2011 FORD MUSTANG

The big news for the 2011 Mustang is all about engines. The 5.0L V8 is back, and a new, 3.7L V6 replaces the 4.0L. In addition, the platform has been reinforced, and the V6 gets a new 6-speed manual gearbox. The Mustang is offered in coupe and convertible body styles, as a base version with a V6 engine or a GT powered by a V8. Interior and trunk Front-seat access is relatively easy for a sport car. Its very comfortable seats have good side support, fine for anything short of racing the car on a track. The driving position is good but would be better with a tilt and telescoping steering column, rather than just tilt, and with power adjustment for the seatback angle, rather than manual. Some people may also find that the head restraints are too close to their head. Legroom is generous, but headroom is a bit tight for tall people. In this convertible, unlike others, the windshield is higher than the top of even a tall persons head and its pillars have been reinforced, relative to the coupes, to improve safety. Climbing into the back is a challenge. The front seats do not slide forward automatically nor do they revert to their initial position. The Mustang is a 2+2, meaning that the rear seats are there solely for backup and short trips. People of average or below average height can fit in the back comfortably enough but will find they have limited leg, head, and foot room. The coupes backrest is split 50/50 and it folds to reveal a low opening. The coupes trunk is relatively roomy, but only small items can be loaded through the small opening. The convertibles trunk is smaller, especially in terms of height, and the lid opening is no bigger than the coupes. Convenience and safety features Interior finish is very good and the quality of materials has been much improved. In the V8 coupe, road and engine noise that penetrates into the cabin becomes very tiresome on long drives, whereas soundproofing is good in the V6 convertible, top up or top down. Total storage capacity falls short. And with the cup holders located behind the shifter, using them interferes with stick movement. The location of controls and gauges is good, except for the wiper control, placed on the end of the turn-signal lever. Using the control to activate the Mist function requires just the right pressure, otherwise, either nothing happens or, more often than not, the washers go off. And when the washers are used, the wipers make a final swipe after a few seconds that usually

Photo: Ford

just smears the windshield again. We noted that the instrumentation is almost complete, which is rare in this day and age. A set of options lets you choose from among 125 colours for the instrument panel. Everything is lighted at nighteverything but the glove compartment, as is often the case in Ford products. The air conditioner works well. The click of the turn signals is barely audible. The cruise control does not have a Cancel function, which reduces its usefulness. The Mustangs safety features include dual front and side airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, stability control, good headlights, and front head restraints that are fairly high (the rear ones are too low). Unfortunately, curtain airbags are not available in the coupe. Visibility is very good on all sides, thanks to the convex mirror in each of the outside mirrors; hopefully, other car builders will follow suit. However, it is difficult to judge distances when backing up. The Insurance Institute for Highway gave the Mustang a Good rating, its highest, for driver protection in a frontal offset collision, and for all-occupant protection in case of a rear impact. The convertible received a Good rating, and the coupe an Acceptable rating, the second highest, for all-occupant protection in a side crash. Engine and transmission The 5.0L V8 makes a comeback this year. This modern aluminum engine has four valves per cylinder and oil cooled pistons. It develops 412 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. With that kind of horsepower, its no surprise that acceleration is spirited. Pickup is not only very strong, its clean and instantaneous, and the cars generous torque allows us to be lazy. At 1000 rpm in sixth gear, the engine doesnt balk at all. The sonority of the engine isnt what it used to be. Its a matter of taste, perhaps, but the full, rich engine hum seems to have given way to a more raucous, less melodious note thats now audible at cruising speeds. This engine will run on regular gasoline, but it gives its all on premium gasoline. The Mustangs new 3.7L V6 outputs 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration and pickup are fast, especially when the engine is running above 2500 rpm. Below that, torque is relatively modest, so you shouldnt hesitate to use the shifter to pick things up. However, torque is generous enough to drive off in second gear. With this engine we obtained an average fuel consumption of 10L/100 km. The six-speed manual transmission is precise, with short throws. However, close-spaced gates make it easy to shift to the wrong gear. With the V8, gears are short; sixth gear runs the engine at least 500 rpm too high. With the V6, the gears are well spaced, and the shifter, at least in our tester, easier to operate than the V8s. Clutch uptake is relatively firm and gradual. On the road As the GTs suspension has been firmed up this year, the ride is less comfortable than before. You dont notice the difference on perfectly smooth roads, but on rough sections of washboard pavement, the GT Mustang bucks and bounces unpleasantly. The suspension stiffness has a similar effect on road holding: excellent on smooth pavement but hazardous on bumpy roads. Its unfortunate, because in model years 2005 to 2010, the tuning was superbly balanced for a solid rear axle suspensionand its still the tuning you get when you opt for the V6 model. The latter soaks up bumps like some European cars do, i.e. firmly, with enough suppleness to ensure comfort and stability. Road holding is excellent, but you still have to watch out for the reaction of the rear axle on rough pavement.

