2006 Ford Mustang: Ultimate In-Depth Guide

History, Specs, Options, Performance & More

2006 Ford Mustang

2006 Ford Mustang Overview

The 2006 Mustang is very much like the all new Ford Mustang for 2005 which is actually a good thing. Ford’s new Mustang Pony Package offered base V6 owners a chance to experience the better suspension upgrades available to GT owners and gave the V6 a more aggressive look. The Mustang GT-H (short for GT Hertz), not seen since the 1960’s returned to Hertz, with a special edition black with gold stripes paint job and like the original got some other tasty upgrades.

Model: 2006 Ford Mustang
Generation: 5th Generation Mustang
Type: 2 Door
Body Styles: Coupe, Convertible
Engines: 4.0L SOHC EFI V6, 4.6L 3V EFI V8
Original Price: $19,215 (Base Coupe), $24,040 (Basic Convertible)
Units Produced: 166,262

Additional 2006 Mustang Research: 2006 Research Center / Colors Details / Production Numbers / Prices & Options / Sales Brochures / Owner Manuals / Maintenance / Pictures / Videos / VIN Decoder / Special Editions

Background & Details

The 2006 Mustang line-up carried on pretty much unchanged since the car had just gone through a major revision for the previous year. The car was broadly the same both on the outside and inside. In 2006, several optional upgrade packages were provided to allow the Mustang buyer to personalize their car.

  • The Exterior Sport package includes a rear spoiler and lower body side mustang tape appliqué.
  • The Interior Sport Package includes Leather wrapped steering wheel with satin aluminum spokes, and a satin aluminum plated automatic transmission shift lever, or a bright shift knob on the manual transmission.
  • The Interior Upgrade Package includes a 6-gauge instrument cluster with 125 color lighting choices. leather wrapped steering wheel, satin aluminum finished instrument panel, air vents, door handles, scuff plates, message center and dark charcoal door panel inserts.
  • The Pony Package includes a Pony grille and fog lights, rear spoiler, chromed air vents, 17 ” painted aluminum wheels with pony tri cap center caps, Pony fender badges, lower bodyside tape stripe, carpeted floor mats with chrome pony badge, anti-lock brakes and traction control.
  • The Red Interior accent package included red leather trimmed sport bucket seats, red floor panel inserts and red floor mats. This optional package requires the Interior Upgrade package and the charcoal colored interior.

All of these packages were interesting but it was the V6 Pony Package that was the most exciting. With an MSRP of $1,195, the Pony Package was available on V6 coupe and convertible. It came standard with a new 1965 Mustang GT-inspired grille which features a traditional corral surrounding the pony and horizontal bars which lead to small chrome-trimmed grille-mounted foglamps. It also got 17″ wheels (the same “Bullitt” wheels that were standard on the 2005 Mustang GT). It got a new thin-thick-thin rocker panel tape stripe with “MUSTANG” lettering on the door and comes standard with a rear spoiler and GT-inspired suspension modifications featuring a larger front stabilizer bar, the addition of a rear stabilizer bar, 4-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system (ABS) and traction control.

Not to be outdone, the GT also got some updates (although not as exciting). The GT had two options for 18″ wheels. The first option was known as the “fanblades” from the 2004 show cars and also the 18″ Bullitt wheels.

The Shelby GT350H returned as Ford recreated a modern version of the GT350H which was a for rental only special limited production car exclusively for Hertz. It got special edition black with gold stripes paint job and a power pack engine upgrade that gave it some extra punch.

Design

Mustang is pure American muscle. The signature long hood and short rear deck capitalize on 40 years of history, as do classic design cues that have defined Mustangs since the 1960s: C-scoops in the sides, three-element taillamps and a galloping horse badge in the center of the grille. The Mustang’s menacing shark-like nose imparts an attitude not seen since the 1967 model, while jeweled, round headlamps in trapezoidal housings are part of its striking new modern architecture. The car’s aggressive rake gives the design visual motion while the short overhangs anchor it visually and physically to the road.
The new-for-2006 V-6 “Pony Package” includes a customized grille with GT-style round fog lamps and a chrome bezel or “corral” around the traditional Mustang prancing horse. Backing up this visual upgrade is a GT-inspired suspension featuring a larger front stabilizer bar, the addition of a rear stabilizer bar and P235/55ZR17 tires on painted cast-aluminum wheels. With bright machined rims and unique tri-bar Pony center caps, these are the largest wheels and tires ever fitted to a V-6 Mustang.

