If you’re from Texas, like I am, mustangs are in your blood. Seriously. Think about it: we’re all only a few generations away from the frontier days of Texas when mustangs roamed free and vaqueros took pride in wrangling one for himself. Maybe that’s why the Dallas/Fort Worth area has plenty of Mustang references – that wild spirit of adventure and excitement is what our metroplex is all about. So when I had the opportunity to spend a few days with the new Ford Mustang in 2015, I was immediately reminded of our reverence of horses. In honor of the countless engineering artists that put their blood and sweat into Ford’s iconic sports car, I jumped into the Mustang and went off in search of three places here in the DFW where other artists paid homage to the majestic mustang.
The Mustangs of Irving
Even if equestrian art isn’t your thing, the Mustangs at Las Colinas will leave you in awe. Not only are the horses majestically detailed and incredibly life-like, but the entire collection of statues officially make up the largest equestrian sculpture in the world! The city of Irving says the horses are intended to represent the incredible lifestyle that was fundamental to the state of Texas during its pioneer days.
The bronze sculptures were commissioned in 1976, created by Robert Clen and installed in the middle of Williams Square in Las Colinas in 1984. The collection of sculptures were strategically placed in an open concrete courtyard surrounded on three sides by office buildings. The massive amount of space surrounding the sculptures gives an extra sense of grandeur and the small pond of water they “gallop” through add an element of realism. There is even a museum nearby that is dedicated to how the sculpture came to be.
You’ll find the Mustangs of Las Colinas a block up from Highway 114 on O’Conner Boulevard. Bring a camera – we did but this was as close as we could park our Ford Mustang to the plaza. Yet even from afar, Irving’s mustangs looked as glorious as the one we rolled up in.
The “Maverick” Fountain in Arlington
A beautiful equestrian statue in the middle of a shopping center? You betcha. While technically a “fountain”, the dynamic collection of mustang sculptures at the center is hard to ignore while searching for a parking space. Thankfully, the fountain was designed with the pedestrian in mind: there are plenty of benches that surround the fountain and lush greenery all around. Apparently the rearing mustangs in the fountain are actually “Mavericks” in honor of the nearby University of Texas at Arlington which claim mavericks as its mascot. Makes sense.
I highly recommend taking the time to admire the “Maverick” fountain the next time you’re in Arlington. It’s right off of I-30 and Cooper in Lincoln Plaza, near Globe Life Park and the AT&T Stadium. Plenty to see and do around there.
The SMU Mustangs
Nowhere in the DFW does the word “Mustang” ring more powerfully than at Southern Methodist University; it’s the school mascot and the student body proudly call themselves Mustangs. The school even has a pony that runs across the field during football games. Surprisingly, for almost 100 years the school was lacking a proper mascot statue on its campus – until 2005.
The sculpture that now sits outside of Moody Coliseum on the Southeast side of campus. Miley Frost, a Dallas resident and one of the nations most accomplished and respected sculptors, was commissioned to create the piece. Like the 2015 Ford Mustang, the SMU sculpture has a very strong presence – fitting for a collegiate sports mascot.
The 2015 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Premium
Now, for the Mustang you’ve been waiting for…
First, let me confess: when Ford revealed its revolutionary new design for the 2015 Mustang last year, I was a bit skeptical. I wasn’t doubting the legendary car itself or the company’s rich history of producing an iconic sports car beloved by auto enthusiasts the world over. I was confident that Ford knew how to make a muscle car that was in a league all its own, so I fully anticipated that the Mustang, particularly the GT models, would be a power-house on the road.
No, my skepticism was mostly pointed at the startling new direction Ford took with the design and overall look of the Mustang. At first glance, I naively considered the new elongated body and dramatic fast back hood slope to far removed from what I thought a Mustang should look like. But I quickly realized that daring new look was exactly what made the 2015 Mustang such a handsome automobile. This new sixth generation design actually paid tribute to some of my favorite Mustang iterations, like the 1964 and 1969 Boss models.
The 2015 Mustang does a beautiful job of appearing both sleek and powerful. Approaching the car from every angle yields a different impression and while most car nuts rave about the Mustang’s “fastback” tail end (and they’re right to do so) I mostly love the profile view. It’s the best angle to admire that combination of fluid, graceful lines with the intimidating front end that clearly houses a growling engine.
This GT Coupe Premium I drove to all the Mustang sculptures around town came with a 5.0L V8 engine that produced a very satisfying 435 horsepower. What’s great about all that power is that Ford has actually added a few onboard goodies to help you harness it. Thanks to the limited slip rear axle and an improved suspension, the 2015 Mustang has a fantastic sense of ride control and stability. They’ve even added launch controls and line lock so that going from 0-60 is not only more stable but incredibly easy. It’s like no Mustang you’ve ever driven before.
Inside, I was pleasantly surprised at how spacious the new Mustang was, particularly because all that interior roominess is deceivingly absent when looking at the car from the outside. I’m a tall guy and I had no problem jumping in and out of this beast; compared to the Lexus RC or the new 2016 Camaro, the Mustang feel cavernous. That’s a good thing too because that allowed me room to admire the pleasures that lied within the premium package, including the leather interior highlighted with red stitching that just oozed with coolness and style. It certainly feels like sitting in a jet’s cock-pit and that’s appropriate because it’s too easy to fly down the road in this gorgeous car.
The only downside to the growling GT model we tested is the gas mileage we got out of it; 15 city and about 25 highway. That’s to be expected though, and honestly you’ll have so much darn fun driving it, you might not care. Like taming a mustang in the old west, the 2015 Ford Mustang is a wild ride that’s worth every second.
The 2015 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Premium starts at $36,300. Tested at $43,985.
