RIDE-CT – Classic Cars Celebrating Classic Cars in Connecticut
EAST HADDAM, CT – As an automotive case study, the Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium Convertible demonstrates the classic marketing advantage of being first in and last out. The original Mustang debuted on April 17, 1964, as a 1965 model and single-handedly created what became known as the pony car category.
By packaging an aspirational image aboard ordinary underpinnings – in this case, from the Ford Falcon – the end result was a four-wheeled, lifestyle legend.
Chevrolet would follow suit on September 29, 1966, with the 1967 Camaro, while the Dodge Challenger accepted the “challenge” in the fall of 1969.
It should be noted that Plymouth actually beat Ford to the punch by a few weeks with its Barracuda, but, unfortunately for them, it proved to be a bit more of an upgraded Valiant instead of an all-new entry.
Fast forward to the next generation. Automotive allure and passion made way for more conservative, social awareness. The pony cars were neutered and either lost their distinction by turning into simple badge engineered alternatives or, worse yet, were put out to pasture and replaced by minivans, sport utilities and crossovers.
But what goes around comes around.
Ford introduced the fifth generation Mustang in 2005 as a modern reincarnation of the original and has never looked back. The Camaro took a hiatus from 2002 to 2010 as did the Dodge Challenger from 1983 to 2008. Both returned and were then discontinued again in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Ford is the only company to continually and consistently fly the pony car flag.
The current seventh generation Mustang has been bred along two bloodlines; a turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost and V8-powered GT. There’s also a Mach-E, fully electric sibling but it’s more of a distant crossover cousin.
Today’s topic, however, is the Ecoboost Convertible. (A fastback version is also available.)
The EcoBoost is distinguished by a four-cylinder, twin cam, turbocharged engine that delivers a robust 315 horsepower. So don’t let the 2.3-liter cylinder count fool you. It’s packaged with a 10-speed automatic transmission and conscientiously returns a combined average fuel economy of 26 mpg (22 city/33 hwy).
The good news is that it rears up and gallops just fine. The bad news is that the 10-speed transmission often locks itself into top gear to reduce fuel consumption, and therefore annoyingly lugs down the engine speed at part throttle.
As is typical Ford, the engine is devoid of a trim cover leaving an unsightly mess of wires and hoses beneath the bonnet. A Mustang deserves better care and feeding.
The EcoBoost Convertible includes something called Electromechanical Drive, which was a bit baffling because it has no hybrid pretensions. It turns out that it’s an electric motor ahead of the front axle that’s employed by the Mach-E electric model. That’s been retained and repurposed to drive the Convertible top! Well, that’s a new one…
The Mustang that I tested included a $1,595 Active Valve Performance Exhaust option. It’s a four-setting tunable exhaust system that varies the sound output to your specific liking. From fully quiet to an all-out Track note. Unfortunately, “normal” is too loud and resonant for my taste, particularly since so much effort was made to tame and refine what’s a civilized convertible’s cabin noise level in the first place. Don’t waste your money.
Ford bills its svelte stallion as a four-passenger sports car. In fact, 2+2 would be a more accurate assessment. Like a lot of other reincarnated pony cars with expansive platform footprints, it’s noticeably bigger on the outside than it is on the inside. So when it comes to nimbleness, no, it’s not a Miata. Even with its 255/40 x 19 tires.
In my eyes, the large, panoramic instrument panel/display screen was a bit incongruous for such a droptop sportster. Fortunately, however, there is choice of gauge clusters that can be electronically selected to suit various fancies. I opted for the vintage 1980’s Mustang look, which even included green dial illumination.
Lowering the convertible top is a simple two step affair. Twist and release the center latch, and then press the overhead console top button, which is just like a power sunroof switch. All four side windows automatically retract during the process and the forward top section serves as its own hard boot cover when lowered.
Trunk volume remains adequate for things like golf clubs. By the way, the Mustang Premium Convertible includes a full headliner and heated glass rear window, too.
Starting at $43,045, the ever-tractable EcoBoost Premium (which includes leather seating, upgraded audio and dual-zone climate control, among other amenities) Convertible is an everyday driver for everyman and woman.
Thankfully, as the herdsman of the lineage, Ford has remained loyal to the Mustang for the long haul.
Giddy yap…
(Photos courtesy of Ford unless otherwise noted.)
