ENTHUSIASTS CAN ADD NEW FACTORY TRACK PACK FOR 2010 MUSTANG, INSTALL FORD RACING PARTS

DEARBORN, Mich., June 10, 2009 – The 2010 Ford Mustang, now in dealer showrooms, builds on a proud, unbroken 45-year heritage of Fast, Fun and Affordable with an all-new exterior design, available cutting-edge technology and performance enhancements pioneered on Ford’s extensive racing and special programs.

One hallmark of Mustang’s enduring popularity is the opportunity to customize this American icon. Enthusiasts who have personalized and customized Mustangs range from legends, such as Carroll Shelby, to professional drivers to hobbyists who enjoy a weekend at the track.

For those customers interested in more-aggressive performance, an optional factory-installed Track Pack is available this summer for 2010 Ford Mustang GT coupes with manual transmission. Ford Racing’s FR3 Handling Package also is available for those enthusiasts who want even more aggressive suspension tuning and can be installed in their garage or at a Ford dealer. Car and Driver magazine recently declared a 2010 Mustang equipped with a Track Pack the winner in a comparison test against the new Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger, calling the body control of the Mustang with the Track Pack “astounding.”

For decades, the Mustang has been the preeminent car in many forms of racing compiling victories and championships on road courses all over the world. In just the last few years Ford Racing’s Mustang FR500C captured the European GT4 drivers championship (2007, 2008) and the Grand-AM KONI Challenge championship (2005, 2008).

“At Ford, we always apply what we learn at the track to the street,” said Fritz Wilke, Mustang Performance/Enthusiast Manager. “The Track Pack and Ford Racing FR3 Handling Pack continue that heritage and give our performance customers great ways to have an even sportier experience in the 2010 Mustang GT coupe.”

Packaged aimed at performance enthusiasts
Both the 2010 V-6 and GT models feature improved handling, but Team Mustang wanted to create a distinctive option package aimed at performance enthusiasts. Starting with the 2010 GT manual coupe, the engineering team was able to create a package that hits the sweet spot.

The first ingredient was to add a high-performance summer tire, and the 19-inch Pirelli P Zero P255/40ZR-19 proved to be an inspired choice for improved grip. Ford’s engineering team then went to work on the underpinnings of the 2010 Mustang GT coupe, using Ford’s proven technology from the Shelby GT500 program.

The front and rear stabilizer bars from the 2009 Shelby GT500 complement the Pirelli tires and help balance the Track Pack 2010 Mustang GT coupe front to rear. The struts and shocks were retuned for the increased capability of the new tire and stabilizer bar changes. The engineering team also spent significant time at the track to ensure the Track Pack was rewarding on the track and offered a balance of spirited driving and track prowess.

The roll gradient (how much the car rolls while steering) was reduced nearly 13 percent compared with the base 2010 Mustang GT. Damping was increased by 23 percent in the front and 8 percent in the rear in the low- to mid-speed compared to the 2010 Mustang GT.

“By reducing the roll gradient, the car stays flatter in turns,” said Tom Barnes, Vehicle Engineering Manager, 2010 Mustang. “And when the car is flatter, the driver is more in command and more confident in what the car’s doing.

“Great handling comes from great control. A driver’s control of the vehicle is facilitated by information. This Track Pack communicates to the driver through the tires and suspension so well that is it easy to drive very quickly. It rewards smooth driving, while offering great capacity to cover driver error.”

Looking at all areas for improvement
In addition to the hardware changes and extensive tuning, the Ford team also took a more holistic approach to improving the Track Pack Mustang.

“Handling is not just chassis,” Barnes said. “Vehicle dynamics – how the Mustang responds under acceleration and braking – is important as well.”

The solution from the powertrain part of the equation was to use a 3.73 limited-slip axle with carbon-fiber clutch plates.

“The 3.73 axle allows for a more-responsive Mustang, especially at mid-range speeds,” Barnes said. “The carbon-fiber plates allow a very robust architecture in terms of temperature and repeated hard driving on the track.”

Performance® Friction brake pads, which better resist brake fade, are used front and rear. Both the anti-lock braking system (ABS) and AdvanceTrac were retuned to complement the advanced capabilities of the new tires and brakes. AdvanceTrac is standard on the 2010 GT coupe and can be operated in any of three modes: On, Off or Sport.

“The Track Pack covers all the bases,” Barnes said. “The new tires give the Mustang more grip, we have a more-responsive acceleration, better brake linings that are more consistent over time and the car is tied down better because of the changes to the bars and the shock tuning.”

