We're starting to greet each new "special edition" Mustang with a groan, and so, it would appear, is everyone else. Ford's been working on solutions to that, such as the Giugiaro concept that made it to LA with no real hopes of production. This artists' rendering speculates what changes may be in store in the coming years of our NeoPonycar period. The grille and lights are shorter, and adopt much from the Giugiaro car's nose. The swoopy haunches of the show car aren't on the rendering - in fact, the rendering looks like a decent guess at what will actually happen - a new nose will be attached to the same basic platform. There's nothing wrong with that, but we hope it's a little less evolutionary and a little more revolutionary.[Source: Autobytel]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Paul @ Dec 11th 2006 8:43AM
The Giugiaro? Why not just take the new Camaro and put Ford badges on it... if this is the path Ford is going down the may have lost the new battle before it has started.
GENERALMOTORSMAN4LIFE @ Dec 11th 2006 8:59AM
#1 -I agree-Maybe Ford needs to be bought out-I don't think they have a clue what to do and frankly i'm tried of Autoblog posting news from this company. I pass over the Ford stories most of the time without comment, but this time I had to say something for I agree with you. Really Ford seems to have been putting out a new version of the current Mustang several times a week because they have nothing new to offer both now and as we can see in the future as well. Now they are resolving to plagarism-it's sad, very sad! I think the Camaro (not saying this because I'm partial to GM products) and the Dodge Challenger may signal the end of Ford all together when they are released!
Stoneman @ Dec 11th 2006 9:05AM
Retire it for a few years. The brand needs some rest for innovation.
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
Tiago do Vale @ Dec 11th 2006 9:05AM
#1 I wonder how your eyes are.
JW @ Dec 11th 2006 9:09AM
I hope this isn't the road Ford takes. The Mustang in that photo looks bloated with the smaller headlights...I think they should just add/remove colors and update the engines...It is still a hot car out on the roads.
C. McFeeny @ Dec 11th 2006 9:11AM
Dude, #4 -- this post has NOTHING to do with ANYTHING about official Ford business in ANYWAY. It's all speculation, even if it is informed speculation. And to can the hyperbole -- Ford doesn't put out new editions of the Mustang every day. There are several after market variations out there and there are indeed several editions made by Ford, but guess what!? People are buying them! If you don't like it, keep skipping over the Ford articles.
FrankTheCrank @ Dec 11th 2006 9:11AM
Ah...man...No Mustang II??
C'mon....please...
Mustang II!!!
Brad @ Dec 11th 2006 9:17AM
The next Mustang will resemble the Camaro concept in some ways, like the "hips" over the rear wheels. At the Detroit Auto Show, I was told by someone "in the know" that the Camaro concept concerned them because it looks so much like the 2010 Mustang, even though the Mustang's basic shape had been all but finalized for three-four years already.
Chris Goldrick @ Dec 11th 2006 9:17AM
I like it. I think it looks sleeker and less upright than the current model. Hopefully, the team have "rendered" the rear suspension useless and decided to go with an IRS (finally).
Brad @ Dec 11th 2006 9:20AM
Chris (#9): What's wrong with the current Mustang's live axle? Have you driven one? It's a very comfortable ride.
Brad @ Dec 11th 2006 9:20AM
Stoneman (#3): Why does it need a rest? Ford's selling as many as they can make!
Bigfatguy @ Dec 11th 2006 9:40AM
It looks better. Like pecan pie with a scoop of ice cream! I like it, but I'll have to see it on the street before I make a final decision.
mmmmm.... pie.
Andrew @ Dec 11th 2006 9:53AM
Of course it will be "evolutionary" and not "REVolutionary". It's a very hot design and selling very very well. They are not going to mess too much with their success. It will be appropriately updated and improved upon, and hopefully not get outdated and stale like the old fox platform. But there ain't just a whole lot wrong with the current version right now, so why change just for the sake of change?
