The 2015 Ford Mustang Convertible gets an easier to close top for 2015.

Mustang owners and fans often think of the pony car as a high-powered beast that snarls as it prowls around town. However, the 2015 Mustang will come with several new safety features will also make it one of the safest sports cars on the road.

In addition to those new safety options, the convertible version gets a new, easier-to-fold top for the next year.

Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of the Americas, said plans for the full-launch of the Mustang early in the fourth quarter are right on schedule.

“While Mustang unquestionably has always been about the ride, we can now do a lot of cool things with technology,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. “Everything we added to Mustang is designed to let its drivers personalize the car.”

The new convertible roof uses a new electromechanical drive and single-handle center latch to lower in half the time of the current car, he added, and features a standard fabric outer layer and is fully lined and insulated for quieter ride on the inside of the pony car.

Pericak said the more compact roof and a new independent suspension help create additional trunk space in the convertible’s trunk even when the premium audio system is added.

While the demand for convertibles has shrunk – the account for only 1% of U.S. sales – the soft tops are being kept alive by the sporty segment, Pericak noted.

The new Mustang features the first application of Ford’s new stability control system. Ford’s unique Curve Control, which is capable of helping to slow the car if the driver goes into a corner with too much speed, is included with Mustang for the first time.

A new selectable drive mode system will also be available on the Mustang.

“We set out to create an all-new Mustang that would appeal to the core enthusiast audience with the performance and feel they expect,” said Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager. “At the same time we wanted to broaden the appeal of Mustang to drivers looking for advanced technology and sophistication.”

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The toggle switch at the base of the center stack enables the driver to quickly tap through four available driving modes, including normal, wet or snow, sporty and a special “track” setting.

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Ling said drivers can fine-tune Mustang’s feel even more with individual adjustments for steering effort, as well as the ability to disable traction control or use sport settings for stability control.

The new Mustang will also feature push-button start as standard equipment.

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A full suite of driver assistance technology is available on the new Mustang including a rear-view camera, an adaptive cruise control system when driving at more than 20 mph, and forward collision warning, blind-spot detection radar sensors at the rear-corner of the vehicle and cross traffic alert.

To provide the driver with a better view of the road at night, the Mustang uses high-intensity discharge headlamps. The ‘Stang also has individual tire pressure monitoring – real-time pressure for each of the tires is displayed in the instrument cluster, Ling said.