“Track Pack has the grip, the handling and it has the ‘go.’ And it absolutely can be used as a daily driver. Track Pack offers the best of both worlds – great performance on the track or if you’re cruising down the road.”

Ford Racing’s FR3 Handling Pack features components proven out on the racetrack. Included in the pack are dampers, lowering springs, sway bars and a strut tower brace.

“The FR3 Handling Pack is derived from our extensive experience with the Ford Mustang FR500C competing in the Grand-Am KONI Challenge and FIA GT4,” said Andy Slankard, Engineering Supervisor, Ford Racing.

Enhancements from the FR3 Handling Pack include:

* Ride height lowered by more than 1 inch
* Increased spring rate by about 75 pounds to improve turn in and mid-corner performance
* Front and rear sway bars stiffened to eliminate roll
* Re-tuned dampers, increasing the compression and rebound

The Track Pack retails for $1,495 while the FR3 Handling Pack retails for $1,335.

[Source: Ford]

Will man allerdings einen V8, so muss man bei Ford mit mindestens 27.995 Dollar rechnen. Der Camaro erlaubt sich stolze 30.545 Dollar und der Challenger R/T schlägt mit 30.545 Dollar zu buche. Mehr Infos gibt’s im OrderGuide von Ford, hier als PDF zum Download.
[Source: Ford/autoblog]

Press Release:

2010 FORD MUSTANG REALLY OFFERS ‘STEED FOR EVERY NEED,’ AGE, THANKS TO NEW HOT WHEELS MODEL

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 26, 2008 – The dynamic new 2010 Ford Mustang is sure to delight car customers of all ages – including children ages 3 and up.

On the heels of last week’s debut of Ford’s newest Mustang, Mattel is making plans to launch the Hot Wheels® version of America’s iconic muscle car.

“Cars like the Mustang are a natural for Hot Wheels,” said Alec Tam, director of Design, Hot Wheels. “We choose cars based on their ability to meet our brand values, which are speed, power, performance and attitude. Mustang hits all four of those points.”

The 2010 Hot Wheels Mustang is 1/64 the size of the original. It weighs less than a pound and is just short of three inches long, compared to the full-size car, which tips the scale at approximately 3,500 pounds and measures more than 15 feet in length.

Aside from those obvious differences, the two products and how they are made share similarities.

For example, the same digital data Ford designers create for the actual car is used by Mattel’s Hot Wheels designers to model the toy version.

“We share Ford’s CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data, but we reinterpret it into a format that works for us because there is a lot of extraneous information that we don’t necessarily need for a 1/64 model — like a headlight lens or a door handle or a trim piece,” explained Tam, whose background is in car design.

Once the data is translated, Tam says modifications are done to make sure the car meets a variety of safety requirements.

“Safety is our first goal. So a corner that looks sharp on a full-size car will not be sharp on a 1/64 car,” he explained. “You’ll also notice that our cars don’t have side mirrors. That’s because if a child steps on the toy in the middle of the night, there is a potential for injury.”

One of the things that Tam says might surprise most people is how much behind-the-scenes work goes into making sure the car works properly on the Hot Wheels race track.

“The real full-size vehicle wasn’t designed to work on our tiny little orange track. I don’t think Ford planned for the car to go through a loop,” he chuckled. “We have to adjust certain things on the car so that it will perform well on the track.”

A bit of fine tuning also has to be done on the wheels.

“Our wheels are much bigger than those on the actual car,” Tam said. “If you blow up the 1/64 car to full size, the wheels are probably 25- or 28-inches versus the stock car, which has 17- or 18-inch wheels on it.”

One of the biggest challenges designers faced, says Tam, was deciding which features on the full-size car to emphasize or de-emphasize on the 1/64 model, because those types of details will ultimately help customers distinguish the 2010 Hot Wheels Mustang from its 2005 Hot Wheels Mustang predecessor.

“It’s our job to make sure that we highlight as much of the original car’s flavor that we can,” he explained. “Otherwise, if you’re a 5-year-old and you’re standing five feet away from the store shelf, you won’t be able to tell the difference.”

Tam says seeing Ford’s 2010 Mustang at a special sneak preview in Dearborn helped him hone in on some of the vehicle’s most distinctive features.

