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Ford’s top-selling convertible, the Mustang was recently named a five-star safety vehicle by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after it has passed with flying colors the New Car Assessment Program that includes crash testing and rollover resistance tests specifically driver and passenger front crash safety, side impact safety for driver and rear driver-side passenger, and rollover resistance.

The new Mustang also obtained high ratings in side-impact performance by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Ford Safety Director Jim Vondale was very pleased with the results and said that it’s in line with the company’s own testing results. He said, "The Mustang convertible is another example of working at all levels to offer a vehicle that is both sporty and safe. It was developed with a dedicated focus on safety, making it the highest rated Mustang ever built."

The safety features included in the 2008 Mustang include standard air bags, seat-mounted thorax side air bags, and Ford’s very own Personal Safety System which is a comprehensive restraint system that function by determining the severity of a crash. According to Ford the NHTSA and IIHS has considered the Personal Safety System is a significant life-saving technology.

The safeness of the Mustang is not only due to its safety features but also attributed to the structure of the convertible which is built to resist impact. Its body was designed to endure and disperse all crash energy to protect the passenger compartment.

Technical Specifications:

BODY
Construction: Unitized welded steel body, aluminum hood
Final assembly location: Flat Rock, Mich

POWERTRAIN AND CHASSIS
Engine V6
Type: 4.0-liter 60-degree V-6
Manufacturing location: Cologne, Germany
Configuration: Iron block and aluminum head
Intake manifold: Composite shell-welded with internal runner pack
Exhaust manifold: Cast iron
Redline: 6,100 rpm
Throttle body: 65-mm single-bore electronic
Valvetrain: SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder
Valve diameter:
Intake: 46.0 mm
Exhaust: 39.0mm
Pistons: Cast aluminum
Connecting rods: Forged steel
Ignition: Distributorless with coil pack
Bore x stroke: 3.95 x 3.32/100.4 x 84.4 mm  
Displacement: 245 cu. in. / 4,009 cc
Compression ratio: 9.7:1
Engine control system: PCM
Horsepower: 210 @ 5,300 rpm
Horsepower per liter 53
Torque: 240 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 rpm
Recommended fuel 87 octane
Fuel capacity: 16 gallons
Fuel injection: Electronic returnless sequential
Oil capacity: 5 quarts with filter
Coolant capacity: 12.5 quarts     

DRIVETRAIN
Layout: Rear-wheel drive

TRANSMISSION
Standard: 5-speed manual
(Tremec T-5)
Gear ratios
 1st: 3.75:1
 2nd: 2.19:1
 3rd: 1.41:1
 4th: 1.00:1
 5th: 0.72:1
Final Drive: 3.31:1

Optional
 1st: 3.22:1
 2nd: 2.29:1
 3rd: 1.54:1
 4th: 1.00:1
 5th: 0.71:1
Final Drive: 3.31:1  
    
SUSPENSION
Front: Reverse-L independent MacPherson strut, 28.6-mm tubular stabilizer bar
Rear: 3-link solid axle with coil springs and Panhard rod
 
STEERING
Type: Rack and pinion with power assist
Ratio: 15.7:1
Turning circle curb-to-curb: 33.4 ft.

BRAKES
Type: Four-wheel power disc brakes with optional 4-sensor, 4-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Front: 293 (11.5 in) x 30 mm vented disc, twin-piston 43-mm floating aluminum calipers
Rear: 300 (11.8 in) x 19 mm vented disc, single piston 43 mm floating iron calipers

TIRES AND WHEELS
(TYPE, SIZE)
Standard: P215/65R16 A/S
16 x 7.0-inch wheels
Optional: 17-inch wheel
18-inch premium aluminum

EXTERIOR
Wheelbase: 107.1
Overall length: 187.6
Overall width: 73.9
Overall height: 55.4  
Track, front/rear: 62.8 / 63.0

INTERIOR
Seating capacity: 4  
Front headroom: 38.6
Front legroom: 42.7
Front shoulder room: 55.4
Front hip room: 53.6
Rear headroom: 34.7
Rear legroom: 30.3
Rear shoulder room: 53.4
Rear hip room: 46.8

WEIGHTS AND CAPACITIES
SAE passenger volume: 97.9 cu. ft.
Cargo volume: 13.1 cu. ft.
Maximum towing capacity (properly equipped): 1,000 lbs.


POWERTRAIN AND CHASSIS
Engine V8
Type: 4.6-liter 90-degree V-8
Manufacturing location: Romeo, Mich.
Configuration: Aluminum block and head
Intake manifold: Composite shell-welded single runner, charge motion control valves
Exhaust manifold: Cast iron
Redline: 6,250 rpm
Throttle body: 55-mm dual-bore electronic
Valvetrain: SOHC, 3 valves per cylinder, variable camshaft timing
Valve diameter:
Intake: 33.8 mm
Exhaust: 37.5 mm
Pistons: Hypereutectic aluminum
Connecting rods: Cracked powdered metal with floating wristpins
Ignition: Coil-on-plug, high-thread-ins
Bore x stroke:  3.55 x 3.54/90.2 x 90.0 mm
Displacement: 281 cu. in. / 4,606 cc
Compression ratio: 9.8:1
Engine control system: PCM
Horsepower: 300 @ 5,750 rpm
Horsepower per liter 65
Torque: 320 lb.-ft. @ 4,500 rpm
Recommended fuel 87 octane
Fuel capacity: 16 gallons
Fuel injection: Electronic returnless sequence
Oil capacity: 6 quarts with filter
Coolant capacity: 14.2 quarts

DRIVETRAIN
Layout: Rear-wheel drive

TRANSMISSION
Standard: 5-speed manual(Tremec 3650)
 Gear ratios
 1st: 3.38:1
 2nd: 2.00:1
 3rd: 1.32:1
 4th: 1.00:1
 5th: 0.68:1
Final Drive: 3.55:1

Optional
 1st: 3.22:1
 2nd: 2.29:1
 3rd: 1.54:1
 4th: 1.00:1
 5th: 0.71:1
Final Drive: 3.31:1
    
SUSPENSION
Front: Reverse-L independent MacPherson strut, 34-mm tubular stabilizer bar
Rear: 3-link solid axle with coil springs, Panhard rod and 20-mm solid stabilize
 
STEERING
Type: Rack and pinion with power assist
Ratio: 15.7:1
Turning circle curb-to-curb: 37.7 ft.

BRAKES
Type: Four-wheel power disc brakes with optional
4-sensor, 4-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS)
Front: 316 (12.4 in) x 30 mm vented disc, twin-piston 43-mm floating aluminum calipers
Rear: 300 (11.8 in) x 19 mm vented disc, single piston 43 mm floating iron calipers

TIRES AND WHEELS
(TYPE, SIZE)
Standard: P235/55ZR17 Performance A/S
17 x 8.0-inch wheels
Optional: P235/50ZR18
18-inch polished aluminum wheels or 18-inch premium aluminum

EXTERIOR
Wheelbase: 107.1
Overall length: 187.6
Overall width: 73.9
Overall height: 55.7
Track, front/rear: 62.3 / 62.5

INTERIOR
Seating capacity:  4
Front headroom: 38.6
Front legroom: 42.7
Front shoulder room: 55.4
Front hip room: 53.6
Rear headroom: 34.7
Rear legroom: 30.3
Rear shoulder room: 53.4
Rear hip room: 46.8

WEIGHTS AND CAPACITIES
SAE passenger volume: 97.9 cu. ft.
Cargo volume: 13.1 cu. ft.
Maximum towing capacity (properly equipped): 1,000 lbs.