Just in case you can't decide between the convertible or coupe Mustang, Ford has decided to offer a third option for 2009.
A glass roof is a new option on the 2009 V6 and GT models and adds an extra $1995 to the overall price of the car. The glass roof is made of tinted privacy glass to reduce infrared rays and to keep the car cool during those sunny days. It also features a manual roller blind that can completely block out the sun.
The new glass roof option will be available next summer. 2009 should be the last year of the current Mustang, since a new model is expected for 2010.
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PRESS RELEASE:
Hot on the heels of the new Ford Bullitt Mustang and the new Shelby GT500KR, America's favorite muscle car drives into its 45th anniversary year sporting a new factory-installed glass roof.
The 2009 Ford Glass Roof Mustang provides a third roof option for customers and responds to their growing desire for more natural light. Production of large sunroofs has increased nearly 200 percent in North America since 2003, according to Just-auto. The growth is driven, in part, by consumers' daily commute time. The number of consumers with commutes lasting more than 60 minutes grew by almost 50 percent between 1990 and 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The new glass roof will be available as an option on both the V-6 Mustang and Mustang GT beginning next summer.
At $1,995, the new roof provides customers a less expensive option than a convertible, without compromising the coupe's versatility, headroom or climate-controlled environment.
"Mustang is an icon in our product lineup, and we are committed to keeping Mustang news fresh every year," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president, Global Product Development. "As the automotive landscape becomes increasingly competitive, features such as a panoramic glass roof will help differentiate our products from the competition."
Nearly one out of every two sports cars sold in America is a Mustang, and it remains the best-selling convertible. The new glass roof addresses the fact that 62 percent of buyers in the sports car segment are interested in a sunroof or moonroof on their next vehicle, according to J.D. Power and Associates research.
Mustang's Glass Roof is made of tinted privacy glass, which reduces both infrared rays and vehicle cool-down time by 50 percent. A manual roller blind is built in, allowing owners to further control exposure on sunny days.
The specially formulated glass also protects interior fabric material from solar radiation deterioration and discoloration by reducing solar light transmittance. To help improve acoustics and Mustang's interior quietness, the glass also features a layer of vinyl that reduces noise, vibration and harshness.
The glass roof Mustang is built like a coupe and has been developed to maintain the structural integrity of Mustang. The glass itself is safety glass, meaning that it shatters without sharp or jagged edges, like other automotive glass.
Glass Roof Mustangs will be assembled at the Automotive Alliance International plant in Flat Rock, Mich. The unique glass is installed at Ford's adjacent vehicle personalization facility.
Like its coupe and convertible counterparts, the Glass Roof Mustang has endured a battery of tests measuring quality and craftsmanship.
During the development phase, production-level prototypes ran through a rigorous prove-out, including various water, air leakage, durability, squeak and rattle and vehicle dynamics tests. Top quality drives the development team – as evidenced by Mustang's first-in-its segment ranking in the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates IQS, VDS and APEAL studies.
"Quality is a continuous process. The whole team is passionate about it, which results in our paying attention to the smallest details," says Paul Randle, chief nameplate engineer. "Our owners have high expectations, and we always want to meet them – with strong features like this new roof option, quality and performance."
Comments (17)
personaly i dont like it when i get into a mustang i want to be surounded by american a grade steal not vinal and glass.
Posted by Rob | December 12, 2007 10:15 AM
Posted on December 12, 2007 10:15
pusstang
Posted by Scott | December 12, 2007 10:36 AM
Posted on December 12, 2007 10:36
Sounds like an ok idea, but how much does all that extra glass weigh? It must add a lot of weight to the car.
Posted by Bruce | December 12, 2007 10:37 AM
Posted on December 12, 2007 10:37
I think they really did well on this. My wife would love this option and probably just put this car on the list to check out. It keeps the coupes lines, which is my biggest reason for not liking the convertible.
Posted by Dave | December 12, 2007 10:39 AM
Posted on December 12, 2007 10:39
The modern day touring car... with the pouer to get from one scenic site to another, very fast.
Posted by Lonnie | December 12, 2007 11:34 AM
Posted on December 12, 2007 11:34
That's stupid....I'd rather have a sun/moon roof over a glass roof...wtf were they thinking??? Oh yeah, it's FORD and it's a rustang/chumpstang...
Posted by Sabby | December 12, 2007 12:09 PM
Posted on December 12, 2007 12:09
"Dave:
I think they really did well on this. My wife would love this option and probably just put this car on the list to check out. It keeps the coupes lines, which is my biggest reason for not liking the convertible."
Dave, you said it best: My wife would love this option...
Posted by Sabby | December 12, 2007 12:12 PM
Posted on December 12, 2007 12:12
If they're going to go this route they may as well make t-tops, or like Sabby said a moon/sun roof.
Posted by Jordan | December 12, 2007 12:19 PM
Posted on December 12, 2007 12:19
I like that they are trying out something new, but I'm not sure how many people would like this.
@Jordan, I second the t-tops. I wish more new cars would have them (are there even any?).
Posted by gm0n3y | December 12, 2007 12:32 PM
Posted on December 12, 2007 12:32
I don't know if anyone else remembers, but the concept of the current Mustang had a glass roof.
Posted by Eric | December 12, 2007 1:18 PM
Posted on December 12, 2007 13:18
@Bruce:
I like the idea but your post beat me to the punch. I am also curious how much weight this adds to the car and if it changes the center of gravity much
Posted by longdxcommuter | December 12, 2007 3:24 PM
Posted on December 12, 2007 15:24
Just don't get caught in a golf ball size or larger hail storm with one of these. Yikes!
I think it will sell well at first, because it's diff from the norm. I personally don't care nore trust it. I much perfer metal over my head then glass.
Posted by SteelCity1981 | December 12, 2007 5:11 PM
Posted on December 12, 2007 17:11
While I like the idea, I wonder what it will do to the safety of the car... what if it rolls over in an accident and the glass roof shatters? I'm sure the roll cage is still as sturdy as ever, but the thought of millions of pieces of sharp glass inches away from my head makes me shudder.
Posted by SEALBoy | December 13, 2007 2:52 AM
Posted on December 13, 2007 02:52
How many versions of the mustang does ford have now?
Posted by blah you | December 13, 2007 12:51 PM
Posted on December 13, 2007 12:51
1) Say goodbye to your interior if you live in Arizona, unless it has some kind of shade or cover.
2) Safety will be the same as any other car. The glass will be tempered safety glass, and it's actually safer than a convertible with the top up if you don't have a full roll cage being that with this you have a metal cage around you still.
And hail isn't going to hurt that glass any more than it hurts the windshield or rear window (which are pretty sloped on a Mustang).
A proper muscle car is a 2 door hard top. This car is for 16 year old girls with rich daddies, not hardcore enthusiasts.
Posted by Chris | December 13, 2007 1:59 PM
Posted on December 13, 2007 13:59
I actually think this is pretty cool, I mean it's not earth shattering or anything but it's a neat and innovative feature. The high gloss black finish of the glass looks sharp from the outside, though I would think you might not want it with certain colors of paint.
Posted by Travis | December 13, 2007 6:49 PM
Posted on December 13, 2007 18:49
well done, dude
Posted by Monand | March 24, 2008 9:13 AM
Posted on March 24, 2008 09:13