“After seeing the car in person, we accentuated the haunches, made the nose of the car a lot flatter and adjusted the front end to sit lower,” he said. “We have to ‘grow’ some of those details on the 1/64 car so that you can actually see them. So if you took the Hot Wheels car and blew it up to actual size, it might look a bit cartoonish compared to the real thing.”

Once all the necessary modifications are made, the car is digitally shrunk down to 1/64 size and put through a rapid prototyping machine that spits out a basic gray resin model, similar to the silver models generated in the Ford Design Studio.

“The reason we do our models in gray is the same reason Ford designers do their models in silver,” said Tam. “It’s just dark enough that you can see the forms, but it’s light enough that you can photograph the car.”

With a physical model in hand, Tam says he and his team can see things that are difficult to spot on a computer screen.

“At the end of the day, the (computer) tube can lie to you,” he said. “What we see on screen is obviously much bigger than in reality, and we understand that our reality is a 1/64 scale car, which isn’t more than 3 inches long.”

The next step is the tooling process.

“That’s when our engineers create the actual parts of the car, like the windshield, the interior and the chassis, using the surface data that we provided with the original prototype,” explained Tam.
Once tooling is complete, designers decide on the decorations and graphics that will go on the car, such as the exterior color and logos. After an actual production prototype is approved by Ford, the eight-month design process is complete and the car is sent to the factory for production.

“Obviously designing a real car is much more involved and complicated, and it has real world ramifications,” said Tam. “Our main objective is making sure that kids can play with the toy safely and have fun.”

A limited number of Hot Wheels’ 2010 Ford Mustang will be given out on the Ford stand at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The toy is expected to hit retail stores Dec. 1, 2008.

Hot Wheels has been replicating Ford products in the hundreds of millions for the past 40 years. In fact, one of the very first Hot Wheels cars was a Redline Custom Mustang, which was released in 1968.

“When our Ford vehicles are replicated as toys, it enables us to build brand enthusiasm with children at a very young age,” said John Nens, manager, Ford Global Brand Licensing. “It also helps children form emotional bonds with Ford, which they will carry forward throughout their lives.”

Tam says the same is true for Mattel and its Hot Wheels brand.

“A kid can take one of our cars home and say, ‘Wow, one day when I’m 16, I’ll be able to drive a brand new Mustang,’ and he’ll remember that forever,” he said.

[Source: Ford]

Security Package (43S) – $995
Active Anti-Theft System, Wheel Locking Kit

Comfort Package (53B)- $575
Heated Driver & Passenger Seat, 6-way power passenger seat, electronic mirror w/ compass

GT Track Package (67T) – $1,445
Dual Piston Calipers, Performance Brake Pads, 3.73 Axle Ratio, Recalibrated Stability Control

Electronics Package (85X) – $2,700
Voice Activated Navigation System: In-Dash Screen, Single DVD/CD/MP3 Player, DVD Audio/Video Capability, Interanal Hard Disk Drive for Map, POI Storage, 10GB Jukebox, Support for SYNC & Other Multi-Media Devices (Audio Input Jack), Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control

Over the Top Racing Stripes Package (47A) – $395

High Intensity Discharge Headlamps (51H) – $525

Exterior Standard Equipment:

* Exhaust Tips (Dual Bright Rolled)
* Fog Lamps
* Grille (With Black Chrome ‘Pony’)
* Automatic Headlamps
* Dual Power Mirrors with Body Color Caps (Side Mounted)
* LED Sequential Tail lights
* 18″ Polished Aluminum wheels (w/Spare Steel Wheel and Mini-Spare Tire)

Interior Standard Equipment:

* Driver & Passenger Airbags (Side Impact, Dual Front)
* Manual controlled Air Conditioning
* Locking center console with full Armrest and Storage
* Two covered cupholders
* Power door locks
* Color Keyed Front floor mats
* Illuminated Entry
* Chrome Accent Instrument Cluster with Four Guages & Register Vents
* Center High Mounted Dome Lamps
* Child Latch System (rear seats)
* Front door map pockets
* Bucket seats with 4-way Manual Adjust Feature
* Tilt Steering wheel with Speed Control Feature
* Trunk Release
* Power windows (One-Touch Down/Up Front)

Functional Equipment:

* 4.6L OHC 3V V-8 Engine
* Ducktail Spoiler
* Advance Trac With Electronic Stability Control
* Easy Fuel Capless Fuel Filler
* Engine Cover
* Personal Safety System (For Driver & Front Passenger)
* Rear Window Defroster
* Remote Keyless Entry
* Side Intrusion Door Beams
* SOSPOST Crash Alert System
* Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Exterior Changes

