Mustang Hybrid Rendering Rocks Super Slick Solid Grille

Here’s a better look at the front end of the mysterious HEV Stang from Ford’s ‘The Future is Built’ commercial.

Multiple Ford executives have referenced a Mustang hybrid in the future and with the company seemingly teasing a fuel-friendly pony car back in October, we had our artists put together their vision for the electric-assisted fastback. The result is the unique machine above, combining the lines of the current Mustang with the front end from the commercial, and we kind of love it.

Hybrid Teaser

Back in October, Ford Motor Company released a commercial titled “The Future Is Built” that features actor Bryan Cranston and what appears to be some sort of Mustang hybrid. The still image from that video is shown below, with the running pony logo glowing in the middle of a front fascia devoid of a proper grille. It doesn’t look like any current Ford products but that logo leaves little question that this is some sort of Mustang with a solid grille area.

What kind of car has a solid grille? One that doesn’t need a high volume of air flow entering the engine bay, as seen on some popular hybrids and electric vehicles. In other words, this shadowy car appears to be a Mustang hybrid if some sort, but it doesn’t really look like the current iteration of the legendary pony car.

Or does it?

Refreshed Ford Mustang

Ford Motor Company has made it clear that they like to keep the Mustang fresh when it comes to exterior styling, so it seems very possible that we could see another facelift within the next few years. We also expect to see the Mustang hybrid in the next few years, so it would make sense for the hybridized pony car to arrive during the next refresh cycle. It could also be a whole new generation with a new look, but in any case, our artist applied the front end of the car shown in the teaser on the body of the S550.

This front end isn’t a huge departure from the current design, but the headlights have been tweaked and, clearly, the entire front fascia has been overhauled to look like the car in the commercial. This includes the solid upper grille and a row of openings along the bottom, including two big, aggressive vents located on the outer corners.

While you might not love the idea of a Mustang hybrid, this front end looks pretty sharp on the S550 body. This design would offer superior aerodynamics to a traditional grille, something that you want with a hybrid vehicle, while still allowing some cooling air to make its way through the front fascia.

If the production version of the Mustang hybrid looks like the orange pony car above, the look will help sell them to folks who are more concerned with driving a hybrid than a performance car. Looks aside, the hybrid that Ford eventually rolls out should be popular among those buyers who want a blend of performance and efficiency, regardless of the engine size and output.

Artist Rendering: Pouria Savadkouei

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com

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