Front fascia caught uncovered during testing 8/20
V6 Member
Joined: January 10, 2007
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
I disagree. Unlike must Americans, Europeans are more forward thinking and innovation driven society when it comes to their automobiles. They like cars that can handle, have good build quality, have the latest tech and have good modern designs. Don't believe me? Just compare the cars GM and Ford where building for the Europe a few years ago to the ones for USA consumption. Another reason VW Jetta comes standard with IRS and soft touch interior in Europe while here in the US we are stock with a torsion-bar suspension and hard plastic interior. Compare NASCAR and F1 racing. I can go on and on. They are even buying more double clutch transmission than standard cars after so many years of manual love. There is not way Ford will be able to sell in high numbers a car with the front of a 1969 car with a solid rear axle in Europe. No way. No saying there are a few Europeans that appreciate retro design but those are very small minority.
My overall Fusion Coupe Styling comment is just that - a comment on styling (and specifically here on just the front end we see in the spy shots) not on technology, fit and finish, soft touch interiors, the unseen back end, or the engine(s) specifications, etc.
IF this is the final look (same for GT and V6?), I think it is a Styling mistake. Will it sell anyway, because it is a Mustang; because it has new tech, sure. Does it look pretty cool, yeah.
But is it the best choice? NO, it needs to be distinctive - they should be building a Mustang brand with a distinct Mustang image as well as technology, quality, etc.
I recall someone on this site used to have a signature that was made from keystrokes and that those keystrokes looked like the rear end of a classic Mustang - it didn't need an explanation.
Aside: I just got through reading Mary Walton's "Car" (an inside look at the decision making that, I think, ruined the Taurus brand). I highly recommend it for a look at corporate decision making.
Shelby GT500 Member
Joined: November 26, 2011
Posts: 2,633
Likes: 4
GT Member
Joined: January 10, 2010
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: huntley, il
The GT500 has had a catfish front end since 2010. Being an awesome car doesn't change that fact. Personally I'm hoping Ford finished the job of fixing the rear end hatchet job of '10-'12 Mustangs. I'm also curious about how the interior looks and feels. S197 interiors (compared to a Fusion) are pretty inferior and dated.
GT Member
Joined: January 24, 2010
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
my $.02........... I think Ford has not finalized their production line molds and is using this mold to get feedback on whether they want to go with a different design or stick with that one. Me personally, I've been trying to sell my 11' to get ready for the 15' but at this spyshot, I think I will take my car off ebay and go wax my car in the garage now 
I recall speaking with someone that saw a mustang design a little over a year ago and he said the feedback was that it didn't change enough! So his description he gave me, seems really close to this but he also said that they were going back to the drawing board because it wasn't future forward enough. So I'm thinking Ford is just getting feedback from us and it will not be part of the family. I totally feel it should be no question when you see a mustang that it is not another member in the ford family. ok so that was long.......maybe it was my $.25
I recall speaking with someone that saw a mustang design a little over a year ago and he said the feedback was that it didn't change enough! So his description he gave me, seems really close to this but he also said that they were going back to the drawing board because it wasn't future forward enough. So I'm thinking Ford is just getting feedback from us and it will not be part of the family. I totally feel it should be no question when you see a mustang that it is not another member in the ford family. ok so that was long.......maybe it was my $.25
Shelby GT350 Member
Joined: June 9, 2008
Posts: 2,061
Likes: 1
From: Rochester NY
Are they ever going to design a mustang that pleases everyone? Never. You will have those who love it, those that hate it and those in between. People thought the s197 was to boring, hated the 10-12 rear and black plastic and did not like the '13-14 front. That can please every segment.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: June 6, 2012
Posts: 963
Likes: 0
From: SC
Ok I have cut the headlight, fog light from the bottom and pasted on the top. Resizing and skewing to accommodate the slight angle and distance between the two shots. I still maintain this is a fusion nose without chrome grill.