When you think about the Smithsonian, you imagine the halls of its storied museums, but there is also the Smithsonian Channel on television. It brings those same subjects of air, space, history, nature, pop culture and science to life. A show that tackles several of these areas is Supercar Superbuilds, which goes behind the scenes of the creation of some of the fastest cars around. This weekend the show looks back at the story of the 2015 Mustang.
“The series goes behind the inherent beauty, amazing mechanical prowess, and basic building process of some of the world’s leading luxury automakers as they attempt to produce what they hope is their next iconic car. The new episodes focus on the Pagani, Mustang, Viper and Porsche,” says the Smithsonian channel. “They’re rare. They’re beautiful. They’re expensive. They not only push the performance envelope, they rip it wide open. Yet every supercar shares one thing in common: they all have a unique story to tell. There is often high-stakes pressure, impossible deadlines, secret meetings, remarkable engineering challenges, and, of course, dynamic styling.”
When it came to detailing the story of the 2015 Mustang, the show focuses on the challenges and pressures associated with reinventing such an iconic vehicle.
The rush is on to build the most important Mustang ever—a 50<sup>th</sup> Anniversary machine intended to go global for the very first time“The rush is on to build the most important Mustang ever—a 50th Anniversary machine intended to go global for the very first time,” says the show’s announcer. “…This is an inside look as the clock ticks to reinvent the sixth generation of the Ford Mustang.”
As has been well documented in the press and on the movie screen, the development of the 2015 Mustang shepherded by its Chief Engineer Dave Pericak (current Director, Ford Performance) marked a crucial stage in the Mustang’s history. Ford looked to not only appeal to younger buyers, but build a Mustang that would be accepted across the globe.
The world has been ready for us. They wanted Mustang for a long time. The world is watching this car“We decided early on to take it global. That was a dedication to the brand and to the company,” Dave says on the show. “The world has been ready for us. They wanted Mustang for a long time. The world is watching this car…”
As we now know, Ford’s Mustang team was quite successful in moving the Pony car forward for a new generation of global buyers, but as we start to eye the next iteration of the Mustang in 2018, it’s a great time to look back at what went into the successful launch of the S550.
The show debuts on the Smithsonian Channel Sunday, November 6 at 9 p.m.
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