What direction should the next generation mustang styling go in?

[Starship Enterprise]

The new sleek look of the Mustang didn’t hit me at first, then grew on me. Now I love the new look, especially the current gen. I really love how my GT looks and drives.

Now to stay on topic, The early 2000’s saw a huge retro styling trend across many companies, Mustang, Prowler, Chevy SSR, Challenger, etc. I think the retro trend has been mostly played out, and outside of some heritage styling cues, designers are looking forward with sleek styling, and it seems more European influences are making their way into designs.

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[AZ_Ryan]

I remember when the S550 first came out. Everyone complained that it looked like a Jaguar. Ford has definitely been trying to appeal to the European market with the Mustang.

 

[Bear376]

I think that the 5th generation Mustang epitomizes the 1st generation look. Probably too soon to go back to that look, but maybe something like the 4th generation look and size.

 

[MustangNoob]

Before I chip in, what distinguishes American style from European style and Asian style?

Maybe the image bellow will help. The same concept can apply to cars lol

 

[LouG]

American style is usually has aggressive rear haunches and front ends.

Europe is kinda diverse, German is simple for the most part, with elegant lines. Italian is curvy and tries to incorporate feminine details.

Asia likes sharpe lines and angles or really soft lines. Camaro for example was designed by Sangyup Lee, a Korean designer. So you see more sharpe lines and things that people say the S650 has now.

Apart from BMW nostrils.

 

[LouG]

One thing I'll add, and it's not just Mustangs,
the raised bonnets (hoods) for pedestrian protection spoil the lines a bit on modern cars.

 

[DeluxeStang]

The new sleek look of the Mustang didn’t hit me at first, then grew on me. Now I love the new look, especially the current gen. I really love how my GT looks and drives.

Now to stay on topic, The early 2000’s saw a huge retro styling trend across many companies, Mustang, Prowler, Chevy SSR, Challenger, etc. I think the retro trend has been mostly played out, and outside of some heritage styling cues, designers are looking forward with sleek styling, and it seems more European influences are making their way into designs.

It's a good looking car, the only thing I'm really not a huge fan of on the mustang from a visual standpoint is I really want to see those overhangs get smaller, it's such an important part of the design. I don't like how the front overhang, that's the metal extending past the front wheels in case some people reading this don't know what an overhang is, is longer than the dash to axle ratio, which is essentially the distance between the windshield and the front wheel. It drives me nuts even if it's a relatively small thing, I'm just such a design fanatic that I can't ignore that.

I'd love to see those wheels pushed closer to the corners which would improve handling and looks.

 

[DeluxeStang]

This is also another good example of what I have in mind. Something that's still sharp looking, has a little more of a blocky muscle car look, but is a lot more exotic in terms of proportions. A sort of design that wouldn't lose the essence of what a muscle car was, it just takes it to another level.

 

[Starship Enterprise]

Definitely a sleek cool design!

 

[AZ_Ryan]

This is also another good example of what I have in mind. Something that's still sharp looking, has a little more of a blocky muscle car look, but is a lot more exotic in terms of proportions. A sort of design that wouldn't lose the essence of what a muscle car was, it just takes it to another level.

Sorry, but that doesn't remotely embody what a Mustang is. American muscle isn't supposed to look like a streamlined European super car.

 

[GWink]

We’ve had a 2015, a 2019, and now a 2024 Mustang GT (all Convertibles)………and even though the styling on the 2024 for those really familiar and knowledgeable about Mustang stylings has changed for the cognoscenti, (that’s us), there is really nothing for the other 99% of the population that would have them say…”Wow, isn’t that the new Mustang?” From 50 feet away.
Ford needs to step up the styling on the next model, and it is going to be a real challenge for them to maintain some type of clues to previous models while having that other 99% and us say “WOW!”

 

[AZ_Ryan]

We’ve had a 2015, a 2019, and now a 2024 Mustang GT (all Convertibles)………and even though the styling on the 2024 for those really familiar and knowledgeable about Mustang stylings has changed for the cognoscenti, (that’s us), there is really nothing for the other 99% of the population that would have them say…”Wow, isn’t that the new Mustang?” From 50 feet away.
Ford needs to step up the styling on the next model, and it is going to be a real challenge for them to maintain some type of clues to previous models while having that other 99% and us say “WOW!”

The S550 styling was very popular and has aged well. I dont think Ford wanted to deviate too far from a good thing just for the sake of radical change.

 

[DeluxeStang]

Sorry, but that doesn't remotely embody what a Mustang is. American muscle isn't supposed to look like a streamlined European super car.

The original mustang was literally designed to look like European sports cars good sir. The design brief was to reject the styling of conventional American cars of the era, and instead create a design that looked more European.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

The original mustang was literally designed to look like European sports cars good sir. The design brief was to reject the styling of conventional American cars of the era, and instead create a design that looked more European.

That's simply not true at all. There were some influences, but there was no mandate to make it look "European" lol. They wanted an affordable sporty 2 door, 4 seater that appealed to a wide audience. With the exception of maybe the early fastbacks, The Mustang has never looked like a European sports car.

And by the way I've owned 5 first gen Mustangs, and currently own a '66. I know all about their history.

 

[Wiley Marmot]

Get 4-500 lbs (182-227 kgs) out of it. Keep HP @ 460 or more. Offer glass and conventional dash/switch options.

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