Further touches include Pony front fender badges, lower door tape stripe, carpeted front floor mats with special brushed chrome “Mustang” logos and a rear spoiler. Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock braking system (ABS) and traction control are also part of the package.

In the 2006 model year, Mustang GT also will have two new 18-inch wheel and tire combinations – the largest tires ever fitted to a production V-8 Mustang since the 2000 SVT Cobra R model – and unique suspension tuning calibrated to the larger treads. Mustang GT customers will be able to choose from four wheel- and -tire combinations.

Inside, the industry-first, color-configurable instrument panel offers the ultimate in personalization. Mustang owners can mix and match lighting at the touch of a button to create more than 125 different color backgrounds to suit their personality, mood, outfit or whim.

Modern touches mix with Mustang history and heritage. Chrome-ringed air vents are aligned vertically across the dash, precisely in line with the gauges, and the steering wheel has three spokes with a center hub marked by the horse and tricolor bars logo, echoing the design of the 1967 Mustang.

Numerous st and ard features include one-touch up/down power windows, power mirrors, keyless entry and power locks, a heated rear window, interval wipers, air conditioning, speed control and CD player.

Powertrain & Chassis

Muscular engines infuse Mustang with tire-smoking performance. The 4.6-liter aluminum V-8 has three-valve heads and cranks out 300 horsepower. That’s more than 50 percent more power than the small-block 289-cubic-inch V-8 found in the classic 1964 model.
The standard engine, a 60-degree 4.0-liter SOHC V-6, produces 210 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque.

Five-speed manual transmissions are standard. The V-8 powered GT is equipped with a rugged Tremec 3650 gearbox, while V-6 uses the proven Tremec T-5. Since 2005, Mustang has been available with a five-speed automatic which provides a unique combination of off-the-line jump and good highway fuel economy.

At the front suspension, MacPherson struts with reverse “L” lower control arms deliver both comfort and control. The three-link rear suspension has a lightweight, tubular Panhard rod that provides precise control of the rear axle. This technology stabilizes the rear axle as the wheels move, particularly during hard cornering.

The st and ard four-wheel disc brakes have the biggest rotors and stiffest calipers ever fitted to a mainstream Mustang. Twin-piston aluminum calipers clamp down on 12.4-inch ventilated front brake discs on GT models.

In the rear, the brake rotors are 11.8 inches in diameter – more than 12 percent larger than on the 2004 model.

A four-channel anti-lock braking system with traction control is available for a greater degree of brake control. It uses electronic sensors to constantly monitor road conditions and feed the information to a dedicated control computer capable of determining, within milliseconds, whether the vehicle is on dry pavement or negotiating a slippery surface. When traction control isn’t desired, drivers can deactivate the system with a simple button on the instrument panel.

Special Edition Models & Variants

Two regional specials were released in 2006, the Southern California Special (SCS) and the Stampede Edition (Stampede). Built on the Pony Package with the same key items (colors, stripes, features, etc.) although they carry different badging and, depending on the special, were created in different unit amounts. The Mustang GT-H was a special edition Mustang black with gold stripes paint job that was sold to Hertz, built to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of one of the most legendary Mustangs of all time. The base GT as always was back again in fine form also.

2006 Ford Mustang GT

GT

The 2006 Mustang GT was pretty much a carryover year. The Mustang GT continued to come in two options packages: the Deluxe and the Premium. The muscular new engines from the prior year stayed and provided the 2006 Mustang GT with more than adequate performance to keep its bang for your buck crown.

Learn more about the 2006 Ford Mustang GT

Shelby GT-H

The Mustang GT-H (short for GT Hertz) was a special edition Mustang black with gold stripes paint job. Like the original, it was limited production (500 units) program available for rent at a few major Hertz outlets. The Ford Racing engineers bumped up the output by 25 horsepower to 325 with their Power pack and revised exhaust, cold air induction and an X pipe coupled to a revised cat-back exhaust system.

Learn more about the 2006 Ford Mustang Shelby GT-H

2006 Ford Mustang Southern California Special

Southern California Special

This regional special was only for the dealerships in Southern California and is identified on the original Ford window sticker and not an add-on sticker as with dealer created packages. Only 600 units were built. The 2006 Southern California Special were all V6 Mustangs with the addition of 9″ silver racing stripes as well as some other changes.

