We recently flew up to Cape Cod to visit friends for a lovely week of summer weather in the low seventies. That seemed perfect for convertible motoring and the Boston press fleet came through with a white Mustang GT that growled into life at the push of the start button. After a bit of city and highway driving, I had to check under the hood to see where all that power was coming from. In fact, it looked just like the 500-horsepower Dark Horse engine with two big air intakes and direct injectors feeding the 5.0-liter beast.

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That “Dark Horse” feeling of power was not an illusion. The new Mustang GT models pack 480 horses under the vented hood and will charge to 60 MPH in 3.9-seconds. That’s .2-seconds slower than the 500 HP model, or a difference that a simple engine management chip might correct. Although if you play with the car’s computer, you might kiss the warranty goodbye so I’d settle for 96% of the Dark power.

So now that we’ve established that this pony is quick, what’s it like to live with? I began my journey from airport parking in the rain and that’s always a good measure of soft top performance. The interior stayed dry and frost free with little wind noise. In contrast, the deep exhaust tone was quite apparent, to the point that I assumed we were in “Sport” mode. Nope, this Mustang wants to share its voice with the rest of the motoring public. I’d humbly suggest a touch quieter exhaust setting available for those times when its lovely 12-speaker B & O sound system could provide sonic amusement.

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Mustang’s basic design language hasn’t changed dramatically since its introduction 61-years ago and that heritage is part of the car’s enduring charm. Ford labels the model an “icon” and they certainly avoid hyperbole with that lofty designation. But our new Mustang doesn’t rest on its legendary laurels. Outside, the body panels appropriately bulge with a muscular tension that gives homage to what’s just beneath the skin. And inside, the cockpit is properly driver-focused with a big, curved display that combines instruments straight ahead of the driver and infotainment a bit to the right.

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During the week we drove all around Cape Cod, even up to Provincetown where we tried not to frighten the spirited pony. It was perfect convertible weather and stowing the top was a twist of the header handle and then pressing a rocker switch. I like that mechanical unlatching since it’s far less complicated and trouble-free than automatic systems. And to keep things simple, the forward section of the top makes its own clean boot. 

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Our well-equipped Mustang GT convertible retailed for nearly seventy-grand and that may be a budget stretch for your fun car. If that’s the case, Mustang’s EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder convertible is just above $43-grand and while it lacks prodigious power, it delivers winning fuel economy. Like other enthusiasts, we hope the ‘Stang stays around in some form for the next six decades.