M/T Ranks "Pony" Cars
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From: Bay Area, CA
As for Ford, here's my call: 2012, expect a few tweaks to both of the engines giving a small bump in horsepower, especially to the brand new V8. Probably more wheel options for the brembos (maybe even brembos standard on the GT). I could see them throwing on a HID Foglight option. What I'd really like to see them do though is get rid of the antennas on the back and wire them all into the body and the mirrors like the Corvette. Better aerodynamics FTW, but that probably won't happen. 
Aside from a few option updates and standardizing though and maybe engine tweaks, I don't expect there to be much for the 2012 Mustang, or the 2013 Mustang, but if the grapevine has it, there could be a whole new body coming soon. Personally I think they should put off the 50th anniversary until halfway through the 2014 model year when they suddenly release the 2015 Mustangs in a new body in a limited production run: "2014 1/2 50th Anniversary Special Edition", with 2015 VINs and everything, lasting from start of production to say, April 17, 2014. Then continue with 2015s as normal.
Aside from a few option updates and standardizing though and maybe engine tweaks, I don't expect there to be much for the 2012 Mustang, or the 2013 Mustang, but if the grapevine has it, there could be a whole new body coming soon. Personally I think they should put off the 50th anniversary until halfway through the 2014 model year when they suddenly release the 2015 Mustangs in a new body in a limited production run: "2014 1/2 50th Anniversary Special Edition", with 2015 VINs and everything, lasting from start of production to say, April 17, 2014. Then continue with 2015s as normal.
So in short, pretty much a MAYbe to more wheel options. I could see a Brembo Package option for the V6, maybe more gearing options for Autos/V6s. Maybe some interior trim shuffling, like having Stone available with the Glass Roof again. Other than that, hopefully we'll see Atlantis Green, but I don't expect (nor need) much for 2012.
Mach 1 Member
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I admit I'm kinda grasping at straws here. I'd be interested in HID Foglights anyway, though maybe just because it might go better with regular HIDs. Ridiculous? Maybe a little, but I think it'd be worth looking into.
Cobra Member
Joined: October 23, 2009
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From: NW Minnesota
Eh, I understand where MT is coming from - the same ol' mustang/camaro/challenger comparos can get a bit... stale after a while. And the Genesis is a fairly fantastic car, but I wish they wouldn't make it look like the genesis is cut from the same cloth as the 3 stalwarts; it isn't. They could just say "Here's the 3 old-time contestants, with a competitor from a different class to mix things up!"
The genesis can certainly hold its own against the pony cars (*sigh* V6 Challenger... lol my SHO gets better times on a strip than that!), and it is a pretty trick car, but it's just not in the same... spirit as the muscle cars.
I think part of the problem is that the term "pony car" engenders innately patriotic feelings; it's as American as apple pie, right? And the Hyundai is... well, a Hyundai. Sure, more of it might be built in America than the other three (don't know, won't say for sure), but it's still not an American car. Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet, these are names that the American automotive empire were built upon, and it will always be that way. Toyotas and Hondas and Hyundays and Subarus might be 100% built in the USA with USA parts and USA labor... but they're still foreign car companies. It's the collective ethos, and no amount of marketing or manufacturing is going to change that; it's built right into their names.
So, that having been said, it shall always be in my mind, "Three American Pony cars and a fresh-faced, spritely Korean competitor that is a nice car but isn't a pony car".
The genesis can certainly hold its own against the pony cars (*sigh* V6 Challenger... lol my SHO gets better times on a strip than that!), and it is a pretty trick car, but it's just not in the same... spirit as the muscle cars.
I think part of the problem is that the term "pony car" engenders innately patriotic feelings; it's as American as apple pie, right? And the Hyundai is... well, a Hyundai. Sure, more of it might be built in America than the other three (don't know, won't say for sure), but it's still not an American car. Ford, Chrysler, Chevrolet, these are names that the American automotive empire were built upon, and it will always be that way. Toyotas and Hondas and Hyundays and Subarus might be 100% built in the USA with USA parts and USA labor... but they're still foreign car companies. It's the collective ethos, and no amount of marketing or manufacturing is going to change that; it's built right into their names.
So, that having been said, it shall always be in my mind, "Three American Pony cars and a fresh-faced, spritely Korean competitor that is a nice car but isn't a pony car".
