Next gen Mustang getting more modern look

[2o6]

Fusion? Taurus? Explorer? Flex? Ford even bland-ized the F150. About the only car they did okay on was the new Focus.

Styling hasn't been Ford's strong suit of late. That ain't trollin', son, that's there's opinion.

You think those models are bland, but think the Cruze is hot, with that pig nose and awefully generic styling? The Malibu is awesome, with the comically-oversized front fascia, truck ride height (in person), awkward rear fascia, and needlessly restrictive greenhouse? The Spark is good with that goofy front fascia and tacky insturment cluster?

[Mustangfan2003]

You think the new Fusion is bland? WOW

This looks like an exotic compared to anything built by Honda, Toyota, or any other cars in the class

[GoCougs]

You think the new Fusion is bland? WOW

In light of the 2nd gen Sonata (itself a Kmart version of the CLS)? Yup - that style's a bit shop worn; now add in too much grille, body fascias that hang down too low, and too small wheel arches/openings (i.e., Hyundai did it a bit better IMO).

[GoCougs]

You think those models are bland, but think the Cruze is hot, with that pig nose and awefully generic styling? The Malibu is awesome, with the comically-oversized front fascia, truck ride height (in person), awkward rear fascia, and needlessly restrictive greenhouse? The Spark is good with that goofy front fascia and tacky insturment cluster?

Huh?

[Atomic]

Nope. That's more like a Ford Corvette Viper. Ford needs a Corvette Viper. Not a retro Thunderbird, a souped up Mustang, or an exotically priced repli-racecar, but a reasonably priced supercar-class 2-seater.

i would prefer a new generation lincoln mark luxury sports coupe. those decked out special edition mustangs have ample horse power and can get pricey -- covering its own special niche.

[Atomic]

woke up with this awaiting me... some additional info for this great tread re: the next 'stang but more in the way of cofirmation than specific, eagerly awaited juicy detail...


Next Mustang to follow Evos concept, ditch retro styling, report says: Ford insiders say the next generation of the Mustang will take its styling cues from the Evos concept car, shown [on webite, above article]

Why? To get younger buyers.

NEWS STORY BY: Ellen Mitchell

FOR: Automotive News -- April 16, 2012 - 12:41 pm ET, UPDATED: 4/16/12 4:01 pm ET - new story

DETROIT --  The Ford Mustang will get a major makeover for the 2014 model year, The Wall Street Journal reported today.

The newspaper, citing people familiar with Ford?s plans, said the automaker is working on a makeover that would retain the Mustang?s shark-nosed grille and round headlights, but make the car resemble the new Ford Fusion. Today?s Mustang resembles the original 1964 model.

The change is part of a bid to give the Mustang appeal to Generation Y, consumers born between 1980 and 1999, according to the Journal.

By 2020, Gen Y will represent as much as 40 percent of the car-buying market, according to a 2009 study by the Deloitte consulting firm, but carmakers are finding it more difficult to sell to this demographic. One contributing factor: Nearly half of those aged 18 to 24 say they would choose Internet access over car ownership, according to a study released this year by the Gartner research firm.

Last year, Mustang sales in the United States decreased 4 percent to 70,438 units. By comparison, Ford sold more than 166,000 units in 2006, a year after Ford introduced the retro-style Mustang.

During the first quarter, Ford sold 20,133 Mustangs in the United States, a 31 percent increase over the first three months of 2011 but below the totals of the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Charger.

The next Mustang?s body closely resembles that of the Evos concept car that Ford showed in September at the Frankfurt auto show, the Journal reported, citing sources who have seen the next Mustang.

Ford would not comment on its plans for the Mustang.

[Raza]

Personally, I'd buy this over the Mustang. The Challenger is a great car, and tops satisfaction surveys for a reason.

Yeah, it's nice.  But it's enormous and in base trims looks really fat and heavy handed.  The Mustang is more handsome car across the range, the better performer, and the better handler.  And you can get it in a stick in all trims.

[sportyaccordy]

Yea the Challenger doesn't do it at all for me. What does it do better than the Mustang? I hope the next Rustang will be the one to kill this retro nonsense. That said, it is the best of the three, design wise.

[SVT666]

Fusion? Taurus? Explorer? Flex? Ford even bland-ized the F150. About the only car they did okay on was the new Focus.

Styling hasn't been Ford's strong suit of late. That ain't trollin', son, that's there's opinion.

Fusion is sexy.

Taurus looks good, but is very poorly packaged and is not as good as it could be.

Explorer looks good and is the best seller in the class.

F-150 is the segment's best seller as well.

[sportyaccordy]

I hope to meet Cougs one day, and smoke the Ayn Rand strand of medicinal sticky icky that powers his delusions

[LonghornTX]

In light of the 2nd gen Sonata (itself a Kmart version of the CLS)? Yup - that style's a bit shop worn; now add in too much grille, body fascias that hang down too low, and too small wheel arches/openings (i.e., Hyundai did it a bit better IMO).

