Heads Up: Ford GT350 Mustang Gets Shift Indicator

Ford Motor Co. has installed a new shift light indicator in the high-performance Shelby GT350 Mustang and its track-only Shelby GT350R counterpart.

Ford says the new system is safer and more user friendly because it uses a translucent head-up display. Competitive shift light indicators either obscure part of the driver's forward view or require a glance down to the instrument cluster, the carmaker notes.

GT350 drivers can choose among three indicator light sequencing modes tach, track and drag and can customize the system's light intensity and recommended shift points. The system was conceived by Mike Makled, a Ford Shelby Performance engineer, who was inspired by the HUD collision warning in his Taurus SHO car.