The California Special has been a staple in the Ford Mustang lineup for quite a few years now, and the 2022 model year brought about a few tweaks to this optional package as well. Now, the 2022 Ford Mustang California Special is breaking new ground – literally speaking – as it will be available in Europe for the very first time, albeit only as a convertible, the automaker has announced.
The 2022 Ford Mustang California Special continues a long-running tradition in the pony car world that started way back in 1968 when the model debuted with a host of unique features including a blacked-out grille, fog lights, side racing stripes, new rear side air scoops, and a Shelby-inspired spoiler. The newest version continues that theme with its own variety of appearance updates as well.
Those features include an Ebony Black honeycomb front grille with a Race Red GT/CS badge, lower black, red, and gray side stripes with GT/CS logos and “hidden” California Special script, a larger front splitter, optional rear side air scoops, a faux filler cap, quad exhaust tips, unique 19-inch five-spoke Carbonized Gray wheels, and a strut tower brace with a California Special badge. Nine exterior colors are available, including Grabber Blue and Cyber Orange.
Inside, the California Special features standard heated and cooled front seats, a 12-inch customizable instrument cluster, an 8-inch infotainment screen with SYNC 3 connectivity, grey Miko suede inserts on the leather seats and door panels, red stitching, the GT/CS logo on the seats and floor mats, and a Carbon Hex aluminum instrument panel with a unique Mustang California Special badge. Power comes from Ford’s 5.0L Coyote V8, which can be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or FoMoCo’s 10-speed automatic.
“The California Special is a huge part of the Mustang’s legacy in America and it symbolizes so much of what Mustang stands for – the joy of driving and the freedom of the open road,” said Matthias Tonn, Mustang chief program engineer, Ford of Europe. “Those ideals resonate just as strongly with driving enthusiasts in Europe, so it’s about time customers here got to experience the unique California Special blend of style, performance, and driving fun.”
The California Special joins the Mustang Mach 1 in Europe – where it launched last May – though only EcoBoost models are available in the UK. Production of the iconic pony in the midst of the chip shortage has been a struggle lately, however, though a number of 2022 Mustang options are no longer listed as late availability, as Ford Authority reported last week.
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