2010 Mustang Bows

Ford has given its baby a few nips and tucks in the hopes that it can both fend off new competition and remain relevant in today's market. It's not a complete do-over, the Mustang rarely gets on of those, but the refresh addresses a lot of the complaints folks have had with the current model.

The interior is supposed to be the pièce de résistance of the 2010 with its one-piece instrument panel design is crafted in seamless soft-touch TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) skin fully encompassing available genuine aluminum-finish panels. “Gaps between parts – the chrome ringed air registers, for example, are accurate to within fractions of millimeters,” said a Ford representative. “This attention to detail is the bedrock of the new interior and what sets Mustang miles apart from the competition. Our goal was a product goes above and beyond perceived quality to offer premium experience. We were absolute maniacs about the selection of materials and executing every detail.” How about the fact that traction control and trunk release buttons have graphics that were designed to show an actual 2010 Mustang? More over the top would be the instrument panel's welcome sequence, greeting the driver with a sweep of the cluster needles, as well as staged halo and cluster lighting.

Other cool features, in no particular order, include a rear tail lamp design which has three LED bulbs firing sequentially from the inside for turn indication, an available rear backup camera (although it appears that you have to get the cheese ball rear spoiler to get the cam) and HID headlamps. Of course, the ubiquitous SYNC system is available

Overall, I'd say that Ford has nicely updated a classic design. The car's body has been cleaned up nicely and I'm really looking forward to seeing it at the LA show.