2009 Ford Mustang

Panoramic Glass Roof
This new option allows the Mustang's cave-like interior to fill with natural light. The fixed glass panel is tinted to reduce excessive heat build up and features a layer of sound-absorbing clear vinyl sandwiched within the glass panel.

Shelby GT500 Cobra Edition
The ultimate Mustang comes equipped with a 500-horsepower, supercharged 5.4-liter engine and six-speed manual transmission.

If the 2009 Ford Mustang's exterior puts you in a retro state of mind, the interior will transport you like a time machine. A steering wheel with three metal-look spokes teams up with a speedometer and tachometer that rest deep in their own chrome-ringed wells to deliver a driver's-seat view as retro as any. On the flip side, this throwback's instrument panel features a modern illumination system, color-configurable with 125 different lighting combinations. Seating is comfortable and the new car's added exterior dimensions allow for a noticeable increase in headroom and legroom. A few less hard-edge plastic surfaces would go a long way to turning a good interior into one that's great.

By borrowing liberally from the Mustang's past, the new car's designers have created a vehicle that wholly captures the essence of the original. The long hood and short rear deck that have defined the Mustang from day one are joined by the return of round headlamps and vertical "tri-bar" taillamps especially reminiscent of the 1967 model. The Mustang V6 features nifty multi-spoke wheels with real three-point spinners and both the V6 and GT offer plenty of room for aftermarket customization.

For those not bothered by the lack of V8 growl, the V6's output is more than sufficient to get your blood flowing. Originally designed for use in the Ford Explorer SUV and Ranger pickup truck, the Mustang's V6 demonstrates a noticeable amount of vibration and harshness, and the single exhaust note just doesn't quite cut it – but the performance is surprisingly peppy. The GT is clearly faster and more refined, and its V8 is one feature many male buyers wouldn't dream of sacrificing. Ford's three-valve-per-cylinder technology allows the big V8 to breathe easier, producing better low-end power without sacrificing fuel efficiency. The true powerhouse, however, is the limited-production Shelby model, which features a 500-horsepower supercharged V8.

4.0-liter V6
210 horsepower @ 5300 rpm
240 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/26 (manual), 16/24 (automatic)

4.6-liter V8
300 horsepower @ 5750 rpm
320 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/23 (manual), 15/22 (automatic)

5.4-liter V8 supercharged
500 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
480 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/20