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The interiors are no less dramatic than the sharply-detailed skin. Leather and aluminum are the dominant materials here. Perforated red leather covers the seatbacks and the steering wheel. The seats are configured for four-point racing harnesses. The upper dash is covered in charcoal leather, again a nod to past models. Below that is a billet-aluminum band, enveloping the air vents and gauges. The main gauges are large circles for the speedometer and tachometer, flanked by smaller ones for oil and coolant temperature. Nothing unusual about that. Until you look more closely and notice these gauges look more watch faces. The gauges’ bezels are trimmed with sprocket gears along the inner circumference. Instead of needle pointers, the gauges feature a small, gear-driven trolley scored with indicator lines. The trolleys ride along the inside of the bezels, corresponding to the revs and speed. Between the two main gauges is a thermometer-style stacked row of warning lamps. At the center cluster are two more air vents and an analog clock. Below these are toggle switches for the adjustable suspension and even air/fuel mixture. Where one usually finds a radio, there’s a different kind of entertainment system: a large circular boost gauge for the supercharged engine. This one also uses the sliding-trolley indicator system. There may be no time to stare at the gauge though, as the driver concentrates on the main controls. The red-leather and aluminum steering wheel has three spokes with a Mustang-GT logo in the center. The logos are repeated on the cars’ fenders, just behind the front wheels. From afar, the “GT” logo is the only marking that can be clearly seen. On closer view, the “Mustang” logo also becomes visible. The gearshift levers are also crafted from aluminum. The concepts were designed in Ford’s Living Legends Studio in Dearborn, Michigan and its California Design Center. “These Mustang concepts are thoroughly modern automobiles that point to a bright future for Mustang,” says J Mays, Ford Motor Company vice president of Design. Mr. Mays is famous for his “retrofuturistic” designs like the New Beetle, Thunderbird, and the Ford GT40. “[The Mustangs’] powerful stances, smooth surface language and ultra-modern interiors set new standards for muscle cars. Above all, these concepts communicate the soul of Mustang: a classic, cool and quintessentially American muscle car.” Thankfully, that muscle still comes courtesy of traditional V8 power. Beneath the hood is a 90-degree V-8 with cast-iron block and aluminum heads. The dohc, 32-valve engine generates 400 hp from its 4.6 liters. More significantly, it pumps out a massive 529 Nm of torque at just 3,500 rpm (equivalent to about 3 ˝ Lynx engines) assisted by its belt-driven supercharger with liquid-to-air intercooler. The scoops in the hood are functional, then, channeling air to the intercoolers. |
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