New Mustang
<a href="http://thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=5571"; target="_blank">It's the show car version</a> that will be shown at this years Detroit Auto show, but it gives you an idea of what will be out in 2005. I normally don't care for retro, but this is prettty sweet.
Comments
I guess it finally sunk in to Ford HQ that the Mustang is not going to go away, no matter how much they neglect it, so they might as well do something with it.
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I guess it finally sunk in to Ford HQ that the Mustang is not going to go away, no matter how much they neglect it, so they might as well do something with it.
how ironic that the people in charge want the same thing i do... <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
We won't know until we can see good pics, but already the wheelbase and the overhangs look wrong in the side profile. From rear three quarters there's a bit of previous generation M3 about the stance, while the front looks a bit like an unglier Allante. Better than what's already around, but not altogether encouraging.
The original Mustang was a sporty coupé using components of the then ?compact? Ford Falcon, so it was fairly contemporary to its time (the 1960s).
If the vehicle on the pictures indeed shares its underpinnings with the Lincoln LS/Jaguar S-Type/T-Bird, then it's certainly closer to the original concept, by being contemporary to its time.
If the tiny pictures are anything to go by, it doesn't have too much of the retro look which plagues the new T-Bird (the original T-Bird didn't look like something out of the the 1900 or even from the 1930s, now did it?) while it keeps some cues from earlier Mustangs.
It does look somewhat ?heavy? and squarish to me, but one would need a better quality view of it to judge.
And anyway there is an ?uglier is better? trend in car design nowadays (Ford is fairly contaminated by this trend), so it could have been far worse.
[ 12-04-2002: Message edited by: Immanuel Goldstein ]</p>
<strong>Like I predicted in the other thread, all the muscle cars are going retro.</strong><hr></blockquote>
nothing muscle about it. it's called a pony car...
And I, for one, like the styling of the new T-Bird.
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And I, for one, like the styling of the new T-Bird.</strong><hr></blockquote>
ugh...
where's that puking smiley when u need it...? <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
<strong>This is also another blow for Ford in that they are even further destroying Jaguar's image by using the S-Type platform for the Mustang.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well, the smaller Jaguar X-Type is already a IInd generation Ford Mondeo under the skin.
That's the way the industry is headed on a world-wide scale.
Observe the new Opel Vectra/Saab 9-3/next Chevy Malibu and perhaps a future Buick;
or the Nissan March/next Renault Clio;
or the Audi A8/WV Phaeton/Bentley GT.
Expect more common platforms for DaimlerChrysler/Mitsubishi/Hynundai;
Fiat/GM (EU and US)/Daewoo/Toyota/Subaru;
WV/Audi/?koda/Seat/Bugatti/Bentley/Porsche;
not to mention Ford/Mazda/Volvo/Jaguar/Aston-Martin/Land-Rover.
As the develoment of a new model becomes costlier, even competing (e. g.: those who don't merge with each others) carmakers develop common platforms.
I suppose that sooner than you think, nearly all cars of a same-size category will be based on one, perhaps two common platforms.
Why are American car companies going "retro"? Because they have some of the worst design teams on the planet, and plus they want to appeal to their aging markets. Sounds like a plan. At least Cadillac tried something new, albeit silly looking.
Of course, I shouldn't bite the hand. Ford owns 30.4% of the best car company on the planet.
<strong>Mazda? I didn't know Ford had that kind of stake...</strong><hr></blockquote>
ford is in complete control of mazda, which is why the company's going down the shitter. they're too afraid to innovate--afraid of progress. hence the lack of rotaries available now, and the overcatious development of the RX-8.
the list of good jap companies is dwindling...
oh well. at least honda and toyota are still in complete control, and nissans making a good run w/ the Z. mitsubishi has good shot w/ the EVO once they bring it here. so that leaves poor miserable mazda, which is slowly falling off the map. good ol ford...
The mustang shown above, is, in my opinion, a relief, but not much more than that. The current mustang is just so trashy looking, inside and out. I don't care if it has a fast engine, the damn thing looks ugly. I wonder if the redesigned mustang will deal with that fact.
I am eager to see chrysler designs 10 to 20 years down the road once the merger has taken complete effect over their design process. It should be interesting to see what happens.