The power steering is very well weighted, stable, crisp, and quicker than average. Unfortunately, however, it provides very little road sensation and slavishly follows road ruts, even ones that arent too deep. The turning circle is relatively small. The four-wheel disc brakes are very powerful, fade resistant, and smooth acting. Consumer Reports expects that the reliability of the Mustang should be better than average. Inspection An inspection at a CAA-Quebec technical inspection centre showed that the Mustangs frame is sturdy, but not rust coated. Fortunately, several joints are sealed. Road debris can get through the openings under the GTs front bumper and damage the air-conditioner condenser. Part of the bare-metal gas line is covered with a plastic that can trap grime and humidity. The overhead camshafts of both engines are chain driven. Conclusion Depending on whats under the hood, the Mustang is two very different cars. With the V6, the Mustang is pleasant to drive on a daily basis, and performance is good. With the V8, performance is spirited, but driving pleasure is highly dependent on the road: pleasant if its smooth, unpleasant if its rough. PROS: powerful, flexible V8, front-seat comfort, well-designed outside mirrors, road behaviour (V6), price-to-performance ratio, interior materials improving CONS: insufficient cabin storage, big openings under front bumper (GT), non-telescoping steering column, road noise, suspension hop (GT), no curtain airbags (coupe)

2011 FORD MUSTANG Engine: 24-valve, 3.7-litre V6; 32-valve, 5.0-litre V8 Horsepower: 305 hp at 6,500 rpm; 412 hp at 6,500 rpm Torque: 280 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm; 390 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm Transmission: 6-speed manual; 6-speed automatic Suspension: independent/solid axle Brakes: disc/disc Wheelbase: 272 cm Length: 477.8 cm Width: 203.5 cm (with mirrors) Height: 141.2 cm Weight: 1,566 to 1,710 kg Tires: P235/50R18; P245/45R19 Maximum towing capacity: 454 kg Airbags: dual front, plus two side Fuel consumption with V8 and manual transmission Natural Resources Canada rating: City: 12.2 L/100 km (23.5 mpg) Highway: 7.6 L/100 km (37 mpg) Test result: 12.2 L/100 km (23.5 mpg) Test temperature: 9C to 24C CO2 emissions: 4,659 kg/20,000 km (V8) Fuel tank capacity: 61 litres

Fuel requirement: regular grade gasoline (V8: premium recommended) Acceleration: 0100 km/h: 5.6 seconds 60100 km/h: 3.4 seconds Competition: Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Hyundai Genesis Coupe Warranty:

Full basic coverage: 3 years/60,000 km Powertrain: 5 years/100,000 km Surface corrosion: 3 years/60,000 km Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited km Emissions control system: 3 years/60,000 km (full coverage);

8 years/130,000 km (catalytic converter, electronic control module, onboard diagnostic system).

Factory replacement parts:

Rear bumper: $885 Front brake disc: $122 Brake pads: $143 Muffler: $289 (each) Front fender: $211

Price according to trim level (freight and preparation included):

V6 coupe: $24,349 V6 convertible: $32,749 GT coupe: $39,849 GT convertible: $44,249

Main options:

Automatic transmission: $1,400 Brake performance package: $1,700 (GT) Leather seats: $1,000 (V6 Pony) High intensity discharge headlamps: $600 Pony package: $4,000 (V6) Glass roof: $2,200 (Pony and GT)

Price as tested: V6 convertible: $36,979; GT coupe: $43,979 Dealers: Quebec: 112 Canada: 443 September 2010. All rights reserved, CAA-Quebec