Well, I'm glad this isn't your day job 

[LonghornTX]

I hope to meet Cougs one day, and smoke the Ayn Rand strand of medicinal sticky icky that powers his delusions

That Ayn Rand sh*t. Hahaha, awesome

[GoCougs]

I hope to meet Cougs one day, and smoke the Ayn Rand strand of medicinal sticky icky that powers his delusions

BitterSPIN.

That Ayn Rand sh*t. Hahaha, awesome

AntiepistemologicalSPIN.

[2o6]

Huh?

You say Ford looks bland but then ignore the styling missteps of modern GM's? I'm not saying that I don't like GM's, but to write off Ford as "bland" is flat out wrong.

[MX793]

They can keep the same design, just make the car smaller. Prob the biggest thing they missed in the retro translation was the tininess and lightness of the original.

The current car is not appreciably bigger than the 1st gen Mustangs, nor is it that much heavier.  The original Mustangs were "small" by the standards of their day, but by today's standards they weren't that small.  The only Mustangs under 180" in length were not 1st generation cars (they were also the crappiest generations of Mustangs built).

Ranking them from shortest to longest
'74-'78 (175")
'79-'93 (179.6")
'94-'98 (181.5")
'64-'66 (181.6")
'99-'04 (183.2")
'67-'68 (183.6")
'69-'70 (187.5")
'05-'09 (187.6")
'10-Present (188.1")
'71-'73 (189.5")

SN95 v1.0 was the truest to the original '64 in size.  The current car is close to the '69-'70 cars from which its styling draws heavily.

[sportyaccordy]

The current Mustang is just not well packaged. Its the same size as an E39 on the outside (actually 3" wider), but has less interior room. It doesnt make sense. They should keep the interior as tiny and shrink the car around it.

[MX793]

The current Mustang is just not well packaged. Its the same size as an E39 on the outside (actually 3" wider), but has less interior room. It doesnt make sense. They should keep the interior as tiny and shrink the car around it.

It's a coupe, it's not going to have the same interior room as a sedan.  The Challenger is nearly the same size as the Charger, but doesn't have nearly the interior space.  Camaro is as big as a G8 and doesn't have nearly the same room.  If you want sedan space, you buy a sedan.  Coupes aren't built for space efficiency.

[TurboDan]

I would buy this as a Mustang.

Me, too. And I would buy it over the BRZ. 

I've always been a Mustang fan, but I've always thought they were a wee bit too big. This car looks insanely awesome.

I absolutely LOVE Ford's new design scheme! 

[TurboDan]

If VW doesn't make the BlueSport, this very well could be my next car. I absolutely love it!

[Raza]

Damn son, 188" is long though. 

[GoCougs]

You say Ford looks bland but then ignore the styling missteps of modern GM's? I'm not saying that I don't like GM's, but to write off Ford as "bland" is flat out wrong.

ITT: Ford.

[Payman]

Damn son, 188" is long though.  

[Byteme]

Just watching a video from the WSJ speculating about the next Mustang and it was mentioned that a Ford Exec said the Evos concept was pretty much a body double for the next Mustang.  I wouldn't count on the wild doors though. 

http://www.marketwatch.com/video/asset/ford-to-remake-the-mustang-2012-04-16-1256280/86055107-C726-4196-A62A-8DCBC71E4C41#!86055107-C726-4196-A62A-8DCBC71E4C41

[GoCougs]

Yikes, I see shade of the near-disaster that was the Probestang (i.e., genero styling). This is the inherent issue with retro styling - what to follow it up with.

[hotrodalex]

Yikes, I see shade of the near-disaster that was the Probestang (i.e., genero styling). This is the inherent issue with retro styling - what to follow it up with.

Retro Mustang II!!!!!

[Northlands]

Make this the new Ford Probe GT.
It doesn't look menacing enough to be a Mustang, but this is a very cool design, nonetheless.

[MX793]

Retro Mustang II!!!!!

They'd have to do a throwback to the '71-'73 "Jumbo" Mustangs first.  Expect the car to grow 4-6 inches longer and gain 400-500 lbs.

[MX793]

Make this the new Ford Probe GT.
It doesn't look menacing enough to be a Mustang, but this is a very cool design, nonetheless.

I'd expect a different headlight shape and revised front fascia.  I'd also bet on the "hockey stick" character line on the door and rear quarter panel to show up.

And that looks a lot more aggressive than the Fox Mustang.

[Northlands]

That's true about the Fox body. The current one though has set a new standard IMO. Either way, I'm happy to see some new ideas being tossed around for the Ford line up.

[TurboDan]

Retro is over. Go modern. I applaud Ford for this. No young people are going to buy a Mustang that looks like it should come with an 8-track player in the dash. Ford is absolutely RIGHT with this.

But for the love of God, SIZE IT DOWN! I'd actually consider buying one of these if it wasn't a goddamn land yacht with a big engine.