2015 Ford Mustang goes topless
Lost among the noise during Ford’s global debut of the 2015 Mustang on Thursday was the fact that sun-hungry fans have a convertible version to look forward to.
Available shortly after the coupe hits dealers in fall 2014, the sixth-generation Mustang convertible will be available with all three engines in the new lineup.
This means the range-topping GT convertible will have the 5.0-liter V-8 that makes “more than 420 horsepower,” according to Ford.
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The middle child of the engine spectrum will be the all-new 305-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, a play to lure in both younger buyers and those concerned about fuel economy.
Finally, the base V-6 -- long a darling of rental fleets in warm climes like Los Angeles -- will round out the options.
A six-speed manual gearbox will be standard on all three, and the six-speed automatic with paddle shifters will be optional.
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The power-operated cloth top will lower twice as fast as on the outgoing model, Ford said.
One unfortunate byproduct of chopping off the Mustang’s roof is the loss of the fastback design. Without the sloping roofline of the rear glass that is arguably one of the new model’s most eye-catching elements, the back of the convertible looks a bit incomplete when the insulated roof is stowed under its cover.
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Ford hasn’t announced pricing for either the coupe or the convertible, but don’t expect either to change dramatically from the current model. Right now, a 2014 base V-6 Mustang convertible starts at just under $28,000.
