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Source: www.allfordmustangs.com 2005 Mustang | 2010 Mustang
The 2010 Ford Mustang GT Track Pack received a ringing endorsement from Car and Driver magazine earlier this year, when they said that a 2010 Mustang equipped with the package could easily trounce a Chevrolet Camaro or a Dodge Challenger. Well, now the fun won't just be contained to members of the press, as the Track Pack will begin being offered this summer on brand new Mustangs as a factory installed option. The Track Pack, which is only available for Mustang GT coupes with a manual transmission, features a number of upgrades. First, Ford's engineers decided to change up the rubber, installing 19-inch Pirelli P Zeros for an enhanced grip. Next up was the suspension, which received many cues from the Shelby GT500 Mustang. The front and rear stabilizer bars were borrowed from the Shelby, and the struts and shocks were retuned to deal with the better roll characteristics from the stabilizers, as well as the enhanced grip from the new tires. The result was s 23% decrease in front damping and 8% on the rear. The big story, though, was a 13% reduction in roll gradient, which is the measure of how much the body rolls in a turn. This reduction leads to the Track Pack-equipped Mustang GT staying flatter on the road, making for better and more secure handling.
Ford's engineers didn't stop there though, as they wanted the Track Pack to be more than just a few suspension tweaks. In order to help out in the performance department, they installed a 3.73 limited-slip axle with carbon-fiber clutch plates. This new axle is much more resistant to the wear and tear associated with track days, and, as an added bonus, it also increases resonse at mid-range speeds. New brake pads were also added, the anti-lock brake system was retuned, and the AdvanceTrac system received a few tweaks as well. The Track Pack will add an extra $1,495 to the price of the 2010 Mustang GT, and there's an extra handing package you can put on top of the track pack for some truly inspiring performance. The FR3 Handling Pack runs $1,335 and has thicker sway bars to reduce body roll, retuned damping for increased suspension compression and rebound, an extra 75 pounds added to the spring rate, and the whole car is lowered by an inch. With these two packs, your new 2010 Mustang GT will be ready for the track as soon as it rolls off the showroom floor. |
