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2015 Ford MustangHandout

The Angeles Crest Highway, a two-lane driving adventure north of the Los Angeles Basin, is not a road for the old point-and-shoot Ford Mustang.

When you get there in the new 2015 Mustang, says chief engineer Dave Pericak, "I want you to notice how tight the car feels. How well-behaved the car remains in the canyons and hitting the hairpins. You can go into the corners deeper, and you can go in a lot faster, and you're going to rocket out of them."

Pericak speaks with the urgency of a double-espresso-ed Marine Corps drill instructor. I am worried he'll go all Full Metal Jacket, so I agree to thrash his car to its limits.

Half the route I do in a GT with the 5.0-litre V-8 (435 horsepower), the other sees me in a 'Stang with an all-new 310-HP, 2.3-litre EcoBoost four-cylinder engine with the optional Performance Pack. The former has all-season tires and a guttural-sounding V-8 with a broad torque band. The latter car has racy summer tires and an engine I'd describe as "frisky." The third engine Ford will be selling is a 300-hp V-6, though it's not here for the launch of Ford's 50th-anniversary pony car.

The essence of the ride-and-handling story: This is the closest thing to a sports car the rear-drive Mustang has ever been. The steering is tight, the car is poised and the fully independent four-wheel suspension helps the car hold its line in a corner, drama free. Of the two engines, the V-8 is the smoother, easier-to-drive choice.

This Mustang, though, must be more than just another Ford. It will be sold in both right- and left-hand drive versions around the world. And this particular one must appeal to younger buyers.

The design is all "Americana" Mustang, from its long hood to the fastback that tapers into the short rear deck framed by healthy hips. The cockpit is roomy and the pieces fit well. Frills? Just real aluminum trim, round readouts for ground and engine speed, and Ford's MyFord touch screen in the centre console. Toggle switches allow you to punch up different drive modes. Transmissions: six-speed automatic and manual, with the manual entertaining and the autobox tuned to be smooth and fast.

Ford has managed a notable feat: an affordable Mustang for the 21st-century world.

TECH SPECS

2015 Ford Mustang

Price range: $24,999-$47,999 ($52,899 for the Limited Edition GT)

Engines: 2.3-litre EcoBoost (turbocharged) four-cylinder; 3.7-litre V-6; 5.0-litre V-8

Drive: Rear-wheel drive

Fuel economy (litres/100 km with manual gearbox): 2.3-litre EcoBoost 10.6 city/7.5 highway; 3.7-litre V-6 13.5 city/8.3 highway; V-8 15.2 city/9.3 highway, regular fuel

Alternatives: Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Hyundai Veloster, Mini Cooper, Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Mazda MX-5, Volkswagen Eos

You'll Like This Car If: You want an American sporty car that won't drain your bank account.

RATINGS

Looks

Ford's designers couldn't stray far from the basic Mustang look, yet had to find a modern interpretation of a design familiar to the world for 50 years. They've done it.

Interior

The cabin is roomy enough for big, grown adults. It's not fancy, but it's functional and pleasant.

Technology

Remember, the pricing. This car starts at $25,000. So while this is not a high-tech masterpiece, the modern pieces, from Bluetooth to Shaker sound are there.

Performance

The new chassis and all-independent suspension turn this Mustang into something approaching a sports car. If you like carving corners, you can do them in this car.

Cargo

Who buys a Mustang as a moving van? The back seat is painfully inhabitable and not a place I'd want to be. Ever. The trunk is smallish, too.

The Verdict

9.0: Ford has stuck to its Mustang knitting, reinventing the car for a global audience while keeping the price within reach of middle-class buyers.

The writer was a guest of the auto maker.

If you have questions about driving or car maintenance, please contact our experts at globedrive@globeandmail.com.

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