2005 Mustang Convertible Preview

Of course, along with the many styling cues, the drop-top Mustang inherits the new coupe's updated architecture, athletic V6 and

The V8-powered Mustang Convertible will get the GT designation. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

V8 powertrains, stylish interior treatments, and all-American attitude.

Like the coupe, the V8-powered Mustang Convertible will get the GT designation, and also like the coupe both 5-speed manual and 5-speed automatic versions will be available with either engine.

Both are good transmissions with my preference being the stick. It's smooth shifting, with intervals that match either engine ideally. I remember not even minding that only five forward gears were featured, as the 4.0L V6, with its impressive 210-horsepower at 5,250 rpm

The 300-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 is very entertaining, producing ample torque from just about anywhere in the rev range. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

and 240 lb-ft of torque at 3,500 rpm, made optimal use of the cogs at hand. Incidentally, the new V6 is made in Cologne, Germany.

Obviously the 300-horsepower 4.6-liter V8 was even more entertaining, producing ample torque from just about anywhere in the rev range thanks to variable camshaft timing, with a total of 320 lb-ft peaking out at 4,500 rpm, well shy of the engine's 6,250 rpm redline. Its high-rpm capability is sign enough of its overhead cam technology, this one using a singular system on each bank of cylinders rather than the dual overhead cam setup boasted by some of the Mustang's rivals.