Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Coupes, Sports/GTs, Ford
LA Auto Show: Live shots of the Giugiaro Mustang
Ford's presence at the L.A. Auto Show can be summed up in one word: Giugiaro. Unfortunately, the new Escape, the product Ford will actually be selling, has been drowned out by the buzz surrounding the Giugiaro Mustang. Our man Frank Filipponio calls it a Spaghetti Western on wheels, which sounds right to us considering the genuine horse hides covering the seats. Apparently Giugiaro's Italian designers took the Mustang name very literally.
Though we had seen the press shots a few nights ago and checked the car out in person at a media event last night, Ford still went through the motions this morning and "debuted" the Giugiaro Mustang at the L.A. Auto Show by pulling back the shroud. Despite the overexposure, the G-Stang still manages to engage us every time we walk by it. Perhaps that's because we're split over whether or not we like it. The back end has been praised by most of the Autoblog team, especially the rear fenders, though the taillights are polarizing. The scissor doors have been laughed at and the full glass roof is just too out there to take seriously. The front end, however, is where the real debate's happening, since many believe this Mustang is wearing design cues we'll see in the next Blue Oval pony car. Is it too Camaro-like? Again, we're split. The fact remains this concept is garnering an inordinate amount of attention for Ford considering the only other vehicle it bothered to bring was a new SUV.
Check out a big gallery of live shots from today's press conference as well as the media event at which Ford debuted the Giugiaro Mustang last night.
PHOTO GALLERY:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ECA 6:51PM (11/29/2006)
simply amazing, i would buy it in a second, but i do see a hint of Z3 in the front
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DiedFamous 7:09PM (11/29/2006)
The scissor doors are all wrong, yes, I know, it is italian and all, but it totally doesn't fit the whole mustang personae. If they wanted unusual doors they should have gone with suicide style ones instead. And whats up with the side mirrors? Are they cameras? looks like it, but I think it makes the car look a little odd with those tiny little nibby things. That shift knob looks really dodgy too, I couldn't imagine actually driving with that thing. And I just don't know about that low-browed scowling front end, its pleanty mean looking but it just doesn't seem to match the rest of the body. Granted they did do some things right, that is one gloriously beutiful rear end, and I personally like the flowing glass windscreen/roof/rear window. All in all I don't think there are enough glaring negatives present to prevent it from doing well if they ever sold it, considering the culture clash between this blue-collar hero muscle car and an exclusive italian design firm, they've done pretty well.
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samuel 7:38PM (11/29/2006)
Simply hideous.
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Steve C 7:44PM (11/29/2006)
This car is the Mustang equivalent of the Camaro concept and would be a smashing success if it were built as is (without, of course the scissor doors and other concept-only details). Would Ford ever build this car? Probably not since it's a Giugiaro design and did not originate from the Ford design studios (remember, NIH stands for "Not Invented Here").
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John P. 7:59PM (11/29/2006)
This is the kind of car that speaks "bold moves". To me, exactly what Ford needs in a car like the Mustang. This design has Mustang all over it. The hood line and tail with those tiny "fins" of the 60's are beautiful. The arc of the rear fender is much more mustang than the non-existent one on the current model on the streets. Sorry, but there are way too many Ford themes in this to be Camaro-like, and that's a good thing, though I do love the new Camaro design and think it's a hit.
That fastback look is way closer to what was best from the 60's mustangs and updated. This car looks new, yet looks like a mustang. Genius! The interior is extremely well thought out also. This is a show-car after-all, but the "mustang, I mean old wild west horse" theme, just look at the saddle stitched leather surfaces; GREAT!. I'd probably nix the horse pelt inserts myself, but other than that, it's an integrated look throughout, not some thrown together car that feels like it was designed by bean counters instead of real designers like ford's done in the recent past.
Now, if Ford can build it like this, and have it come in 500lbs lighter than the current model,.... I could go on forever. This is a beauty.
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BOB 8:11PM (11/29/2006)
I like the front, but it would need/get a scoop in production.
The scissors doors are show car stuff -- why fuss?
BUT -- the rear (Which Autoblog staffers like) should have been the rear of the Dodge Charger (minus the deviders in the taillights). See the rear view of Dodge Monaco, Polara, Dart, circa 1965-68: wedge taillights like these. (the only previous use of the shape I can recall)
THEM AIN'T FORD TAILLIGHTS, THEM IS DODGE TAILLIGHTS
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laserwizard 8:37PM (11/29/2006)
Knowing that this is a showcar with a purpose (Ford wouldn't be showing off someone else's work just for the hell of it), one must be able to sift through the cutesie showcar tweaks (the doors and the roof and superfast a-pillar) to see the foundation of the next Mustang - the one that looks like a Mustang without being a remake of an old one.
Quite simply, this model is stunning. The tail lights will likely be conventional triple lights set inside that beautiful rear facia without wrapping over the boot lid. The a-pillar is too fast for production and will likely be a bit more upright which will correct some of the proportion problems with the design. The dashboard is likely very close to production and is a version of the current with some modernizing. I'm sure the seats will be tamed down.
What this car offers is a squat, kick a Camaro in the nuts approach that will make every Mustang lover salivate.
And just remember folks, Chevrolet still doesn't have a Camaro you can buy new!
Bold moves, Ford. Mediocrity lives in the land of the bowtie.
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Greg 8:40PM (11/29/2006)
300 Mile Test Drive of 2007 Mustang
Last Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, I was in Florida and had a road trip from Delray Beach to New Port Richey mapped out.
