"They hide in the bushes, they fly over test tracks;" the automotive paparazzi are always on the prowl, looking to grab a shot of the most secretive automotive projects. Ford->ke31 has now revealed the next-generation Mustang->ke428 coupe, and in this video it explains how the art of camouflage helped it keep the 2015 Ford Mustang under wraps, quite literally.
The iconic Ford Mustang->ke428, has been around for 50 years and has a huge fan following. So, it's no surprise that the amount of excitement and curiosity was high ahead of the official reveal. Before we all get to see the car, it is essential for any car maker to keep it away from prying eyes during the development and fine-tuning phase.
Ford managed to keep us guessing for sometime before the Stang's official launch, so what did it do to protect the car's identity? As camouflage experts at Ford->ke31 explain, they prefer to use soft vinyl instead of hard plastics that bind to the surface of the vehicle. The soft vinyl covers better and hides the contours of the body which made it rather difficult for us lot to get a peek at the lines.
As it seems, a lot of work goes into wrapping the car in vinyl, Styrofoam and plastic. During the early stages, our auto paparazzi had brought us heavily camouflaged images of the Mustang. As the launch date was nearing, the vinyls and plastics were replaced with psychedelic wraps to reveal the front fascia, and that's when the internet became flooded with renderings of the 2015 Mustang.
With the official unveiling of the 2015 Ford Mustang, the teams are finally relieved of trying to keep it under wraps. But, this cat and mouse game between the car makers and the paparazzi continues, as we are still awaiting some special-edition models.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Ford Mustang
During its initial release, Ford showcased the 2015 Mustang V6 and Mustang GT models. For the first time, Ford will also offer a four-cylinder 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine on the Mustang, marking the first time the Mustang used a turbo four-pot since the 1980s.
The Mustang V-6, with a displacement of 3.7-liters, is capable of producing over 300 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The 2015 Ford Mustang GT on the other hand, uses a more desirable 5.0-liter V-8.
Ford has tweaked the 5.0-liter engine for better fuel economy and low emissions. That said, this engine can still deliver 420 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of twisting force to the rear wheels.
Much to the driving enthusiast's delight, Ford will sell the Mustang with a proper manual gearbox. For those who prefer the luxury of an automatic, you can have a paddle-operated setup. Ford has also built auto-rev match into the transmission which should allow easy and precise gear shifts.
The 2015 Ford Mustang->ke428's design is an evolution of the original. We at Topspeed like the way Ford has incorporated classic design touches like the gills around headlights and the tri-bar tail lamps into a more modern package. The interior too is uniquely Mustang and a considerable improvement over the previous generation.