In 2014, Ford will celebrate the Mustang’s 50th anniversary and it will do so by launching a brand new model. The revelation comes from the company’s design chief, J Mays, who spoke to journalist during the 64th International Auto Show in Frankfurt.
According to Mays, the design of the next-generation Mustang has already “locked down” three years ahead of its launch. The real surprise, though, is that Mays states that the new version of Ford’s iconic pony car will look more into the future than in to its past.
"Both redesigns introduced in 2005 and 2010 are retro vehicles," Mays told journalist on the sidelines of the Frankfurt Motor Show. "The challenge with the 50th anniversary car is to not just look back over your shoulder, but to try to win all of the Mustang faithful yet bring the brand forward as well.”
That’s quite a high order, but Mays is more than confident that, even though the new Mustang will be different, it will still retain its character.
“It has to look like a Mustang, but you go down a list of things than might or might not be necessary to make the car look like a Mustang," said Mays.
Ford really needs the new Mustang to succeed, as the current model is lagging behind its arch enemy/rival, GM's Chevrolet Camaro. In the first eight months of the year, Chevrolet's pony car has outsold the Mustang by more than 10,000 units – and that’s not counting the convertible version that recently hit the market.
Story source: Automotive News [sub.req.]
10 Comments:
Good news for the next 'Stang. Retro is only good for awhile and then it starts getting stale. By the same token, I hope the next Corvette escapes the past looks to the future. I'm kindly holding out for the new "Stang though.
Remember when the Ford Probe was supposed to become the new Mustang? Let's hope they don't make that mistake again.
In the next generation after this, will they do a Fox Body (1979 to 1993) retro design? It would be a good back up design (Same for the redesign next generation for the new Camaro, the 1985 to 1990 IROC Z), if the modern design does not grab people, which I think will be extremely difficult as most car companys have extremely great designs, not just a few like the 1970s to the 1990s. The competition is fierce.
The 2014 going to be Euro-styled with classic Mustang design cues. Just look at the new Ford Escape as an example,
gm had the help of the goverment to make those cars but ford is still leading the way !gm is still getting out of a hole and the people are so stupid they still go buy car for a rediculous price that they paid for shame on you?
You are an idiot -
I hope 'J' is talking a real modern Mustang.. A knock your socks off design like the original '2+2' and 67' Fastback, did.
Lets hope they also elevate it's sporting credentials with 'IRS'. Seems, that they will have to, too seriously compete with the Camaro and the Genesis 'Coupe', and be a thoroughly modern vehicle, unlike the current buck board suspended model.
They need to return the 'HO' Turbo 4 cyl, back to the model list. My SVO Mustang was a keeper, that I should have kept. Right now, only the Genesis 'Coupe' has a "HO', reality based, performance Four, for 2013.
Got my fingers and toes crossed that they bring a fresh, new, modern Stang to the Pony corral.
Speaking of Ponies, Ford created the genre, they should lead it with all of it's competitors nipping at its heels in close competition. Unfortunately, historically, that hasn't often been the case. Ford's bean counters almost always have the final word.
2013 looks great but if u throw a euro edge on it it will sell good over seas but here nahh america doesnt like small light kiddi cars we want v6 and v8 engines with raw power not a little turbo 4 cylinder i lile the tourqe and weight of my 01 it puts u in the seat amd slides all over its the big engine and the loud exhaust and the slipin and slidin that makes the mustang a mustang its a wild untamable car and a muscle car not a 4 cylinder euro or jap tuner its a beast that they back down from i know gas prices are crazy and fuel efficency is looking like a big factor but if u are looking at a mustang u aint worrying about fuel efficency ur looking for fun and speed and adrenaline not a family coupe with a 4cylinder turbo so after the kiddies get out u can go have a lil fun ur looking for a car that everyone is looking at and a car that will give u that mustang smile that every mustang owner gets when they buy there first mustang and i read a rumor they are dropin the 5.0 and bringing back the 5.4 i think ford ahould revamp the 4.6 4v from the cobra and offer an inline 6 like the originals bring something back from the past but redisign it to make it brand new i know ford could make an awsome big inline 6 with alot of horses make the 50th anniversary one to remember not like the 45th which i know i would like to forget lol
Dude 4.6 sucked 5 litre is one of the best motors ford ever made and as for a 4 cylnder have you ever heard of an svo and for bringing an inline 6 it would be pretty cool but id much rather see a new style that has the classique of a first gen the edge of a fox and as for power anything 93 back will do excluding the mustang ii haha the euro idea really would be cool like the fox was a euro idea i hope to see that soon
...that mistake will not be made again..,
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