Using Hertz, I requested a Ford Five Hundred when I made the reservations over the phone, but when I arrived there was a Brand New Silver Mustang parked right outside the front doors of Hertz's rental center.
I was pretty aggravated over the Airport Security Nonsense I had to endure at JFK before my flight to Florida commenced, and when I saw that Mustang I said to myself 'screw the Five Hundred, I want to drive that Mustang'.
For an Extra 20 Bucks a day, the car was mine.... it was a 6 Cylinder, not an 8, but that 6 Cylinder car cruised at 85mph just as fast as an 8 Cylinder would have.
My overall review of the car is 'Very Very Good'. Plenty of room even though I am 6ft 2.... and a bit wider on the sides that I should be.
But... the car is lacking one important component... 'Insulation'.... the road noise was unacceptable, and considering this car is now in its 3rd year of production, I was kind of dissapointed.
Yes I know if it was equipped with the hungry V8, the noise of the motor is what you want to hear, accompinied of course with the exhaust sound... but still, on an open road, who wants to hear the noise of the road against the tires?
Even with the radio blasting, you still heard the road noise.
For the record... I traveled from West Palm Beach...
I-95 north to 91 north to 60 northwest to 19 north.
Anyone buying a New Mustang and is considering doing a makeover, regardless if it's just an interior upgrade or to an extreme like the one above.... a heavier insulation between the rugs and the body is a must.
I had read somewhere that the Ford Expedition has about 45 pounds of Insulation under its fenders, doors, quarter panels, etc to reduce road noise. In my opinion, this same treatment is needed in the Ford Mustang.
Gas Mileage by the way, for those who care.. was 25.5 miles per gallon, that is with the AC on and cruising 70 - 80 MPH for half the trip and 45 - 60 the other half of the trip, which overall was roughly 300 miles with a few run around trips on the beginning and end of the journey.
For the record.. after driving the car.. If I needed a car tomorrow and was looking to spend 20k... I'd buy one. ( the 6 Cylinder Mustang ).
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Johnny 8:48PM (11/29/2006)
I'm also split with this one... Although the live pics don't look that bad at all. Those tailights are just wrong, there's something I dont like about them. The front does have some camaro into it, but I really like how edgy and modern it looks. What really got me is the interior, I LOVE IT!!! Thats the way my 2006 mustang's interior should look like (Minus the cow seats)
Above all, its only a concept. Ford will not produce anything like this, remember the 2005 concept? The current one looks soooo different from that beauty.
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Andrew 10:04PM (11/29/2006)
Chevrolet called, it would like the front end to the new Camaro back now.
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Mark Gha 10:20PM (11/29/2006)
Hey look, Lexus LF-A in the back!
but wait wait..
A Lancer evo X in the front!
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FORD? 10:37PM (11/29/2006)
anyone else notice the horses stamped all over the grill, kinda cool detail
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Paul 11:17PM (11/29/2006)
Never owned a Ford but if they make this one I may just change my mind. I think it is awsome!
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JayP 11:21PM (11/29/2006)
Kinda looks like the Pony-Up Hotwheel from the door back...
Giugiaro has always been an interesting designer.
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naugahyde 12:03AM (11/30/2006)
Nice shape - I'd like to see it without the overwrought details (yes, I know it's SUPPOSED to be over the top.)
The tail lights are straight from a late 60's / early 70's show car - hey old guys, remember those AMT models you could build show / street / race?
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Moose 12:17AM (11/30/2006)
That is terrific.....ly awful. The proportions are bang on, but in the details it falls apart. The tail is ungainly at best, the doors smack of Hot Import Nights, the interior is louder than a Zonda (with little of the tasteful details), and the front grill with stampeding horses is just trite. Perhaps that detail will show up in a JC Whitney catalog, if we're unlucky.
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Dan 12:29AM (11/30/2006)
The paint-print seats are pretty corny, but I like it.
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Q 1:03AM (11/30/2006)
It's soooo close to being a great concept. The rear haunches are stunning. The crisp curve from the door leading to the taillight shows power with a little elegance. The taillights are a little to me too. I think the angle of the triple light stagger is too sharp. The inner lights need to be longer and having them run through the trunk lid is silly. Stick on a deck lid spoiler. I agree that the windshield is too fast for production. The nose is a little to low too. Bring the hood line up an inch and insert on hood scoop at the top of the power dome and please make it functional. Push out the two vertical bars on the lower air dam to ends so that the are not going out towards to wheels but point into the center like the shape of the cobra concept. I like it overall
Oh and stick on some Cobra sticker for 10 extra horses.
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John Bryans Fontaine 2:23AM (11/30/2006)
This is the sleekest, most exotic Mustang ever conceived. It could well be the best-looking Mustang ever. Ford needs to study the amount of attention that this car is getting, as no other vehicle has created so much genuine buzz since the Alfa Romeo Brera.
Ford should lose the Lambo doors, the nerdy taillights,(as well as that singularly weird shifter), and build this 'stang. And as for selling it only in Europe, as has been mentioned in the New York Times? I don't think so. In the U.S. this 'stang could possibly outsell the current one, which would be much needed good news for Ford's workers.
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Jemtec 7:15AM (11/30/2006)
If you strike the right cords with enough people and you have another hit.
Fact is, the way forward, is to think ahead and work with things that have already work.
Get the best designers, put them into a room, and imagine what others may not.
Bold can be beautiful.
I think this car is simply amazing.
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