 18 inch for GT — new optional heated mirrors with a Pony projection light are available. This light projects a Mustang image on the ground when the unlock button is activated.
  2013 Ford Mustang. Click image to enlarge |
Inside, cloth or leather trimmed Recaro seats, currently available on the Shelby GT 500, are now optional for both V6 and GT Mustangs. The seats feature integrated head restraints with room for helmets with openings in the seatback for owners creating performance set-ups when driving the cars on a track.
Under the hood, the 3.7-litre V6 engine retains its 305-horsepower output, but the 5.0-litre V8 sees a boost to 420 hp. A “SelectShift” six-speed automatic transmission is now available, which, in manual “manual mode” won’t override the driver by shifting into a higher gear at a pre-determined engine speed, holding the selected gear to redline if required. It’s fully driver-controllable, in other words, but is not as quick as a good paddle shifter.
A GT Brembo Brake Racing Package is new for 2013 models with manual transmission as is a 3.73 rear axle. It features an engine cooler, upgraded radiator, performance brake pads, and the Boss 302 Torsen differential, along with all the components of the Brembo Brake Package (14-inch vented front rotors, unique 19-inch wheels and performance tires) that’s available for both manual and automatic GT Mustangs.
The 2013 Mustang V6 Performance Package is now available for cars with automatic transmission, and for all manual transmission cars, Hill Start Assist debuts. This technology holds the car for two seconds on an incline, preventing it from rolling back when the brake is released.
Located in the instrument cluster between the speedometer and tachometer, a new available 4.2-inch LCD productivity screen enables the driver to access information on vehicle functions like oil temperature, air/fuel ratio and cylinder head temperature. Additionally, TrackApps measures g-forces and acceleration times, and displays braking performance.
