Daily Slideshow: How Modern Mustangs Live Up To the Nameplate's Legacy
There's a bit of a vintage purist in every muscle car enthusiast, but we're here today to shed light on why Shelby's recent models are proof the light is still burning brightly.
1. Powered by the present, shaped by the past.
The Ford Mustang is a continuing legacy. Muscle cars are in a bit of a weird bind these days. It can sometimes feel like practical market trends have left them behind as gas prices and spending power gets tighter. The Mustang's still been here all this time though, and there's every reason to be impressed by its present-day state. While there's always going to be some level of nostalgia for cars like this, there's far more riding with these demons of the road than past appeal alone.
>>Join the conversation about Modern Mustangs keeping the Legacy Alive here in The Mustang Source.
2. An ever-faithfully evolving design.
The most interesting long-term development in muscle car history has arguably been the Corvette, if only for the fact it has been successfully reinvented from the ground up several times. The Ford Mustang contrast has been quite a bit more conservative with its design philosophy. Over the last decade, they've actually seen fit to regress elements of the Mustang back to its vintage state. After all, they know what people want. There's nothing wrong with capitalizing on a product's nostalgic appeal. In recent years, they've really managed to strike a balance exuding modern edge and vintage charm alike.
>>Join the conversation about Modern Mustangs keeping the Legacy Alive here in The Mustang Source.
3. The same excess glitz is available for those who want it.
There's a natural arrogance to the flash and roar of muscle cars. It's honestly part of what makes them such charismatic vehicles. Let's face it: if you're driving a Mustang, you obviously like the exciting things in life-- practicality is an afterthought compared to enjoying life. Modern Mustangs include "performance packages" a prospective owner can option if they want some extra flair for their ride. The 2018 Mustang's package gives it, among other things, an aerodynamic rear racing wing. While this is done to make the car look sporting, it doesn't actually have an effect on the performance itself. The Mustang's fine-tuned calibrations already make it an aerodynamic star as a base model!
There are going to be customers who want that excess. It's part of the joy of a muscle car to be able to experience a lifestyle of glitzy excess, even if it's just on your way home from work. Other add-ons manage to find a compromise between the real-life and "rock star" aspects of a Mustang; the latest model's active exhaust system can be installed with an adjustable volume. This is helpful if you're concerned about noise complaints, but it also means you can crank it up to maximum when you're cruising down the highway.
>>Join the conversation about Modern Mustangs keeping the Legacy Alive here in The Mustang Source.
4. The Mustang has still made modern concessions.
There's a distinctly modern problem facing the Mustang and other muscle cars. Government regulations have reined in what manufacturers are capable of doing in regards to "perceived excesses," and with a tighter economy, there's less demand for them from consumers. Car owners these days increasingly gravitate towards fuel-efficient and sustainable vehicles. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the Mustang brand has learned to roll with the punches. The 2017 Shelby GTE, for instance, sports an EcoBoost feature to help optimize its efficiency. In 2020, Ford is slated to release a plug-in hybrid variant of the 'Stang; you can bet a fully electric model will follow up some years later. Is a move like this sacrilege for the Mustang? Perhaps; it really depends on who you ask. Like it or not, it is necessary to evolve with changing market, and it's that evolution that will keep the Mustang around through thick and thin.
>>Join the conversation about Modern Mustangs keeping the Legacy Alive here in The Mustang Source.
5. Decades' worth of performance refinement means something.
There's a reason the latest Mustangs are said to handle like an absolute dream. The good people at Ford and Shelby Motors have had decades upon decades to improve and refine their baby. Where the Corvette was focused on big overhauls, the Mustang has remained remarkably true to its original spirit. The years of work are easily felt in any recent Mustang's impeccable handling.
The upcoming 2018 Mustang is proof that they never rest on their laurels for long.
With a ten-speed automatic transmission replacing the six-speed of the last model, this latest incarnation will come with 460 base horsepower and an increased redline of 7500 RPM. It may be one thing to feel nostalgia for the old days, but muscle cars haven't really changed. It's all of society around them that did. The Mustangs of today perform better than they ever have and they'll only continue to improve their craft. We think that's about as close to the classic spirit as close gets, don't you?
>>Join the conversation about Modern Mustangs keeping the Legacy Alive here in The Mustang Source.
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