The Mustang -- the original pony car -- is all-new for 1999 with improvements to every single system under its brand-new skin.
The Mustang has only two true competitors, the Chevrolet Camaro and the Pontiac Firebird. Like the two GM pony cars, the Ford Mustang comes in many guises. There are V6 and V8 versions in both coupe and convertible body styles along with the Cobra, the super-performance model that competes against the Camaro SS and the Firebird Ram Air. There are Japanese and Korean coupes that compete with Mustang on price, but they don't offer pony car performance.
New Mustang styling features chiseled lines for a much more muscular appearance. The design was influenced by both the original 1964 Mustang and the recent GT90 concept car. The rear fender air intake is twice as long, fitted with sharp corners and much more pronounced lines. The rocker panels curve out, and the fenders have pronounced front and rear wheel well arches. This gives the car a racier stance than the previous model.
The front end features new wraparound complex reflector headlamps with integrated side marker lamps, and a new, larger grille opening with a honeycomb grille texture and a chrome pony emblem reminiscent of the original 1964 emblem. The hood contains a prominent hood scoop, which is not functional. 1999 marks the 35th anniversary of the Mustang, and all models celebrate this with a front fender tri-bar Mustang badge.
The roof has been changed to a new design with a sharp edge. The rear quarter windows have a new shape, the rear fenders have sharp corners on them, and the three-element tail lamps have sharp corners. The decklid is made of SMC plastic in order to accommodate those sharp corners. All three wheel designs, 15-, 16- and 17-inch are new, with flat spoke designs to complement the sharp corners of the new body shell. The selection of Goodyear, Firestone and BFG tires remains the same as last year. All GT models get twin, three-inch diameter polished stainless steel exhaust tips. The GT gets a rear deck spoiler and front fog lamps as standard equipment.
The Mustang's electrical system has been simplified with the addition of a single module that replaces the functions of a half-dozen single-function modules for wipers, chimes, illuminated entry system, one-touch-down windows, remote entry and the anti-theft system.
Inside the car, there is no change in overall appearance. The seat foam has been improved, seat tracks have been redesigned to add one inch of additional rearward travel to better accommodate taller drivers, and seat belts have been attached to the seats to move with them. There's a new six-way power driver's seat, replacing the four-way, along with new fabrics and sew patterns in cloth and optional leather. Embossed ponies on the upper portions of the seat backrests give the interior a sporty, traditional Mustang look. Medium graphite, medium parchment and midnight black are the new interior colors. The instrument panel, the center console and the headliner will be color keyed in 1999 models, instead of the former black-only.
Audio systems have been upgraded for the second straight year. The 80-watt premium sound system that comes standard on all models is combined with new, better-sounding speakers. An optional CD/radio combination, a CD/cassette system, and the Mach 460 system will continue for 1999.
The interior is nice and cozy in the coupe. Now there's enough seat track length to accommodate tall drivers and just enough elbow room to keep from feeling cramped. The Mustang's back seat is vestigial at best, with only enough room for small objects or very small people. The split fold-down rear seat is handy for hauling large cargo, however.