* Distinct Grilles and Fascias Unique to V6 & GT
* Dome Hood, Fenders, Quarter and Door Panels
* Headlamps Styling with integrated Park/Turn Lamps
* Sideview mirrors
* Swept Beltline Profile, Rear Quarter Window Trim
* Rear Fascia, Decklid & Sequential LED Tail Lamps
* Rear Quarter Mounted Radio Mast Antenna
* LED Illuminated CHMSL
* Lip Style Decklid Spoiler (GT)
* Cloth Convertible Top with Boot Cover (Standard on GT Premium Convertible)
* New 17″, 18″ & 19″ Cast Aluminum Wheel Line-up

New Exterior Color Changes

* Red Candy Metallic with Tinted Clearcoat
* Grabber Blue
* Kona Blue Metallic
* Sunset Gold Metallic

New Interior Changes

* One piece soft instrument panel
* Modernized Center Stack I/P
* Compass and Outside Tempature in Center Display
* Center Floor console with Lockale Storage
* Door Trim Panels
* Ice Blue Lit Instrumentation
* Seat Trim & Sew Pattern & Styling
* Increased Seat Bolstering
* Map Pocket on Rear of Driver & Passenger Seat
* Interior Trunk Release
* Covered Cup Holders

New Functional Equipment Changes

* 4.6L V8 engine with cold air induction along with Bullitt powertrain improvements on GT (315 horsepower with 320 ft-lbs of torque)
* Auto Headlamp on all GT and V6 Pony Package
* AdvanceTrac Electronic Stability Control (ESC) standard on all series
* Easy Fuel Capless Fuel Fill on all models
* Event Data Recorder (Black Box)
* SOS Post Crash Alert System (Activates when Airbags deploy, Emergency flashers turn on, Engages horn and Doors unlock for quick exiting)

New Option Changes

* SYNC Voice-activated Communication and Entertainment System with 911 assist and vehicle health report (Standard on V6 Premium and GT Premium)
* 19″ Machined Aluminum Wheel (64X) mounted on P245/45WRx19 A/S tires available on GT Premium
* 19″ Polished Aluminum Wheel (64V) mounted on P245/45WRx19 A/S tires available on GT Premium
* Rear View Camera (77C), rear decklid spoiler mounted, available on GT Premium, V6 Pony Package (202A) or V6 Sport Exterior Package (201A)
* HID Head lamps (51H) (Late Availability)

New Package Changes

Electronic Package - (58X) – (Availalbe on V6 Premium & GT Premium)

Includes:

* Voice Activated Navigation System – In-Dash Screen & Single DVD/CD/MP3 Player, DVD Audio/Video Capability, Interanal Hard Disk Drive for Map, POI Storage, 10GB Jukebox, Support for SYNC & Other Multi-Media Devices (Audio Input Jack)
* Includes 6-month SIRIUS Travel Link Pre-Paid Subsricption (service not availalbe in AK & HI)
* Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control

V6 Pony Package (202A)

Includes:

* Unique bright pony grille with satin corral
* Front lower fascia mounted fog lamps
* Pony front fender badges
* Lower door tape stripe, available in black and white
* 18″ polished cast aluminum wheel, Tri-bar Pony center cap
* P235/50WRx18 BSW A/S tires
* Automatic headlamps
* Premium carpeted front floor mats with embroidered Tri-bar Pony logo
* Rear Deck Spoiler
* Body color Exterior mirror
* Unique chrome exhaust tip

3.73 Rear Axle Package (67T) – (Optional on GT coupe arrays with 5-speed, not available with Glass roof, not available with Shaker 1000)

Includes:

* Performance 3.73 axle ration
* Dual piston frot calipers with performane brake pads
* Recalibrated Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

PRESS RELEASE

LEANER, MEANER 2010 FORD MUSTANG MODERNIZED,
WITH MORE REFINEMENT, NEW LOOK INSIDE, OUT

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18, 2008 – Muscle goes modern for 2010 as the Ford Mustang – America’s favorite muscle car for 45 years straight – hits the streets with a new exterior design; new world-class interior featuring well-crafted materials and updated technology; and a V-8 with even more horsepower and an even throatier signature Mustang exhaust sound.

Combine those elements with the new Mustang’s improved handling characteristics, more standard safety and technology features and its already-strong safety and quality performance and reputation, and it’s easy to see how the muscle car known around the world delivers on the promise of fast, fun and affordable performance for a whole new era.