Before the Corvette came out, pretty much every car referred to as a sports car was British. Would you say the Corvette isn't a sports car because it came from the wrong country? Besides, the current crop of pony cars aren't 100% American, anyway. The Camaro is built in Canada and it's based off an Australian chassis. The Challenger is also built in Canada and it's chassis started out from Mercedes-Benz. Even our beloved Mustang has a Canadian engine if you get the 5.0. The chassis in the current Mustang is a cheapened version of the Lincoln LS's, which started out as a Jaguar chassis.
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And if we all go back far enough, every modern car, Mustangs, Camaros, Corvettes, Genesises, Challengers... they're all German. These days components come from all over the world, so I just give them a country of origin either as where they're made into the final product or where their corporate headquarters is based (I personally prefer final manufacture point as this is roughly how it is with people).
But with the world as it is, I think we have to accept that some other countries who have traditionally not made muscle/pony cars (... every country that isn't the USA) may finally be moving in on the market, whether intentionally or otherwise. The Genesis to me doesn't quite have the style (and certainly not the history) of the traditional pony cars, but maybe in time it would. I don't consider its styling truly unique, but it clearly performs well. I'd say it has more in common with a Corvette or an Aston Martin than a pony car though, making it more of a dirt cheap sports car.
But with the world as it is, I think we have to accept that some other countries who have traditionally not made muscle/pony cars (... every country that isn't the USA) may finally be moving in on the market, whether intentionally or otherwise. The Genesis to me doesn't quite have the style (and certainly not the history) of the traditional pony cars, but maybe in time it would. I don't consider its styling truly unique, but it clearly performs well. I'd say it has more in common with a Corvette or an Aston Martin than a pony car though, making it more of a dirt cheap sports car.
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When I think of a Muscle car, I think of the rumble at idle, the thunder at throttle, of an American V8 with a cross plane crank.
European cars have had V8's, V10's, V12's etc., but most all are flat plane cranks and the sound & rumble are not there. They were Sports cars vs American Muscle/Pony cars. They run superb and rev like crazy, but sound similar to a Japanese motorcycle engine.
When I think of a Pony Car, I think of a 2 door coupe style body (versus a sedan/saloon), with a Muscle car engine stuffed in.
I don't think the Hyundai makes the grade - though it may be a fine automobile and a serious competitor.
And regardless where parts are sourced from, or what cross border labor deals are made, an "American car" will always be Ford, GM, Chrysler products and their subsidiaries. Aside from their other cars and trucks, history records the Big 3 of America created, developed, marketed, took the world by storm with the Muscle car/Pony car. Not Japan, not Germany, not England, not Australia.
European cars have had V8's, V10's, V12's etc., but most all are flat plane cranks and the sound & rumble are not there. They were Sports cars vs American Muscle/Pony cars. They run superb and rev like crazy, but sound similar to a Japanese motorcycle engine.
When I think of a Pony Car, I think of a 2 door coupe style body (versus a sedan/saloon), with a Muscle car engine stuffed in.
I don't think the Hyundai makes the grade - though it may be a fine automobile and a serious competitor.
And regardless where parts are sourced from, or what cross border labor deals are made, an "American car" will always be Ford, GM, Chrysler products and their subsidiaries. Aside from their other cars and trucks, history records the Big 3 of America created, developed, marketed, took the world by storm with the Muscle car/Pony car. Not Japan, not Germany, not England, not Australia.
Last edited by cdynaco; May 4, 2010 at 11:08 AM.
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The only "Asian Muscle" I ever really started to understand was the Z lineage. Their viewpoint however of muscle differs as to what our, American view point was/is.
started in 1969 with the 240z had a 2.4L I6 for 151 hp 146 ft-lbs 2350lbs
started in 1969 with the 240z had a 2.4L I6 for 151 hp 146 ft-lbs 2350lbs
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My '74 Jensen-Healey/Lotus was an open roadster and I left many a I-6 (240Z's as well as Triumph TR-6's) at the light and through the canyon. The 260Z & 280Z only got worse.
The Lotus 907 was a 120" (1973cc) 4V DOHC slant 4, 140HP @6500 (redline 7k), 130# @5k, on 2150# curb weight. Detuned for emission. Great little sports car, but hardly a muscle car.
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If you grasp their understanding and their culture it's "Japanese... Muscle." Their recipe differs from ours is all.
What many followers regard to be some:
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....
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