Ford has a lot of competition coming to the marketplace and will definetly lose customers to them. Ford not having an IRS rear is a minus when compared to the competition. We will see what Ford does in the near future to compensate. The S197's shortcomings, in my opinion, are the brakes, interior materials and suspension tuning. As of right now, all we know is that Ford has stepped up the interior.

 

I Can See A Tiny Bit Of Why You Would Say It Looks Like An Altima Coupe, I Also See Alot Of Infinity G35/37 Coupe In It Once I Fixed It. I Think It Has More Sculptural Quality To It Than An Altima Coupe. Only The Quarter Window Strikes Me As A Bit Altima Like. I Think It Looks Better Than That Droopy Quarter Window. I'm Sure That Quarter Window Will Turn Away More Buyers Than Anything Else About The Car.

Here's The Way I Would Fix The Front And Rear In One Shot.



And The Original.

 

Shawn, now that is definitely a very noticeable improvement indeed.

Just out of curiosity, could you possibly round off those sharp crease lines in the quarter panels just a bit ? I really think this car could look so much better, if it didn't have hips that look so much like flare side fenders, taken from an old pick up truck lol.

 

This is what I hate about a lot of these Japanese cars - they all look alike and copy one another.

The only thing the current Mustang copied was the greatest Mustangs of all time. And so it looks like one of the great cars of all time, but nothing like any other car on the road today.

 

I agree...whether its the altima and that genesis, or the honda accord and the toyota camry...they all copy one another...it does happen here in the US too, but its not as prevalent.

 

And don't forget Chryslers and Mitsubishis.
That's my exact thought. And HKS already did one of them w more than 300hp & tq. @ 10 something psi.

Shawn, that's my biggest complain about the original design. Your rendering is 1000 times better.

 

Shawn, I've put your chops on a Hyundai forum to see how they like them, hope you don't mind
More pics:

 

blek

 

Sorry, still wouldn't drive that.

 

No Not At All, I'd Actiually Love To Hear What They Have To Say About It. I Always Wanted To BE A Car Desiner And Do My Own Design As A Hoby Still. I Guess I Shoulda' Signed Them LOL! Can You Post The Link To That Thread For Me?

 

I admire Hyundai for their fortitude, quality improvements, and for how far they've come. But they are completely and utterly without personality or soul.

I would never own one, nor even consider one.

 

They are making a meager attempt to gain some of the market that they have never been able to get into. And they still wont. Until they come up with something unique, or corner the market with a certain piece of technology that is very desirable in a sports car, they're up a creek without a paddle.

When I think of Hyundai I don't think performance, I think "cheap, economical car with no resale value"....and besides economical, that is exactly what that car screams.

 

I still hold the "cheap economy car" sterotype too. Hyundai has come a long way in the last 10 years. Ford should take some notes.

 

From what I can see on the horizon, I think Ford has.

 

Another worthy competitor....370Z
http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...eal/index.html

 

Yep, even though the design is awkward in spots, IMO.

By the time the 2011 GT arrives with the 5.0L 400HP engine, the Stang won't have anything to fear from the 370Z.

 

I've heard rumors that the Z might get a V8.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/nissan-t...ered-370z.html

The article says that Nissan took 220 lbs out of the Z. The V6 version might be a worthy competitor to the 2011 GT if that's true. HP/Lb is what counts!

 

Yeah, that will change the whole game for sure.

I think they'd have to take out a lot more than 220 lbs for that V6 to beat the 2011 5.0L V8, if the Stang remains the same weight...which it's predicted to do.

 

Nice profile on the 370Z. Much better than the current car.

Not a fan of the head and tail light treatment, though, and that interior is a mess. Too much video arcade; too much distraction for serious driving, IMHO...

 

if the Z gets a V8 it will be 45,000 dollars you can not buy an import V8 for under 35K new it just doesn't happen.