Ford outright denies four-door Mustang rumors, announces Interceptor Concept
Well, that went by quickly.In a statement released today, Ford sumararily denies that they are developing four-door or wagon variants of the iconic Mustang 2+2. In their press release (posted after the jump), Ford says that it will stay true to the Mustang's heritage and has no plans to expand the Mustang lineup, here or abroad.
The rumor mill began on Wednesday when both Autocar and AutoWeek claimed to have an inside source that confirmed that the Mustang brand would be broadened, likely using the underpinnings from Ford's Australian arm. Earlier today, Ford Australia denied such a connection.
Ford did confirm that a "four-door, rear-wheel-drive concept car" called "The Interceptor" would debut at this year's Detroit auto show in January. That particular concept is based off the Mustang's platform, but will not carry the 'Stang's styling cues and there are no plans for production.
Read the complete statement by Ford after the jump.
Top tip Igor.
UPDATE: A representative from Ford tried to contact us this afternoon to fill us in on what was happening surrounding this rumor. Unfortunately, an ill-timed smoke break meant we missed his call, but his voicemail message indicated to us that Ford had begun hearing from enthusiasts in the Mustang community about what a terrible idea it would be to expand the Mustang lineup. Ford began feeling the heat and was even being criticized for entertaining the idea, when in reality Ford claims the Autoweek story is completely untrue. Rather than being beat up for an idea that it never had, Ford wanted to make it clear that it was never considering doing this, and that the story in Autoweek is false.
STATEMENT - FORD: "NO PLANS FOR EXPANDED MUSTANG LINE"
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 15 – Ford Motor Company today made clear that recent media speculation concerning an expanded Mustang line – including a sedan and wagon model to be sold in global markets – is not true. Mustang is an icon and will continue in its current form: a unique, two-door, rear-wheel drive, 2+2 performance car.
At the 2007 North American International Auto Show, Ford will unveil a four-door, rear-wheel-drive concept car. The concept, known as "The Interceptor", is based on the Mustang's rear-wheel-drive architecture but it is not a Mustang and no production plans have been announced. Additional information on the Ford rear-drive concept will be available December 31, 2006.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Igor 3:06PM (12/15/2006)
I do not think the statement says it is "not intended for production" .. just that they have not decided yet ... i.e. this is not an outright "pre-production concept" the way MKS was last year ..
I sure do hope they finally produce one of their RWD concepts.
Also it seems both Lincoln and Ford will have separate RWD concepts at NAIAS.
Igor
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Jonathan Hicks 9:08PM (12/15/2006)
I hope the Ford RWD concept will make it into production to replace the aged Crown Vic.
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Dug7714 3:15PM (12/15/2006)
Does anyone remember the Lincoln LS or the latest Ford Thunderbird? They were the basis for the current Mustang. I think the only difference was the Mustang has a solid rear axle to save some money. Why is it that shocking that there may be a 4-door variant coming on this platform?
Interceptor? I was following a Crown Vic Police Interceptor this morning. Maybe they want to keep the police business going since they're losing a lot of it to the Charger.
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curtis 5:50PM (12/15/2006)
This is an obvious replacement for the Crown Vic Police 'Interceptor'. I'm sure this concept will go into production, Ford's been slowly hurting in the Police market due to the newer Charger and other Police car variants. Watch I'm sure this car will be Ford's next Police marketed Interceptor.
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curtis 3:19PM (12/15/2006)
I hate this.
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cdc 3:20PM (12/15/2006)
police interceptor anyone?
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Herb 3:22PM (12/15/2006)
Anyone know if this interceptor has anything to do with the police interceptor concept from '02 but with just a lot more performance from todays mustang?
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/gw/interceptor.htm
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Jay 3:22PM (12/15/2006)
They'll have to call it "Fthe Finterceptor" because Ford isn't allowed to have cars that don't begin with "F" or "E" (Mustang excluded). -_-
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JayP 3:31PM (12/15/2006)
The Mustang has more in common with the new Focus platform than the DEW platform.
Interceptor? Can they build me a MadMax?
That'll be cool.
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mk 3:37PM (12/15/2006)
It was amazing to see everyone go bonkers when this story hit, incinuating an expansion of the mustang line to cars with more than two doors.
some hypothesized, evidently with some accuracy, that "based on the mustang's platform" and expanding the mustang itself, are two different things.
It will be interesting to see what the interceptor looks like.
