Preview pictures of the upcoming 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II Edition had emerged last week before the one-off car’s launch at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture in Wisconsin later this year and just a few days later, Ford had decided to release the first official set of images and details of this car.
Even before the preview pictures of the 2015 Ford Mustang GTF-35 Lightning II Edition had been released to the public, it had already been known that Ford had been developing a car that will pay tribute to the legendary World War II fighter jet by sharing its name.
But Mustangs Daily had actually stated that despite having the name of the past World War II era-fighter, the 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II Edition is actually designed based in a new amazing fighter jet that will be entering service in not only the U.S. Air Force but also the air forces of other several countries: F-35 Lightning II.
It is a multi-role ground attack fighter jet that has a short, vertical take-off and landing capability and a stealthy exterior which gives this figther jet the ability to evade radar.
Ford had collaborated with different performance and tuning companies in order to develop this 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II Edition which will not be made available to the public since Ford had decided to donate this car to the auction at EAA’s AirVenture Festival.
This had actually been a tradition of Ford since each year, it always donate a car that has been modified to resemble a certain plane to be auctioned off for the benefit of the EAA Young Eagles program.
2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II Edition’s Features
The outside appearance of this car features an intimidating wide and low carbon-fiber front splitter to pay tribute to the new F-35 Lightning II fighter jet as well add a feel of aggression while increasing the downforce of the car.
The 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II’s exteriors had also been painted with matte titanium paint work with several areas having a glossy paint which is once again in accordance to the fuselage of the new fighter jet.
It also has a dark grey and yellow racing stripe across the whole side of the car. To make the Mustang look more like the F-35 Ligthning II, the car’s rear fenders, trunk lid, and spoiler had been painted just like how the tail of the new fighter jet had been. An F-35 lettering had even been added to complete the effect of the car. The 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II also has new 21-inch matte back wheels, yellow brake calipers, and a large rear wing.
Inside, the 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II has Recaro bucket seats that also follows the yellow theme of the car. It also had a modified instrument cluster and performance gauges.
The elements of the F-35 Lightning II had also been embroidered not only into the seats but also on the floor mats of the car.
As for the engine of this 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II Edition, it is powered by a 5-litre Coyote V8 just like the normal version of this car. The engine can give off up to 435 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. This might not amaze you since many GT cars had also been released with higher power production that this but just the design of the car is enough to convince many car enthusiasts to bid on it.
Last year, the Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcon-themed Mustang GT had been donated by Ford to be auctioned off for the benefit of the EAA’s Young Eagles Program and this car had been sold off at a price of $398,000. So, the expectation is higher with the new 2015 Ford Mustang GT F-35 Lightning II Edition. But given the specifications and the aggressive design of the car, it will not be surprising that it will be sold off at a much higher price than last year’s auctioned car.