Lighter, airier, lower stance with key Mustang styling cues would be ideal.

 

The opportunity costs of developing another retro-inspired Mustang is that we're going to miss out on not seeing something new and potentially even better. This was major design goal of the FOX and I think it acheived it pretty well. Being born in '81, what I am saying is anecdotal rather than personal experience, but the world was looking for a fresh, clean design that was pulling cues from the euro craze at the time and something that was still economical. If you think the FOX looks dated, then you probably think all 1980s designs look dated. I actually think the 1980s era IROCs are some of the best looking Camaros. I also think that a tastefully modded 1980s Mustang can be a very sexy machine.

 

They say the next gen Mustang looks like a Camaro because.... Chevy actually took a design step forward. Ford engineers are clawing after the sixties. Camaro design team said "F it, lets start a new iconic design". I got money the next gen Camaro will be clawing after the fifth gen camaro (current generation, fyi) similar to Ford trying to look like the 60s cars. Now i love Ford more than all the others, but i believe its time they put on the big boy pants and leap into futuristic designs, similar to Chevys actions.

 

This!

 

I'm pretty new here so I don't know if this has been posted. I really don't see how ANYONE would even consider a Camaro over a Mustang after reading this. And remember, GM also took a ba-zillion dollar bailout to boot. Honestly, this was one of the major reasons that I just bought a new 2012 V6.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/07/news....htm?hpt=hp_t2

 

So you're saying the current Camaro has no 60's influence at all?
I think you need to get your eyes checked. Look at this picture! Looks like Chevy was "clawing after the sixties" just as much as Ford. If "new iconic design" = cartoonish '69 Camaro rehash then I guess they succeeded.

 

I just ment their body style is more futuristic. Yeah, it takes alot from the 60s but the body is progressive, not a rebuild of a S197 with a diaper :P . Just my opinion.

Also, after looking at that pic, it reaffirms how its more of a modern car. It looks more like a tall corvette (except the grill) than an old camaro. Altho that may b attributed to the tiny winows

 

Ford didn't have the luxury of a full redesign. The 2010+ is a refresh, it's understandable how it looks similar to the 2005-2009

 

Several things to think about. Hatchback is going to have more road noise than the current car. The new 4v 5.0 is much wider than the old 5.0 so you need a wider car to accomodate the engine. I drove a 2010 Camaro SS and visibility is lousy. Still dont want an irs too costly and not as durable for drag racing and our cars already handle better than Camaro or Challenger.

 

As far as I'm concerned, the new Camaro is just a me-too effort. In their move forward, I would hope Ford decides preserve important aspects of the Mustang's aesthetic identity (or "DNA") from now on, not unlike what Porsche has done with the 911, with a design philosophy more akin to the classic Mustangs or more recently, the Fox Mustangs.

Minimally, I would love future Mustangs to sport the:

-Shark-mouth grill
-"Glaring" headlight buckets, round headlights
-Tri-bar taillights
-C-scoops (sadly neglected/abbreviated in the S197 generation)

I also hope Ford abandons the high belt line and gives the Nextstang a more lithe look in an overall smaller package. I'd love to see a true '67-'68 fastback configuration or possibly a hatchback variation of such, as long as it's well engineered and looks good.