Ford Mustang, America’s favourite muscle car for 45 years, will soon hit the Middle East streets with a new exterior design; new world-class interior and a V-8 with even more horsepower and an 'even throatier signature Mustang exhaust roar.

The pony, particularly the 2010 Ford Mustang coupe, strides with the honour of earning the US government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) top 5-star crash-test rating, adding to widespread acclaim for the new car’s classic design and upgraded performance.

The new 2010 model features well-crafted materials and updated technology; and delivers on the promise of fast, fun and affordable performance for a whole new era, said a company official.

Theo Benson, Ford Middle East’s marketing communications and product manager, said:  “Mustang is a true legend and there are more than 9 million customers across the world that can attest to this fact. The strength of this steed comes from its 45-year rich heritage, coupled with the passion that fuels Mustang lovers whatever background they came from.'

'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,' he observed.

'That spirit is even stronger this year as Ford's muscle car turns 45 with even more refinements and amazing looks that promise to drop a few jaws” he added.

'We are confident that the all-new Mustang will capture the hearts and minds of customers from the first time they see it… and from the first time they hear its distinctive roar!,' he commented.

“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.”  Customers can choose from a 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.

It starts with the more aggressive grille, punctuated with the first new Mustang emblem since the car’s introduction in 1964. The GT has a brand-new sculptured front-end design.

'The headlamps and turn indicators, now integrated into one unit, are modern interpretations inspired by the 1970 Mustang. The fog lamps on the GT are 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,' Randle stated.

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, he added.

The 2010 Mustang 4.6-liter V-8 benefits from innovations from the popular Bullitt model.  Power has increased to 315 NET 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 Fuel, 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,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service