What direction should the next generation mustang styling go in?

[Bear376]

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[Bear376]

The upcoming Ferrari Amalfi is the type of look that could be morphed into the new Mustang. Size it SN95 and use the distinctive Mustang styling cues. The 4.6L fit into the SN95, so the 5.0L should also with good engineering. Also don't forget that while the 5.0L is what the general public thinks about, the original Mustang had a 260 c.i. (4.3L) and the the 289 c.i (4.7L) versions of the same block. It would be a gamble, but if the HP to weight ratio was the same, it might be a better product.

And don't diss the Mustang II. For the time, it was a good car and the second best seller after the 65. It also save the Mustang from the fate that befell the Dodge Charger/Plymouth Challenger and the Camaro/Firebird. As for the Probe, thankfully it did not replace the Mustang, but they should have updated it instead of discontinuing it, and made it the Cougar.

 

[MAT1955]

@Starship Enterprise ...... Jaguar sales have dropped 97%. Buy one fast, the brand is likely doomed.....for the last time. I think their woke advertising and bland styling has finally killed the brand and IMO the only decent car they ever made was the XKE.

 

[LouG]

There are so many personalized license plates for the Probe that would have been perfect, but probably not allowed by our state DMV, you know?

Lana would be a good name for a Probe.

 

[DeluxeStang]

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.

Respectfully, the guy who actually led the design team for the original mustang knows more than either of us, here's what he said. Let's just leave it here.

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

Wasn't that supposed to be the Probe? People scoff at the thought of an AWD Mustang, but I can't imagine it ever going FWD. No way they'd get that desperate to keep the Mustang alive...right? (I'd be fine with the V6 returning, but that also seems unlikely as long as the 2.3 EcoBoost continues to exist.)

I would fully support an I6 Mustang. Wish it still existed, the original wasn't bad by any means. Just a bit slow...

 

[Zig]

… the best direction forward for mustang styling.

…

Common everyman/woman core. Nice enough to desire but not so much as to require white gloves just to drive. A common easy design that allows customization. A custom design is difficult to commonize while a common is easy to customize.

the render (^that rear shot) isn’t bad at all but not as a mustang proper. Maybe a raptor but they already made that a package so maybe scorpion or something along those lines

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Respectfully, the guy who actually led the design team for the original mustang knows more than either of us, here's what he said. Let's just leave it here.

You used AI to site your source?

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

I was thinking the same thing, lmao

 

[roket]

i think the new gen or the refresh needs to bring back the glass roof, and make it open like the Escape's panoramic sun roof does

 

[broncoboy22]

i think the new gen or the refresh needs to bring back the glass roof, and make it open like the Escape's panoramic sun roof does

If they bring back the glass roof I’ll be a buyer! And I don’t even need it to open!

 

[DeluxeStang]

You used AI to site your source?

What you're seeing is a summary of what other people have said on the subject. While it's still not perfect, AI has improved a lot in recent years in terms of accuracy.

 

[BoostRabbitGT]

Speaking of AI, wasn't there someone here who had an AI that could generate Mustang info/images more accurately compared to more mainstream AIs?

 

[DeluxeStang]

Common everyman/woman core. Nice enough to desire but not so much as to require white gloves just to drive. A common easy design that allows customization. A custom design is difficult to commonize while a common is easy to customize.

the render (^that rear shot) isn’t bad at all but not as a mustang proper. Maybe a raptor but they already made that a package so maybe scorpion or something along those lines

I get where you're coming from, but I personally believe the days of highly affordable sports cars, especially ones with V8s, are in the rearview. With that in mind, I believe Ford should turn it's attention towards trying to stabilize mustang prices instead of dropping them, perhaps by sharing its platform with a sedan, drastically increasing sales volume, and getting economies of scale working in your favor.

If Ford can stabilize prices so at least they level off for a little bit, and gives us a more exotic, daring, bold design that makes it easier to justify spending a lot of money, that will help the mustang out. I also personally believe having more mustang models that specializing instead of trying to have the mustang be all things to all people in one car could benefit mustang moving forward.

What about a full sized V8 mustang that appeals to traditionalists who want a V8 mustang with a shit ton of power, and a smaller EV coupe, the mustang designed to be super affordable and meant to be the mustang for the next generation of young enthusiasts. Ford's next gen compact EVs using that platform are supposed to start at 25-30k new. What about a 250 hp 25-30 grand mustang for people who want something to mod, that looks cool, and is fast enough to make it interesting?

Young people are far more receptive to EVs, but have no cool EVs with aftermarket support. Ford could sell a compact mustang that appeals to them, that they can actually afford, and that offers a shit ton of accessories, think like the slate truck but in coupe form, to really boost profits.

 

[DeluxeStang]

Common everyman/woman core. Nice enough to desire but not so much as to require white gloves just to drive. A common easy design that allows customization. A custom design is difficult to commonize while a common is easy to customize.

the render (^that rear shot) isn’t bad at all but not as a mustang proper. Maybe a raptor but they already made that a package so maybe scorpion or something along those lines

Part of the issue is a lot of us want to see the return of a smaller, more affordable mustang, while others like this larger more upscale direction the mustang has gone in. For a variety of reasons, engineering a tiny gas powered mustang would be more trouble than it's worth. The smaller the car is, the higher the fuel economy standards are, which makes doing small cars with high performance engines that tend to produce higher emissions, it's harder to meet those standards. This is one of the reasons why the mustang has gotten larger, because larger cars have lower emissions targets, so Ford can still keep the V8 around if they make the car larger.

But if the small coupe is an EV, well then meeting emissions is a non issue. Plus costs are lower. The platform is already in development for other vehicles, since it's a skateboard platform, it wouldn't require a ton of engineering work to put a coupe body on top of it. Compared to if Ford made a new smaller gas sports car platform which would essentially have to be created from scratch and would be super expensive. Another reason why we haven't seen a ton of affordable sports coupes in recent years, you just can't make money on a standalone low volume product with a bespoke platform that sells for 25k.

Splitting the mustang into multiple coupes is a bold move, but it could end up paying off if both are well executed.

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