If you haven’t already heard, thanks to Ford Motor Company, we can all get into the West Coast spirit with the 2019 Mustang GT California Special. You read that right, following on the heels of the 2019 Bullitt announcement; Ford is reintroducing the California Special for 2019. The California Special first hit the streets in 1968, and the 2019 version is just as special.
Like the Bullitt, the California Special will feature a 460 horsepower Coyote engine, but unlike the Bullitt’s subdued exterior, the California Special will boast visual hints of the car’s uniqueness. Special stripes, emblems, and exterior cues will alert those around you that this is not just a regular Mustang GT. The California Special will feature an open grille, the Mustang Performance Pack 1 front splitter, and specific five-spoke wheels. Inside each California Special will be Miko suede-trimmed seats with GT/CS callouts and red stitching, embroidered floor mats, and special badging on the dash.
What’s more, additional new-for-2019 Mustang GT options will make your California dreams even better. When you pair a California Special with the available Performance Package, you get rev-matching to instantly make you look like a seasoned race car driver. The rev-matching mimics heel-and-toe action by matching RPM when downshifting, which is beneficial when preparing for a turn.
The 2019 Mustang will also have the option of a Bang & Olufsen PLAY audio system. The B&O PLAY audio system brings with it a 10-channel amplifier providing 1,000 watts through 12 speakers. We’re not sure where all of these speakers will be, but the B&O PLAY audio is compatible with the optional SYNC 3 system, which also features Apple CarPlay compatibility.
The active exhaust carries over onto the 2019 models, as well, so you can listen to your California Special’s exhaust, or the tunes from the 1,000 watt audio system, or both.
If we could take the latest California Special anywhere, it’ll have to be down the Pacific Coast Highway. Of course making a trip out West on Route 66 would be great, but we’ll keep you posted if and when we can make that happen.
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