Developed under the direction of Chief Engineer Hau Thai-Tang and exterior styling designer Sid Ramnarace, the fifth generation Mustang drew inspiration from the first-generation 1964–1970 Mustangs. The design aesthetic of J Mays, Ford's Senior Vice President of Design, has been described as "retro-futurism." Production start-up for the 2005 Mustang was on September 7, 2004, with the first 2005 model rolling off Flat Rock Assembly on September 27, 2004. U.S. market launch and customer delivery began at the end of October 2004, with production ending in late 2008 for the 2009 model. The 2005–2009 base Mustang was powered by Ford's cast iron block 4.0 L Cologne SOHC V6, replacing the 3.8 L Essex OHV V6 used in 2004 and older models. It produces 210 hp (157 kW) at 5300 rpm and 240 lb·ft (325 N·m) of torque at 3500 rpm and was mated to a standard Tremec T-5 5-speed manual transmission with Ford's 5R55S 5-speed automatic transmission available as an option. A 3.31:1 final drive ratio is standard with either transmission. In a comparison test with a Pontiac G6 Convertible conducted by "Motor Trend" magazine, a Mustang V6 convertible equipped with an automatic transmission was able to accelerate from zero to in 7.3 seconds; 1.4 seconds better than the 2006 Pontiac G6 convertible. The Mustang has a MacPherson strut front suspension with reverse "L" lower control arms. The rear suspension was a new three-link system with a Panhard Rod that controls the vertical and lateral movements of the axle. This live axle rear suspension, while sacrificing handling, provides the benefits of reduced cost and weight over heavier, more expensive independent rear suspensions. In spite of this, Ford has drawn heavy criticism from the automotive journalism community for the decision to equip the 5th generation Mustang with the live axle system. At a press conference, Ford stated that to include an independent rear suspension would have added $5,000 to the showroom price of the car. Standard equipment on the 2005 Mustang includes power windows, dual power mirrors, power door locks with remote keyless entry, front air bags, AM/FM stereo with CD player, 16-inch painted aluminum wheels, and larger brake discs than the previous generation Mustang with twin-piston calipers in the front. Some of the options available included Ford's MyColor (a color-configurable instrument cluster available as part of the Interior Upgrade Package), brushed aluminum panels (also part of the Interior Upgrade Package), Ford's Shaker 500 (500 watt peak output) or Shaker 1000 (1000 watt peak output) premium audio system with a 6-disc MP3-compatible CD changer, leather seating surfaces, a six-way power adjustable driver seat, and a four-channel anti-lock brake system with traction control (standard on GT models).