The 2011 model year brought big powertrain upgrades for the Ford Mustang – that’s when the 5.0-liter V8 and 3.7-liter V6 were introduced – and for 2013, Ford’s Pony Car is getting some updated style, tech and packaging to make it a more competitive offering in the segment.
Up front, all Mustangs get a new front fascia with revised lower air intakes and a new splitter. High-intensity discharge headlamps are also now standard across the board, and GT models get a new hood with functional air extractors, as well as optional HID foglamps. New body-colored rocker panels flank both sides, and new 17-, 18- and 19-inch wheels are also available. Around back, there’s now a high-gloss black panel that connects the slightly redesigned taillamps, and the side mirrors have a pretty cool gee-whiz feature: there are LED lamps in them that project Ford’s legendary pony logo onto the ground when the doors are unlocked. New colors including Gotta Have It Green and Deep Impact Blue are also available.
Other changes to the 2013 Mustang include a Recaro seat option for both V6 and GT models, an available SelectShift function on automatic-equipped V8 cars, a GT Track Pack with a Torsen differential from the Boss 302 and Brembo brakes (only available on cars with the 3.73 axle and a manual transmission) and the availability of the V6 Performance Pack on automatic-equipped cars. There’s also a Track Apps function inside the instrument cluster that shows a whole host of performance stats. Speaking of performance, the 5.0-liter V8 now makes 420 horsepower for 2013, up from 402 and still six shy of the current Chevrolet Camaro.
The Mustang Boss 302 (above, right) may have just been introduced for the 2012 model year, but it also receives some small tweaks for the new model year. Specifically, a new hockey stick graphic with reflective stripes has been added to the sides of the Boss, paying homage to the 1970 Boss 302. Both the standard and Laguna Seca models are now available in School Bus Yellow, and the updated front fascia from the base Mustangs has been fitted to the 444-horsepower Boss, as well. The foglamp covers in the grille are now removable for 2013, and Ford says this will improve cooling during longer stints of high-performance driving.
autoblog
