TRACTION CONTROL WHEN NEEDED

Under some conditions, Mustang drivers may find they need a little help in harnessing all the excitement the 2005 convertible model has to offer.


That's where the all-speed traction control system comes in. Standard on GT with the anti-lock braking system (ABS), the traction control system takes advantage of Mustang's high-speed communication network by using sensor information supplied by the engine controller and the ABS system. In turn, the electronic throttle system and brake system work smoothly in concert to reduce wheel spin.


But this is a muscle car, after all. Consequently, Mustang's traction control is tuned a little differently than most. On dry pavement, the system allows more wheel slip under acceleration, so you can still "hang it out" a bit when driving gets spirited. When the system detects slippery conditions, it acts more aggressively to help maintain greater stability.


On those occasions when traction control isn't desired - such as a smoky burnout at the drag strip - drivers can deactivate the system with a push of a button conveniently located on the instrument panel's center stack, just to the right of the gauges.




EXTERIOR / INTERIOR


The 2005 Ford Mustang convertible entered the design studio with a straightforward and logical goal: to be designed alongside the coupe and not as an afterthought, avoiding the pitfalls that have compromised coupe-derived convertibles in the past. Thanks in part to being designed in tandem with the coupe, this simple mandate has been realized handsomely.


Engineered from the ground up to deliver a more rigid body structure with less added weight, the 2005 Mustang Convertible features a better-sealing top with improved rearward visibility. All of this comes in a more solid, quieter package that gives a nod to the great Mustang convertibles of the late 1960s with a crisp, formal roof-up profile.




TOP DOWN - CLEAN LOOK

The folded convertible top stack has been the bane of designers and engineers since the origination of the cloth top. It's as much a challenge to find a pleasing solution for how the top looks fully retracted as how it looks when the roof's up and in place. Separate snap-on boots or soft tonneau covers have long been used to address this situation, but Ford engineers looked to the stack itself for a solution customers are going to love: the 2005 Mustang convertible's all-new "floating" five-bow power top with z-fold construction provides a more finished, tidy, top-down appearance.


Another issue for convertible owners is wind noise and buffeting when the top is down. Again, rather than looking at added-on airfoils or deflectors, the solution was engineered in. The windshield header panel is raked slightly backward to assist in airflow management. The end result is less buffeting in the interior - meaning customers receive a quieter, more comfortable ride with the top down.


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"We weren't just redesigning a car, we were adding another chapter to an epic. The new Mustang's modern design speaks to its technical advancement - without losing the classic Mustang image."
- J Mays, Group Vice President of Design and Chief Creative Officer