Ford Mustang Marice Campbell in the Early

¶ … Ford Mustang

Marice Campbell

In the early 1960s, one of the only truly "American" sports car was the Corvette. Unfortunately, for most people at the time, the price of a Corvette was simply too high. The Thunderbird, previously a sporting car, had grown into a large luxury car, and those enthusiasts who wanted a two-seater sport vehicle were forced to buy imports (Georgano). However, demographics were changing the face of the car buying experience in America, and within a few years the post-war baby boomers would be purchasing their first cars.

Ford Motor Company realized that there was a new market emerging, and 5 months prior to the typical start of the 1965 model year released the Ford Mustang. It was the automaker's most successful launch since the model A. Although it has undergone a number of transformations and is on its fifth generation, the Ford Mustang changed the way American sports cars were engineered and marketed. The early success of the Mustang, in fact, led to such iconic competitors as the Chevy Camaro, AMC Javelin, and the Plymouth Barracuda (Hinkley).

In response to popular demand, Mustangs evolved to be larger and heavier until the mid-1970s, at which time it returned to its original size and concept. Many vehicles of the Mustang type have seen some revival, but the Ford Mustang is the only "pony" car of its type and class that has remained in production for over 50 years in design, development and revision (Simon).

The 2012 Ford Mustang looks virtually the same as last year's model, but new engines and other improvements make it a better drive and better equipped in just about every way. The 2012 Ford GT500 has been a great hit, starting off at $22,000; optional equipment and services may be added. With either the all-new 412-hp V-8 in the GT or the new 305-hp, 3.7-liter V-

6 in the base models, it is both faster and more fuel-efficient than previous models. Highway fuel economy rates as high as 31 MPG and 19 MPG in the city with the V-6 and 25 MPG on the highway and 17 MPG in the city for the GT. The 2012 Ford Mustang was rated 8 out of 10 for safety, although it has not yet been crash-tested by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, the 2011 model, closely related structurally, received top 5-star results from both organizations. For its class, the 2012 Ford Mustang is a great value for the money with decent fuel economy, with the added benefits of a reasonably comfortable cabin and extra features available (LaReau).