Next generation Mustang to be more "European"?

[ElFenix]

The problem is that it's huge, saw one driving through town and it was easily the biggest car I saw... its size caught me by surprise.

i saw a first generation fiat cinque cento driving through town and its size caught me by surprise as well

 

[Don Karnage]

All wheel drive model?

 

[RavenSEAL]

All wheel drive model?

They're trying to export a car model, not start WWIII.

 

[Doppel]

They are also coming out with an ECO version. Same appearance as the normal one, but a gas-sipping 165 hp 4-cylinder mated to a 5-speed manual--it will be the only Mustang available with a manual transmission, including the top of the line V6 (they're dropping the V8). :twisted:

 

[senseamp]

M3 killer.

 

[brainhulk]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/next-ford-mustang-to-ditch-retro-look-in-favor-of-futuristic-evo/

 

[Piano Man]

Look forward to it. I love the 2013 Mustang's looks. Plus 300/420HP for 22k/30k is pretty sweet.

 

[dascoyne]

The problem is that it's huge, saw one driving through town and it was easily the biggest car I saw... its size caught me by surprise.

IMO we've become so accustomed to Japanese econoboxes the size of a muscle car seems intimidating to some folks.

Go take a look at a Camaro or Challenger sometime. The Mustang is smaller and lighter than both of 'em.

 

[RavenSEAL]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/next-ford-mustang-to-ditch-retro-look-in-favor-of-futuristic-evo/

 

[dascoyne]

^^^ this.

It's an attractive design but it's not an American muscle car. IMO the modern muscle car has to have some retro in the basic design ... otherwise you're just building another Japanese pseudosport econobox or a second-class euro sport coupe.

 

[RavenSEAL]

^^^ this.

It's an attractive design but it's not an American muscle car. IMO the modern muscle car has to have some retro in the basic design ... otherwise you're just building another Japanese pseudosport econobox or a second-class euro sport coupe.

This^^^^.

You screw with the basic design of a Mustang and you're f'ing with nature itself.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/next-ford-mustang-to-ditch-retro-look-in-favor-of-futuristic-evo/

If they do that it will cause the value of 2014 Mustang's to skyrocket overnight.

 

[Squisher]

 

[Throckmorton]

Why would Europe want the Mustang? They have so many other much better cars...

The only equivalent they have for the price is the Camaro AFAIK.

 

[jagec]

IMO we've become so accustomed to Japanese econoboxes the size of a muscle car seems intimidating to some folks.

Go take a look at a Camaro or Challenger sometime. The Mustang is smaller and lighter than both of 'em.

Japanese econoboxes are getting damned big these days too.

 

[SolMiester]

More European? Sounds good to me!

And me too!

 

[SolMiester]

Thats before the European influence right?

LOL, I was gonna say......your kidding right?.....Sorry guys, but America knows jack shit about interiors!

 

[HybridSquirrel]

V6 twin turbo? Sign me up.

 

[Throckmorton]

They aren't going to get rid of the V8

 

[Throckmorton]

I like this speculative concept

 

[darkswordsman17]

First, I think people are going overboard, it won't look exactly like that concept car. It will take cues. You know, like the new Fusion took cues from that similar design style. I'd expect the back end to be sleeker than the concept for instance - more fastback and less hatchback).

Personally, I think the Mustang has always looked ok, sometimes great, but never what I'd call the pinnacle of what it could look, so I'm all for a more futuristic look, and think it makes a lot more sense for the Mustang. They still could offer a more retro look as a package too (something that I think has set the current Mustang apart very well, as its easy to get a unique Mustang due to all of the options and packages available).

To give you an idea of how different it can look, go look at the Giugario Mustang concept from a few years back and compare it to the current car which used it as inspiration for. There's still a pretty marked difference between them although you can certainly tell the cues it used.

Also for those bitching about the "more European" you need to consider context. Think more in line with Cadillac's change with the CTS (and GM and Chrysler in general, both of which have done a lot better by applying some Euro finishing to their lineups). I expect they mean they'll just eschew a lot of the retro styling cues for a lot of the newer cliched stuff (that more aggressive-strained grille and headlights with more of the styling creases in the sheetmetal, more technophile gauges/controls, and lastly I would take that as a pointer to them finally moving to IRS). Basically, think of a Ford version of the new Camaro (which is actually a big hit despite being an outright worse car than the Mustang, although its not crap, the Mustang is just possibly the best its ever been).

 

[Ancalagon44]

Base model: inline 3 cylinder with a turbocharger and a noisemaker to make it sound cool.
GT: inline 4 twin turbo
GT500: v6 twin turbo.

With a new AWD option and a new sleek front end.

 

[brainhulk]

Base model: inline 3 cylinder with a turbocharger and a noisemaker to make it sound cool.
GT: inline 4 twin turbo
GT500: v6 twin turbo.

With a new AWD option and a new sleek front end.

that would be a travesty. I may have to scoop up a v8 GT before the apocalypse

 

[Crono]

Ugh. I don't even like the brighter colors they used to showcase the 2013 Boss 302.

Glad I got the 2012 model V6 in black. Absolutely nothing needs to be changed with the look, in my opinion. If they made it lighter it would be okay, but honestly I see nothing wrong with the size or weight as is. It's not meant to be a teacup car or a Miata (not that there's anything wrong with that). It's called a muscle car for a reason - please keep the design aesthetic, Ford.

 

[darkswordsman17]

I like this speculative concept

Barf. That looks like a developmentally challenged, sorta baby Challenger more than a Mustang. Of course its just a Mustang hood and front shopped onto a Maserati Coupe, but still.

I'd be in agreement that the Evos concept is bad, in fact it reminds me way too much of the Mustang II, but I would hope and guess that it would be different for the Mustang. I expect it to share design language, but be more compact in the passenger area (more sleek canopy that meets the rear "hump" with a short deck, probably shorter than the deck on the current Mustang, but not altogether gone into a hatchback) and have a longer hood. Something like the Giugiaro Mustang with the Exos substyling (grill, lights, etc).