Mustang Interior Promises to be as Well Made as New F-150 Interior
LAS VEGAS: The F-Series pickup for 2004 is the first evidence of Ford's plan to spend a lot more money on interiors,
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| Ford showed off Mustang's "color-configurable cluster" at the SEMA specialty parts show. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
Ford showed off Mustang's "color-configurable cluster" at the SEMA specialty parts show here recently, and while that kind of thing has been done by aftermarket custom shops, this is the first such application from a manufacturer.
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| The color-configurable cluster can be back-lit in any of 125 backgrounds by "mixing" three primary colors with the turn of a dial. (Photo: Ford Motor Company) |
While the cluster is "just one of many innovative new features coming on the Mustang," according to Ford, it's a pretty good start.
The color-configurable cluster can be back-lit in any of 125 backgrounds by "mixing" three primary colors with the turn of a dial, explained J Mays, Ford's group vice president of Design.
Mays said, "The effect can be subtle or dramatic, particularly at night, as the speedometer and tachometer illuminate in variations of blue, green or red hues, creating a unique, personalized driving mood."
The new Mustang's standard-setting interior will include the new color-configurable instrument cluster, which uses six light-emitting diode (LED) lights that are selectable in order from green, blue, purple, white, orange and red.
Mays said that the LEDs are filtered through innovative "light pipe" fittings on the sides of the speedometer, tachometer and vehicle operation indicator panel to create the numerous color options.