“More than 9 million customers have made Mustang one of the world’s most beloved automotive and cultural icons,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “Making sure this modern legend lives up to their expectations has been a driving force for the team, which went to great lengths – gathering customer input everywhere from race tracks to Main Streets in cities throughout the U.S. – working to create the best Mustang ever.”

For 2010, the team delivered. “The new Mustang marks new levels of both power and refinement,” said Paul Randle, Mustang chief engineer. “We’ve designed and engineered this to be the next classic Mustang that everyone talks about for years and years.”

In true Mustang tradition, there is a “steed for every need.” At launch, customers can choose from a V-6 or V-8 with their choice of coupe, convertible or innovative glass roof, plus several new options and features delivering the opportunity for customers to personalize their cleaner, meaner-looking Mustangs.

“The best Mustangs have always been the ones that connect young America with the spirit of the times – and the 2010 does exactly that,” said J Mays, Ford’s group vice president of Design. “The new Mustang is close to the magnetic center of the original, fully loaded with the swagger you’d expect, but with modern refinement and attention to detail like you’ve never seen in a muscle car.”

It starts with the more aggressive grille, punctuated with the first new Mustang emblem since the car’s introduction in 1964. Both the V-6 and GT have brand-new sculptured front-end designs unique to each model. The headlamps and turn indicators, now integrated into one unit, are modern interpretations inspired by the 1970 Mustang. On the V-6, the fog lamps are located on the lower fascia, while on the GT, the fog lamps are again located in the upper grille – but are smaller than the outgoing model, similar to the original lamps of the 1967-68 models that inspired them.

“We understand Mustang’s heritage and iconic status it has in the world and as a symbol of Americana,” said Peter Horbury, executive director of Design, The Americas. “We wanted to create a face that is more muscular but unquestionably, unequivocally Mustang and carry that spirit through to the entire car.”

The exterior sheet metal, except for the fast-back roofline, is all new for 2010. At the front, the new headlamps, lower fascias, fenders and grille are capped by a powerdome hood that adds to the muscular appearance while functionally allowing for enhanced air cooling of the engine.
Mustang’s washer-fluid nozzles are tucked into the cowl, while the antenna has been moved to the rear, both of which create a cleaner appearance while also reducing wind noise.

Front rear fenders feature taut, sculptured wheel flares, like a tight skin stretched over the wheels. A classic spear character line on the doors leads to a modern indication of “hip” rear fenders. “It helps give the car aggressive, forward direction, like it’s ready to jump,” said Doug Gaffka, Mustang chief designer.

The rear end design features aggressively angled rear corners, a sculptured decklid and prominent rear badge. A rear-view camera incorporated into the spoiler is available on some models.

A notable new tail lamp design features three LED bulbs firing sequentially from the inside for turn indication. The sequential bulbs were a distinct Mustang feature in the ’60s and comeback to the 2010 for the first time since then. Locating the reverse lamps vertically creates a modern version of the Ford classic three-lens taillamp.

The best of new, heritage
Cleverly combining modern technology with Mustang heritage is a signature of the 2010 model, in terms of both design and engineering.

“All of the Bullitt elements are the base foundation of the GT,” said Randle, noting engine and chassis improvements. “We also applied some improvements gained from Mustang racing. We’re learning constantly and always giving that to the customer on the base car.”

The wheel-and-tire combinations are 1 inch bigger across the board, ranging from 17 to 19 inches, which helps improve handling and braking. The shocks have been retuned on all models as well.

“We adjusted the springs, stabilizer bars and shocks to better balance the ride, steering and handling for all models, which results in a more engaging driving experience,” adds Mustang Vehicle Engineering manager Tom Barnes. “The 2010 Mustangs feel more controlled for steering and handling, yet retain a good ride balance.”

The 2010 Mustang 4.6-liter V-8 benefits from innovations from the popular Bullitt model. Power has increased to 315 horsepower.

“It runs on regular gasoline, but if you put in premium it has adaptive calibration that will give you even better mid-range torque,” Barnes said, adding that Easy Fuelâ„¢, Ford’s innovative capless fuel system, is standard on all models.

“It’s an upgrade to the most-robust, most-accessorized engine in the marketplace today,” Randle added. “No one has the reliability, no one has the upgraded options. This is a fantastic engine, proven on the race track, the drag strip and on the highway.”

AdvanceTracâ„¢ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is now standard and complements Mustang’s all-speed traction control and anti-lock braking system (ABS).