A four door version of the mustang's RWD platform, with the 3-valve V8 and 3.5 V6, and even a potential hotted-up version with a 5.4, or DOHC, or supercharged, or all three under the hood could be interesting. And a lincoln version of that platform car, could be interesting too. A return of the RWD Continental, smaller and more focused than the town car, but more opulent than the Ford.
The question is, when are they going to revive Mercury with a version of a coupe, sedan or wagon with RWD. If any brand deserves a transfusion, that is it, some ford of europe styling, and some rear-wheel-drive motivation. Mercury could be America's version of a slightly down-market Audi, if given the chance.
Man, I wish they had built a production version of the Mercury MC4 concept sometime after they showed it in 1998. V8, RWD, coupe with freestyle doors, and a hatchback, driver-oriented interior, and new and inventive styling, rather than retro muscle-car.
If they market the interceptor, though... will it be the "First of the V8 interceptors..." rather than mad Max's "last of the V8 interceptors..." Falcon would be a good name, too, even if it isn't the same thing as the Austrailian Falcon.
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BCM 4:31PM (12/15/2006)
From wikipedia:
"Despite rumours, D2C is loosely based on the Ford DEW platform which served as the basis for the Lincoln LS, Ford Thunderbird, and Jaguar S-Type. The 2005 S197 Mustang was originally designed to use a "Lite" version of the DEW98 platform, but while that plan was eventually scrapped as too expensive, most D2C platform development completed prior to that decision was retained. This led to the carryover of several DEW98 chassis components. These components include the floor pans, transmission tunnel, front frame rails, and fuel tank design.
Differences between D2C and DEW98 are most noticeable in the suspension: The DEW98-based Lincoln LS uses a 4-wheel independent double wishbone suspension. The D2C platform's MacPherson strut front suspension and solid axle rear suspension are less expensive to produce than DEW's more complicated setup. D2C also shares components with other Ford platforms. These include Ford's global C1 platform, with which D2C shares front strut and rear trailing arm components."
I think the floor pan and frame rails constitute "more in common" than struts and trailing arms. On a unibody vehicle thats about all the platform there is.
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MikeW 5:48PM (12/15/2006)
DEW98 has a control arm front suspension with trailing link steering, the mustang has a strut front suspension with leading link steering.
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Phillip 6:15PM (12/15/2006)
4 door and wagon on the mustang chassis, Um, Falcon any one?
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X 5:56PM (12/15/2006)
First off, I have to say that I was snickering when this original story was reported. To say that Ford would bastardize a premium nameplate and car with tremendous brand loyalty was ludicrous. The Stang will always and only be the Stang. No station wagons or hatchback screw ups like the past. Companies eventually do learn from their faux pass's. You guys (journalists) are in such a hurry to out-trump the other that you appear as paparazzi any more.
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Spider 6:48PM (12/15/2006)
1. I do not think the statement says it is "not intended for production" .. just that they have not decided yet ... i.e. this is not an outright "pre-production concept" the way MKS was last year ..
I sure do hope they finally produce one of their RWD concepts.
Also it seems both Lincoln and Ford will have separate RWD concepts at NAIAS.
Igor
- Hey, is that really your name? .... cool ...
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jon 7:57PM (12/15/2006)
Man ford is late to the party. The Charger and the 300C have been in this market for years. Hope that it comes out with the next/ updated 5.0 l mustang v8. I still dont like mustangs but whatever...more products to choose from.
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Sam Abuelsamid 10:32PM (12/16/2006)
The various renderings, photoshop jobs and rumors of a mustang wagon date to about late 2003 when the first AP level Mustang prototypes were sighted. On those first prototypes, the camo kit on on the coupes included a hunk of fiberglass from the back of the greenhouse to the trailing edge of the trunk that was designed to look like a wagon. The first time I saw one that's what I thought it was until I looked close and realized it was just tacked on disguise. Ever since that time rumors of a 'stang wagon keep popping up.
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Fuzzmanmatt 1:08AM (12/16/2006)
That sure seems like a great reason to stop smoking now, eh?
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Mike G 5:54PM (12/16/2006)
Too bad the current four door small car, the Fusion, is so bland that everyone is getting this excited about the possibility of a four door Mustang (ie attractive, even if retro, car). Of course, if you asked a car designer, they'd have plenty to say about how the Fusion is the better design, more daring, original, contemporary. But retro still sells.
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Modded Mustangs 7:01PM (12/16/2006)
Really good to hear, while the interceptor will be exciting (call me crazy but I like the Magnum) - calling it a Mustang wouldn't be.
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