It’s Ford time

The expansive glass roof is made of tinted privacy glass, which cuts infrared rays to help keep the cabin cool. The treated glass will help prevent the interior from fading and being discolored through typical sun damage. It comes with a manual roller blind to block out light on sunny days. Ford said the glass has been extensively tested to maintain the Mustang’s structural integrity, and the automaker installed a layer of vinyl on it to help keep it quiet on the road.

It is made of safety glass, meaning it doesn’t shatter with sharp edges. The glass roof measures 3.1 feet by 3.8 feet. Ford said it sees a growing market in vehicles with glass tops, citing a recent auto consumer study that says production of large sunroofs has increased by 200 percent since 2003. The see-through roofs will most likely appeal to buyers of the high-end Mustangs, said Joseph Phillippi of AutoTrends Consulting in Short Hills, N.J.

Given the trend toward larger sunroofs, the option makes sense, he said. “They’re not going to sell at the bottom end of the spectrum,” he said. “But if you are buying a really sporty car and are willing to spend a decent amount of money — there’s clearly a market there.” Keeping Mustang fresh, updated The new option plays into Ford’s plans to continue to keep the Mustang fresh and updated.

In January 2009, Ford will bring in the limited-edition Mustang Bullitt — marking the 40th anniversary of the Steve McQueen movie with the same name. Later in the year, Ford will debut the Shelby GT500KR. This powerful limited-edition model marks the 40th anniversary of the Shelby GT500KR, known then as The King of the Road.