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Overview

In the 2010 Ford Mustang, everything is new but the roof. And it's all good, all improved over the superb 2004-2009 version of America's pony car.

We found the 2010 Mustangs quieter and more refined than the previous models. More important, the 2010 Mustang GT is an absolute blast to drive, quick off the mark with a brawny sound. The clutch pedal is light and easy to use in heavy traffic and the manual sifts smoothly. The handling is crisp, the suspension feels tight, and the brakes work better in this latest generation.

Exterior
The 2010 Mustang is more of a refresh than it is a new Mustang, and while the 2010 Ford Mustang GT and the 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT 500 both clearly reflect those changes, the GT 500 adds an aspect of functionality to the aggressive new look.  The most obvious difference between these two Mustangs is the front fascia.  The 2010 Mustang GT has a front end design similar to the previous generation, with two massive driving lights mounted in the flat black grille, flanking the running pony that was also redesigned for 2010.  Along the bottom of the 2010 Mustang Shelby GT 500's front fascia, there is a large cooling opening also finished in flat black, and that trim wraps around to the wheel openings.  The 2010 Mustang Shelby GT 500 puts function before form, making sure that the 540 horsepower engine is kept as cool as possible. 

The Mustang Shelby GT 500's driving lights have been moved to the lower fascia area directly below the headlights, and in their absence the upper grille area features a shape that helps to funnel cool air into the engine bay.  The only obstruction on the grille of the Ford Mustang GT500 is the silver Cobra badge, as the Shelby model doesn't feature the running pony.  The lower fascia area also has a design to help funnel air through the Mustang GT 500's large front mounted intercooler, and the unique GT 500 hood contains large vents to help channel the hot air out of the engine bay.  Along with channeling the air, the upper grille design offers better aerodynamics than the 2010 Mustang GT, as the Ford Shelby GT 500 grille comes to the top of the front fascia and the hood meets the back of the fascia, where the Mustang GT hood hangs out over the sunken-in grille and driving lights.

The 2010 Ford Mustang debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2008 showing off a new, sleek exterior, and Ford unveiled the 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 at the Detroit Auto Show a few months later.  The 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 received similar changes in styling as the Mustang GT, but Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) took the refresh a step further but inside and out.  The 2010 Mustang GT is expected to have an MSRP around $33,000 and the Shelby GT500 will likely cost around $45,000, so what differences account for that price gap?





Drivetrain
The Mustang faithful hoped for a big jump in power from the 2010 Mustang GT to accompany the aggressive new look, but with only 315 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque the 4.6L V8 received only a minor improvement.  The 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, like the previous GT500 models, boasts of being the most powerful production Mustang ever made.  That claim is backed up by the 540 horsepower supercharged 5.4L V8, using tuning improvements from the 2008 Ford Mustang GT500 King of the Road.  The 2010 Mustang GT offers a five-speed manual or automatic transmission, while the Mustang Shelby GT500 returns an improved 6-speed manual transmission.  Although there are optional differential choices, a 3.31 rear-end is standard in the Mustang GT.  The 2007 Mustang GT500 offered the same 3.31 ratio, but thanks to the improved transmission, the 2010 Mustang GT500 now has a 3.55 gear, giving the car better low end acceleration without hurting fuel economy.

After comparing the 2010 Mustang GT against the 2010 Dodge Challenger, people may stop thinking of Dodge as: "Oh yeah, the car Al Bundy drives!" "Married with Children" stopped making new episodes years ago, yet the reaction that all too many people have toward Dodge is a negative one . This is regrettable because Dodge has turned out a few sweet vehicles since that sitcom stopped being made; the impressive new 2010 Dodge Challenger for example.

The Return of the1992 Mustang Mach III
1994 brought the world the introduction of the SN95 Mustang chassis, but to hype up the release a few years in advance, Ford Motor Company designed and produced two 1992 Mustang Mach III's.  

The Original Mustang Mach III
The two, two-seat roadsters were built in bright red and metallic green, both with black trim, chrome five-star split spoke rims and plush black and body colored interior.  The 1992 Mustang Mach III was powered by a supercharged 4.6L 4V modular motor, making 450 horsepower and 440 lb-ft of torque.  This drivetrain helped the Mustang Mach III dash from 0-60 in 4.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 180 miles per hour.  However, with the early design stages of the 13th generation Thunderbird (which was a 2-seat car), Ford never produced more of the Mustang Mach III.  Later, while spending some time touring various Auto Shows, the red Mustang Mach III was involved in a transportation accident, in which the car was a complete fire loss.  The green Mach III still exists, and was sold at Christies Charity Auction in 2002 for $491,500.