Some people, I swear... when BMW makes major changes to a perennial best seller, it's pure agony. When domestics stick with a winning formula and rack up sales, it's nothing but bitching about bland design and "hard plastic" interiors.
Having said all that, and in the interest of pissing off the "looks like a..." game haters, the front clip, hood, headlights in that photo somewhat resembles the new Mitsubishi Lancer, no?
curtis @ Dec 11th 2006 10:25AM
I saw very little resemblance between the Giugiaro concept and the Camaro concept. The biggest similarity between the two was the haunches above the rear wheels, but the mustang came before the Camaro and the older mustangs had that same haunch. It's not a copied idea, it's just a classic pony car design cue, the Challenger has this also, so does the Charger. And just so you know, the current Mustang had that feature before the Challenger or Camaro ever debuted, it was a custom built body kit for the current Mustang done up as a modern Boss 69, and it looked good. I've never been able to find it on the internet, but it was featured in a mustang magazine. The Mustang is hugely popular, and sales show that it is not declining, if Ford builds it, it'll still sale. When it comes to the Mustang, Ford is not in trouble at all. As for the photoshoped Mustang, it looks stupid, fortunately it's done by a fan of the Mustang, and not Ford, so we don't have to worry about it. I have no doubt that Ford will stun us with the next Mustang even more than they did with the current Mustang, don't forget how revolutionary the current Mustang is, it literally brought back the pony wars, just like it started them a few decades ago.
bad blooooood @ Dec 11th 2006 10:26AM
Look Mustang came out in 2005, we are almost in 2007. Normal cars have a lifecycle of 3-4 years after which they get a whole new redesighn. However Fords change cycle is 7-8 or even 9 years. If Ford wants to compete with Camaro or with anything of sports variety Dodge will produce they need to start thinking about an all new Mustang or at the very least a major majot upgrade over current one.
I really hope that the new Mustang will look NOTHING like Fourt generation Mustang......because it is really ...not ugly....plain, average, simple
http://www.mocsem.com/images/history/96008.jpg
#11 It does need a rest, because it is a spots car, it's not a family sedan. It has to have that feeling of uniqueness, but if it is sold every year and everyone has it than what is the point of buying one. What is the point being the 10 guy on the block with a mustang?
roadside observer @ Dec 11th 2006 10:30AM
The concept Camaro is fugly and reeks of "me-too-ism" on the part of GM.
curtis @ Dec 11th 2006 10:49AM
"16. The concept Camaro is fugly and reeks of "me-too-ism" on the part of GM."
I don't agree that the Camaro concept is ugly, I like it. But come on people, complaining that the Giugiaro concept copied the Camaro concept is preposterous, considering the Camaro concept copied the current Mustang with the whole aggressive grill and hood overlapping the headlights, plus the Camaro from it's beginning has always been a want-to-be Mustang.
Tiago do Vale @ Dec 11th 2006 11:07AM
#6 Are you ok?
C. McFeeny @ Dec 11th 2006 11:34AM
Tiago, sorry - meant to point out #2's post! I agree with your point.
#15 - The Mustang is a sports car, but different from your higher end sports cars. It's the sports car that the "everyman" can get. If you make a decent wage and have a sweet tooth for some level of performance above your average sedan -- you can get a Mustang. That's part of the appeal that *I* see in it and it's part of what I believe makes it a perennial favorite. It's obvious that you don't "get" the Mustang appeal and that's fine. You can get some thing else to make you feel that sense of uniqueness that you so desire. The rest of us will always have the opportunity to get a Mustang.
laserwizard @ Dec 11th 2006 12:11PM
If that artist's rendering is anything like what the real one is going to be like, Ford should stop building Mustangs. That rendering is as dreadful and wimpy as anything as I've seen. It looks like Robert Lutz from GM styled it.
Cancel the Mustang, Ford, rather than soiling it with that pitiful, wimpy, pansey version!