CLUB MUSTANG
2013 Mustang Club of America Convertible

They’ve brought back the Boss, the Bullitt, the Mach 1, the California Special, various iterations of the Shelby Mustang—including the Hertz rent-a-racer version. Ford has covered them all, so why not a model named after the club that encompasses them all? Now they have. Introducing the 2013 Limited Edition Mustang Club of America Convertible. Harvey Schwartz reports. By Harvey Schwartz Since its introduction in model year 1964, the Ford Mustang has been the most customized two-door coupe in the automotive marketplace. Factory custom offerings as well as custom models from Shelby, Saleen, and Steeda, etc, make the Mustang available for any type of application—regular driver or weekend warrior. For model year 2013, the factory is offering a limited-edition ‘Mustang Club of America’ (MCA) model in coupe or convertible configuration available in many paint schemes but with only the 3.7 liter 305 horsepower V6 engine.

The MCA package includes a custom billet grille with a tri-bar Pony badge, MCA sport tape stripes, front lower fascia with foglamps, deck lid spoiler, 18X8 inch Sterling Gray metallic wheels shod with Pirelli 235/50ZR18 inch P Zero Nero low profile performance tires and custom embroidered MCA front floor mats. The MCA package is priced at just $995.00 and the optional ‘GOTTA HAVE IT GREEN is a real eye catcher with consumers checking out the car on the road and when we parked it. This year, Ford updates the look of the entire Mustang line with new front and rear fascias, a more prominent grille and splitter, standard high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps—including signature lighting with two individual light-emitting diode bars accentuating the headlamps , painted body-side moldings, and dramatic high-gloss black panel that connects the taillights and keeping the sequential turn signal Mustang is known for. The taillights have a smoked appearance that matches the more purposeful look up front. New, remote controlled sideview mirrors with the galloping pony projection light on the pavement instead of just regular puddle lamps. A new, optional 4.2-inch LCD screen now features Track Apps, which enables you to monitor performance measures such as g-forces, shows acceleration times in quarter-mile and 0-60 mph increments, and displays braking times, complete with automatic and countdown starts. New Shaker audio systems provide a complete acoustic experience that simulates being at a live performance.

Ford has added more standard features to the Mustang, and they include dual stainless steel exhaust with polished stainless steel exhaust tips, leather trimmed sport seats with six-way power driver/four-way power passenger bucket seats, air conditioning, ambient lighting, a great leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel with cruise control, Bluetooth, audio control buttons, SYNC Voice Activated system, SIRIUS satellite radio, dual illuminated vanity mirrors, easy fuel capless filler, power windows with both express up and express down, MYKEY remote keyless entry, power door locks, metal foot pedals with rubber inserts, leather-wrapped aluminum shifter knob, universal garage door opener, and a limited slip rear axle that really puts the power down on the pavement, and integrated spotter mirrors that help detect vehicles in the blind sport. Options that we enjoyed during our seven-day test drive was the GOTTA HAVE IT GREEN paint, the six-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift sequential shifting, Electronics Package with Ford’s Navigation System, dual-zone climate control, rear sensing parking assist, active anti-theft system, wheel locking kit, heated front seats, heated sideview mirrors, self-dimming rearview mirror, rear video camera, and the black vinyl convertible top that takes only 20 seconds to raise or lower. The top is very water tight as we drove the car during two very heavy downpours and noticed no water getting into the front or rear of the car. The 3.7 liter, dual overhead cam aluminum engine with twin-independent variable camshaft timing generates an impressive 305 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 280 pound-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm. You have a choice of the smooth shifting six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic with SelectShift that allows you to hold each forward gear up to the 6,850 rpm reline to quicken your heartbeat. You blast out to 60 mph from a standstill in just 5.8 seconds as the standard limited-slip differential puts the power down on those 18X8 inch tires.

The rack and pinion with electric power-assist gives you an excellent feel for the road and very quick and precise change of direction from your inputs. It is also perfectly weighed for high-speed driving, getting around slow city traffic or when parking at slow speeds. Making getting around slow city traffic or when looking for challenging twisting roads is the excellent suspension system that features an independent front with reverse-L MacPherson struts, a 28.6 mm tubular stabilizer bar and a wide aluminum strut tower brace, while the rear stays in place utilizing a three-link solid axle setup with coil springs, gas-charged monotube shocks, a panhard rod and a solid stabilizer bar. The braking system is up to par with four-wheel vented discs-12.4 inch up front clamped with 43mm floating aluminum calipers, and 11.8 inch discs clamped with 43mm floating iron calipers in the rear. Standard ABS keeps you in control when braking on wet or slick surfaces. Standard traction control and AdvanceTrak keep you in control of your direction when taking on the most difficult of curving roads at higher than posted speed limits. The Mustang is iconic in the automotive marketplace with vehicles roaming the world’s cities and backroads. The all-new 2013 MCA Mustang is another model that continues the trend of making the car more personal to the owner. The base price of the MCA Mustang convertible is $31,200.00 and the loaded model we tested was priced at $37,810.00. © Words and pictures by Harvey Schwartz

SUMMARY JUDGMENT The perfect ride to show up at your Mustang Club of America event. For more information about Ford products, go to www.ford.com SPECIFICATIONS Name: 2013 Mustang Club of America Convertible Price: $31,200.00 (base) $37,810.00 (as tested) EPA fuel economy ratings: 19 mpg in the city/30 mpg on the highway Engine: 3.7 liter, all-aluminum, DOHC, Twin-Independent Cam Timing V6 Horsepower: 305 @ 6500 rpm Torque: 280 pound-feet @ 4250 rpm

Transmission: Six-speed manual Six-Speed automatic with SelectShift (optional) Suspension Front-independent Reverse-L MacPherson struts, 28.6mm tubular stabilizer bar, strut tower brace Rear-three-link solid axle, coil springs, gas-charged shocks, panhard rod and a solid stabilizer bar Wheels/tires: 18X8 inch Sterling Gray metallic wheels/235/50ZR18 inch Pirelli P Zero Nero Brakes Front: 12.6 inch vented/twin-piston calipers Rear: 11.8 inch vented/single-piston calipers Dimensions Total length: 188.5 inch Total width: 73.9 inch Total height: 55.8 inch Curb weight: 3,630 pounds