LIVONIA, Mich. (March 18, 2009) - Before a crowd of enthusiastic fans holding their breath, and media with cameras focused and ready, Jack Roush unveiled the new ROUSH(R) 2010 Mustang, the fifth generation high-performance pony car to bear his name. The debut took place at the Livonia, Mich., vehicle assembly plant, just yards away from where the new ROUSH 2010 Mustangs will be built when production begins in early April.
"This is a very exciting day for me and for ROUSH Performance," Jack Roush said. "The very first ROUSH Mustang was built in 1994 and we have come a long way since that day in terms of performance, styling, and handling. And, this ROUSH 2010 Mustang is a prime example of our results-oriented program team working together under a tight deadline to be as close to the Ford factory Job One launch as possible."
In addition to the car, ROUSH now has more than 150 different parts which fit the 2010 Ford Mustang and allow owners to personalize their own vehicle.
More than 200 ROUSH employees had a hand in making the ROUSH 2010 Mustang a reality. Much of the work on the vehicle was done internally, including the design, prototyping, tooling, chassis and engine development, manufacturing, and of course, assembly. This means approximately 10 percent of the total ROUSH workforce was directly involved in the Mustang project. Once the ROUSH 2010 Mustang goes into production, this number of employees is expected to double.
At launch, there will be three versions of the ROUSH 2010 Mustang available for sale. The ROUSH 2010 Stage 1(TM) Mustang will include an appearance package which is comprised of several components such as a new front fascia and front splitter, rear fascia, side splitters, and a three-piece rear wing. This is the most economically priced ROUSH Mustang with a suggested retail price starting at $34,847. The new rear fascia is a one-piece design which improves the fit and finish; the part is injection-molded by ROUSH Manufacturing in an OEM-level TPO plastic which, in the black color with decorative grain, will help reduce rock chips.
Like its predecessors, the ROUSH 2010 Stage 2(TM) Mustang includes the same appearance upgrades, but also receives an all-new suspension package to greatly enhance the handling of the vehicle and turn that daily commute into a slalom course. The ROUSH chassis engineering team has driven tens of thousands of miles on the streets and tracks to create the best blend of comfort and handling, and claim that this is the best suspension package they have come up with yet for the Mustang. A ROUSH wheel hop reduction kit will be included with all vehicles that have the upgraded ROUSH suspension package installed at the factory. The ROUSH 2010 Stage 2 Mustang will retail starting at $36,221.
The ROUSH 2010 427R(TM) Mustang will be the first in the lineup to have a ROUSHcharger(R) installed which boosts the horsepower to 435 and offers 400 lb.-ft. of torque. This is the first time that ROUSH has been able to offer a supercharged vehicle at the launch of a new body style. The ROUSH 2010 427R has an MSRP which will open at $43,051.
Under the hood customers will see many differences in the ROUSH 2010 427R Mustang compared to previous years. One of the biggest changes is that the long air induction tube that wrapped around the engine was eliminated making a much cleaner appearance under the hood. The intercooler reservoir has more than twice the volume of previous generations, and the intercooler itself is a single core cross-flow radiator which means more efficient cooling. It is substantially larger than on prior model years, and is now raised higher off the ground which should offer much less potential for road debris damage. Even the hoses on the ROUSH 2010 427R have seen an upgrade; they are all now 100 percent molded rubber with abrasion resistance and have imprinted markings for things like the clamp locations. This makes for even more of a true OEM appearance under the hood, and ROUSH has taken this factory appearance to the degree of matching the Ford grain on the OEM radiator reservoir and duplicated it on the one used by the intercooler. Although much of the 4.6L, 3V powertrain components are a carryover from that used on the 2005-2009 ROUSH Mustangs, customers will notice much more refinement and OEM-level quality materials and appearance on the new ROUSHcharged(TM) engines.
Each of the three models of ROUSH 2010 Mustangs will ride on 18-inch cast chrome wheels with high-performance Cooper Zeon tires. A new 20-inch cast chrome wheel is an available option. All the ROUSH 2010 Mustangs will be covered by a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty.
"I've driven every generation of ROUSH Mustangs and there is no question that these cars keep improving over the years. Our engineering teams never sit back and say,'That's it. We are done working on this now.' They continually refine the components, whether it is in the engine, suspension, or any other part of the car. They are always thinking and testing and improving and creating the ultimate Mustang for the muscle car enthusiast. I think that there is no doubt that the ROUSH 2010 Mustang is our finest effort yet," Roush stated, adding that he will shortly be using one as his personal vehicles while traveling the NASCAR circuit.