“It gives a driver a little more confidence that in any type of condition the car will maintain what they want it to do,” Barnes said. “The 2010 Mustang improves ride quality and maintains world-class steering and handling.”

In addition to all of the design and driving dynamics improvements, the 2010 Ford Mustang is engineered to maintain its top government safety ratings. Standard safety equipment includes: dual stage front driver and passenger air bags; front seat-mounted side air bags; and, Ford’s Personal Safety System.

Interior leads in design, materials, content and comfort
Like the exterior, the interior design is all new with world-class materials and execution.
The powerful new one-piece instrument panel design is crafted in seamless soft-touch TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) skin fully encompassing available genuine aluminum-finish panels. Mustang’s chromed-ringed gauges and dual-vane air register vents are precisely crafted and positioned.

“That’s the difference between good enough and exceptional,” said Gary Morales, Interior Design manager. “We wouldn’t accept anything less than leadership design and world-class craftsmanship.”

The instrument panel and console flow as one shape, another strong connection to Mustang heritage. The seats and arm rests have softer materials with high-quality stitching.

The new center stack design adds the latest version of Ford SYNCâ„¢, with new features 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Report. Drivers also can customize their ambient and instrument lighting through the My Colorâ„¢ system, which features 125 color options.

“The centerstack is quite progressive. The electronic finish panel containing the audio and climate control buttons and knobs are integrated into the finish panel,” said Kim Zielinski, Mustang Instrument Panel engineer, 2010 Mustang. “I believe the customers will really like the new look.”

In addition to the improvements in technology and comfort, drivers will notice a quieter ride. “It’s much more vault-like,” Barnes said. “But we maintained the signature Mustang sound.”

The upgraded instrument panel along with new sound deadeners added to select areas helped improve interior quietness, especially at high speeds or on rough roads. All the better to hear that famous Mustang roar.

With a completely redone exterior that echoes the classic Mustang designs of the past, an interior featuring world-class materials, numerous technology upgrades and an improved driving experience, the 2010 Mustang is poised to become the latest classic in the proud line of Ford’s iconic American muscle car.

“The 2010 Mustang is drop-dead gorgeous,” Randle said. “This car marks the best efforts of 45 years of passion and enthusiasm among the best designers, engineers and manufacturing experts in the business, and we can’t wait for everyone to see it and start driving it.”

The 2010 Mustang will be built at the Auto Alliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Mich.

[Source: Ford/autoblog]

[Source: SpeedTV/MustangBlog]

[Source: 2010Mustang]

PRESS RELEASE:

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 27, 2008 – Curious about what the 2010 Ford Mustang looks like? Its new pony badge offers a clue. Like the upcoming restyled Mustang, the new pony is more defined, more muscular and sure to catch the eye of Mustang enthusiasts.

“It’s just a faster-looking steed,” said George Saridakis, Design manager for the 2010 Mustang.

A stronger, more dynamic pony badge with defined edges and crisper forms in a subtly toned tinted-chrome finish will charge across the grilles of the V-6 and GT versions of the 2010 Mustang. For the first time, a black-chrome version of the Mustang pony badge will accent the new GT grille.

“We wanted to give the Mustang pony a more realistic feel,” said Douglas Gaffka, chief designer for the 2010 Mustang. “We lifted the head to make the pony more proud, tipped the neck into the wind to give it a feeling of greater speed and better balance.

“It’s more chiseled and more defined and looks more like a wild horse,” Gaffka added. “It’s more realistic in terms of proportion to an actual Mustang.”

Senior Designer Rick Howard spent hours researching images of horses and understanding their appearance in natural, wild settings. That effort, along with his personal riding experience, helped bring forward the design of the Mustang pony badge.

Like the Mustang itself, which was revealed at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, the Mustang emblem has a proud heritage. The original Mustang logo was drawn by Phil Clark for the Mustang I. The Mustang logo then was refined for the Mustang II in 1974 by Charles Keresztes, a former member of Hungary’s Olympic equestrian team. The pony continued on the front grille through 1978 when it was replaced by “FORD” in block letters through 1982. The iconic Ford Blue Oval graced the front of Mustangs through 1993. The pony emblem returned in 1994 with some refinements. The logo was updated again in 2005.

For Howard and the team, creating the new badge was a labor of love.

“We’re very much concerned with detail and precision in our cars at Ford, and that includes the art we do,” Howard said. “We want our Mustang pony badge to be as good as the rest of the car.”

[Source: Ford]