2009 Glass Roof Ford Mustang

In 2009, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of the Mustang’s debut, Ford will offer a glass roof Mustang, in addition to the existing coupe and convertible options. The glass roof option (59G) will be offered on all Premium model 4.0L V6 and 4.6L GT Mustang coupes. Returning special-edition Mustangs such as the Bullitt, the GT/CS, the GT-500, and the GT-500KR, will not feature the glass roof option. However, the 2009 Warriors in Pink Mustang will offer the option. According to Ford, the cost of the glass roof will be $1,995, which is less than the cost of upgrading from a coupe to a convertible.

Ford Mustang's Glass Roof Muse
A similar product for existing 2005 and newer Mustangs is Webasto’s Glassback™ roof which takes the classic fastback look of the Mustang coupe and adds the open-air feeling of a convertible. One has to wonder if this was the muse that inspired Ford executives to move towards a production glass roof, as the new 2009 production roof will be produced by Webasto as well. In a press release issued by the company, Andreas Weller, Vice President Business Development at Webasto said, "We believe this project truly speaks well to Webasto's ability to deliver complex engineering capabilities in a very short time frame while still meeting our customers' strong engineering demands for their product's safety, durability, and styling. It was a remarkable achievement that, along with Ford, we brought this program from concept to 'parts on the road' in just 70 weeks -- about half the time normally taken on an automotive project of this complexity." The assembly process for the fixed glass roof option vehicles includes a full, invisible interface with the body shop at Automotive Alliance International's Flat Rock, Mich. plant which assembles the Ford Mustang. Components are produced and shipped to Flat Rock from two different Webasto locations, in Livonia, Mich. and Rochester Hills, Mich.

According to Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president, Global Product Development, “Mustang is an icon in our product lineup, and we are committed to keeping Mustang news fresh every year. As the automotive landscape becomes increasingly competitive, features such as a panoramic glass roof will help differentiate our products from the competition.”

Features of the Mustang's Glass Roof
The Mustang’s glass roof will feature tinted privacy glass designed to keep the inside of the car cooler and to reduce infrared rays. Ford says the design will speed up cool down time within the vehicle by 50 percent. It is also designed to prevent interior fading and discoloration of the car’s fabric due to exposure to direct sunlight. The roof will also feature a manual roller blind, allowing passengers to control the amount of exposure the roof offers.

UV-Filtering
Ford says the roof also offers UV-filtering capability. According to the company, the glass roof filters 90 percent of the sun's heat-generating infrared (IR) rays and 96 percent of burn-causing ultraviolet (UV) rays. The UV-filtering capability of the new Mustang's fixed glass roof is said to be comparable to sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of approximately 50, which exceeds the dermatologist-recommended sunscreen strength of at least SPF-15. "The Mustang's glass roof gives customers more of what they want, sunshine, while protecting them against the sun's harmful rays," said Chester Walawender, Ford's glass technical expert. "But if an occupant wants less sun or additional privacy, the Glass Roof Mustang comes standard with a retractable mesh sun shade."

Structural Design
As for its structural design, the roof will be made of safety glass, designed to shatter without sharp or jagged edges. The glass roof Mustang will be built like a coupe to help maintain the vehicle’s structural characteristics. A layer of vinyl on the glass is said to reduce noise and vibrations while on the road.

Safety
Ford reports that the glass roof has been tested to meet the strictest safety and consumer satisfaction requirements. In a press release, the company reported, “During the development phase, production-level prototypes ran through a rigorous prove-out, including various water, air leakage, durability, squeak and rattle and vehicle dynamics tests.” Paul Randle, chief nameplate engineer said, “Quality is a continuous process. The whole team is passionate about it, which results in our paying attention to the smallest details. Our owners have high expectations, and we always want to meet them – with strong features like this new roof option, quality and performance.”

Consumer Response
Ford says the idea of offering a glass roof was researched with Mustang customers beginning in 2005 to determine interest and pricing. Of those polled, 51 percent said the styling appealed to them and 42 percent said it would help make their car more unique. Ford dealer and marketing research indicate that about 20 percent of Mustang shoppers are likely to order the glass roof version, said Allison Revier, product marketing manager for Mustang.

Assembly and Availability
Glass Roof Mustangs will be assembled at the Automotive Alliance International plant in Flat Rock, Mich. The unique glass is installed at Ford’s adjacent vehicle personalization facility. Ford reports the vehicles are currently on their way to dealerships across the country.

The Glass Roof Mustang debuted at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.