How can you top something as successful as the all-new 2005 Mustang coupe?

You drop the top.

The 2005 Ford Mustang convertible, which will reach showrooms in the spring of 2005, is the first in a string of specialty versions of the new Mustang. Just as noteworthy, it is the most solid, best handling and most refined open-air version yet of this American legend.

The convertible uses the same ingredients that have made the 2005 Mustang coupe magical:

Totally new architecture
Muscular stance
Bold style
Brawny engine
Rear-drive excitement
Affordability

And because the convertible was designed alongside the coupe and not as an afterthought, it is much more solid than coupe-derived convertibles of the past. Better still, it retains all of the personality that has made the Ford Mustang one of the most-loved automotive nameplates in history.

There are more than 250 Mustang clubs from around the world with the largest - The Mustang Club of America - touting some 11,000 members alone. And when you consider that of the nearly eight million Mustangs sold since 1965, almost one million of them have been convertibles - it's clear that the convertible is a key part of Mustang's success.

AVOIDING EXTREME MAKEOVERS

The 2005 Mustang convertible was designed from the ground up to deliver a more rigid body structure without adding burdensome weight. This was accomplished by engineering it in tandem with the coupe. An added benefit of this process - one that helped meet a goal set for the convertible's exterior design - was that it provided the car with a cohesive, integrated look. It does not look like a coupe that has undergone reconstructive surgery to become a convertible.

The fabric top also seals better than did those of previous models and it affords superior rearward visibility. Looking for new and better ways to do things, Ford engineers designed a z-fold top that gives the Mustang convertible a finished appearance with the top down.

Aside from the top, the 2005 Mustang convertible shares the look of a legend with its coupe sibling. The signature long hood, short deck and classic design cues may be found on both. There's an unmistakable hint of Mustang notchbacks of yesteryear in the convertible's profile and stance - with the same athletic proportions, save for today's bigger, wider wheels and tires, that make it look as good at rest as it does at speed.

THE INSIDE STORY

Just as it does with its exterior design and engineering, the 2005 Mustang convertible makes a statement with its interior. Thanks to intelligent engineering that resulted in a convertible platform with more than twice the torsional stiffness of the previous version, this is the most quiet and solid drop top Mustang ever produced. The squeaks, shakes and rattles to which convertibles typically are prone are startlingly missing from the 2005 Mustang convertible.

Also improved is the rearward visibility. The 2005 Mustang convertible comes with a wide glass backlite (including a defroster), full quarter windows and slim C-pillars, all of which offer a driver a better look out the back.

DONE RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S DONE LIGHT

The typical convertible "conversion" can add as much as 300 pounds. Much of the weight comes from the metal added to brace the structure to restore some of its strength after the top is cut off. Mustang engineers considered how they could add strength into both the 2005 coupe and convertible. For instance, they were able to design body joints and rocker panels that give the convertible a commendable level of stiffness without the need for additional bracing.

The payoff from "adding lightness" is evident. For one thing, the 2005 Mustang convertible shares its suspension geometry and virtually all its suspension tuning with the coupe. As a result, never before have the coupe and convertible ridden and handled so much alike. Another benefit of the convertible's sensibly managed weight program is that excess poundage does not sap acceleration.

Like the 2005 Mustang coupe, the convertible uses a MacPherson strut front suspension and a rigid rear axle that has surprised the automotive press with its composure and handling prowess. The secret for its success is a three-link setup with a Panhard rod that maintains precise control over the axle.