Learn more about the 2006 Ford Mustang Southern California Special

Stampede Edition

Stampede Edition

The 2006 Stampede was a 500 unit limited regional special for dealerships in Oklahoma and Texas. The 2006 Stampede Edition was based on the V6 Premium Coupe with the Pony Package added for good measure. Exterior color options included RedfireVista BlueBlack or Tungsten Gray.

Learn more about the 2006 Ford Mustang Stampede Edition

Specifications, Options & Detailed Stats

Production Numbers

In 2006, several optional upgrade packages were provided to allow the Mustang buyer to personalize their car. These updates plus the addition of 500 Hertz models helped push Mustang sales to slight growth for the year, up 3.65% to 166,262 units. To dive into the model and body splits as well as see charts and percentages, check out our 2006 Ford Mustang Production & Sales Numbers deep dive.

Options and Pricing

The major option addition for 2006 was the V6 Pony Package. With an MSRP of $1,195, the Pony Package, which is available on V6 coupe and convertible, comes standard with a new 1965 Mustang GT-inspired grille which features a traditional corral surrounding the pony and horizontal bars which lead to small chrome-trimmed grille-mounted foglamps.

V-6 Standard: One-touch up/down power windows, power mirrors and door locks, keyless entry, air conditioning, CD player, tilt steering wheel, speed control, rear window defroster, stainless steel exhaust, 16-inch wheels, four-wheel power disc brakes, split-folding rear seat on Coupe models.

V-6 Deluxe adds: 16-inch machined-face aluminum wheels.

V-6 Premium adds: 16-inch painted bright machined aluminum wheels with chrome spinner, Shaker 500 audio system with six-disc CD changer and MP3 capability, six-way power adjustable driver seat.

GT Deluxe adds: 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8 engine, ABS with traction control, stainless steel dual exhaust, front fog lamps in grille, complex reflector halogen headlamps with integral turn signals, rear spoiler, performance tires with 17-inch painted cast aluminum wheels, AM/FM stereo with single CD, cloth sport bucket seats and tilt steering wheel.

GT Premium adds: Shaker 500 Audio system with six-disc CD player and Aberdeen leather-trimmed embossed sport bucket seats.

Options include the V-6 Pony Package, seat-mounted side air bags, interior upgrade package with satin aluminum trim or, later in the model year, dark aluminum trim; MyColor custom instrument panel, interior color accent package with black interior and red seats and door inserts, five-speed automatic transmission, two styles of 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels (later in the model year on GT only), Active-Theft System.

For more detailed options and pricing, please check out our 2006 pricing and options research.

Exterior & Interior Colors

A total of 10 colors were available for the 2006 Mustang model year. Sonic Blue was replaced with Vista Blue, and Mineral Grey is replaced with Tungsten Grey. For detailed colors, color palettes, codes and interior colors please check out our in depth 2006 colors information post.

Engine Specs

The base 4.0 liter V6 continued with 210 horsepower, while the GT retains the 300 horsepower 4.6 liter V8 from the 2005 car. The Mustang GT-H with its hot rod upgrades had 325 horsepower with its 4.6 liter V8 and was coupled to a 3.55:1 rear axle ratio for extra grunt. The Ford Racing FR1 Power Pack with a cold-air intake, muffler set and a unique X-pipe were the changes that added the 25 additional horsepower and 10 extra foot-pounds of torque to the Shelby GT-H. For more information on engines for 2006, you can find the information here.

Dimensions & Weight

Compared to the previous generation Mustang, the 2006 model (which was a fifth generation car) was a much larger car. The wheelbase grew to 107.1-inches from 101.3, this was done to increase passenger space and improve ride quality. Overall, the car was 4.4-inches longer, 0.8-inches wider and 1.4-inches taller.

Performance

The base Mustang was no longer embarrassing from a performance perspective while the GT continued to be a bang for your buck king with strong acceleration times and plenty of grunt. 0-60 mph was over in about 6.8 seconds in base V6 and took only 5.1 seconds in the Mustang GT. Below we have included 0-60 mph times, 0-100 mph times as well as quarter mile times and top speed where available.

VIN Information

Vin Decoder Mustang 2006

This link will take you to a page which contains the VIN tag information for all years of Mustangs. Previously this information appeared on each Mustang’s year page, but consolidating it has significantly reduced page loading times. To decode the build sheet, check out our 2006 VIN & Data Plate Decoder sheet.

Videos & Picture Galleries

We managed to find some great video reviews of the 2006 Mustang so definitely check those out. We also have a picture 2006 Ford Mustang Picture Gallery and photos of real Mustangs in each color that was available.