Probably not as many as their should be, which IS a big problem -- the Mustang, outside of its current core clientele, is simply not being seen as a viable modern performance coupe by enough people to keep it viable in the long run.

A risk, but one I surmise Ford understands well, particularly after the Mustang II and Probe-as-potential-Mustang missteps. I don't think it will be watered down into some generic global coupe rather than expanding the Mustang's design and capabilities to appeal to a broader market. I think Ford will make sure to retain sufficient Mustang DNA to assure that it is still a Mustang, i.e., RWD multicylinder (V8 top models) long(ish) hood, short deck 2+2 sport coupe. Anyway, the Mustang faithful is a diminishing group and Ford risks making the Mustang a niche museum piece by alienating younger global buyers by overly-catering to this graying group.

Yes, some level of cockpit toys may be necessary, but that may not be a bad thing as they can be configured for the performance buff -- look at what they're dabbling with in the 2013 Stang -- and can be ported over from Ford's other cars without a lot of Mustang-specific development costs. As for the suspension, perhaps not "state of the art" but at least a step up to contemporary standards from the current yestertech lively axle. A Conestoga axle is simply a non-starter for any serious performance car with extra-drag-strip aspirations in the 21st century.

I think most of them get it at Ford and do treat it as such, especially the "car guys." Just keep the generic MBA suits away from messing it up. That the Boss Mustang was so much more than a 90% tape-stripe and spoiler package is very reassuring that the car guys/engineers have the final say, not the bean counters and marketing hacks.

As mentioned, I think Ford is well aware of the Mustang's history, DNA and status and will make sure it is still very much a Mustang, even if a fully 21st century Mustang well positioned for its next 50 years.

I'm guessing we may see "2015" Mustang stuff much sooner than that as it'll be hard to keep the current Stang's sales up, even with decent refreshes like the 2013. That said, they did do a decent refresh for 2013 which might mean one or two things: it will be until MY2015 before the new one hits the streets thus justifying the 2013 refresh and/or Ford recognizes the need to keep a halo enthusiasts car like the Mustang very fresh and updated as a general practice.

Look how often the Mustang and many other cars were refreshed in the 1960s -- every two-three years and Ford seems far less content to let the Stang molder on the vine as they have in years past. That is now has keen, direct and indirect competition also does not give them the room for complacency as in the not-too-distant past. Even with the 2015 complete redo, I might still expect a significant refresh come 2017-18.

 

My take on this:

If Ford wants to make a Mustang into a Fusion coupe, save it. Leave the pony off, sell it as a Fusion coupe, and move on. Use the same engines as the sedan, and sell it. Heck, make a Lincoln version and sell it too. Don't make a coupe, slap a pony up front, and try to pass that on as the next Mustang. You'll **** off a lot of people that way.

That said, I think the new Fusion platform (CD4) is going to be a big deal. Ford seems to have invested a lot of time and effort into it, and I hope it pays off. We'll know later this year when the '13 Fusion hits the lot, and that should tell us a lot about how far Ford has come, but I don't know if it's going to tell us much about the future of the Mustang or not.

I'm pretty sure that everyone throwing Photoshops of cars up here has very little knowledge of what the future of Mustang has in store. I don't really buy the article either. I think that Ford is going to keep a real tight lip on design of this car for obvious reasons. This is their halo car. Chevy has the Corvette, Ford has the Mustang. I don't really expect the '15 car to follow the styling of the rest of the brand as much as the article leads on. Those of you in this section of the boards that rehash the Evos into a Mustang, I'm not sold either. I know there are a select few people that have seen the car, and they're not talking right now. We've still got time.

Right now, personally, I'm holding out on whether to get a '14 or wait until '16 for what this turns out to be. Time will tell.

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/n...uturistic-evo/

I have no problem with that look! When I first saw the Evos I didn't like it for the Mustang but now it has really grown on me and I could see it being a sweet looking Stang with a few minor changes.

 

I think you are somewhat correct in saying it will **** a lot of people off. New buyers want IRS and less weight. Do that with even the current performance and you'll have followers.

Development will still continue for some small things I'm sure. Hopefully the IRS isn't too overly costly to work on/maintain/get parts for.

Even if it looks like the Evos it may still sell. But I doubt it to be nearly as dramatic. Also, I'm very excited that Ford is looking to go carbon fibre. This could be huge.

The Fusion. While I'm holding my optimism I am actually excited to see how big the Fusion will be. When I tested a 13 mustang over the weekend the salesman and I both spoke about how excited we were for the new Fusion. It could be game changing. It could be nothing.

I'm in the same boat. I really want to see the new Mustang and drive it if they are looking to go lighter. It sounds awesome already. But I love the balance of modern mustang with the old lines that it gets my urge for a resto mod and a modern sports car in one package. Two things are constantly on my mind. The SN95 cars were highly popular and to me, while a fan, think they are the most forgettable. So is the new Mustang going to be a keeper or a trasher? Catch my drift?

 

If this is what it looks like. I'm in - a little work on the front end and the rest is good. would like to see a similar rear end/lights to how the 2013 looks, and to look sleek with or without spoiler.
This is one of the best concepts I've seen. It looks sleek and powerful I hope the hips aren't weakened in the production models.

 

Don't know what to think about this one.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...934741136.html

 

My main problem with the WSJ article is that the way they structure the it leads their readers to the "New Mustang = Fusion Coupe = FWD Probe2!" conclusion. Sure it may share much of the same design language Fusion is introducing to the market, but as long as its got RWD and a V8 it sure as sheet ain't a Fusion Coupe. If the author had taken one sentence to point out that the Mustang will not in fact share drivetrain or platform with Fusion, people would be a lot more calm. Of course, this is WSJ so I can't rule out the possibility that this omission is deliberate.

 

If Ford had not done the 1974 Mustang II at that time we would not be talking about a 2015 Mustang today. The car would have been done for if it kept going the way of the 71-73.

I myself had an 85 GT and a 93 notch... they were nowhere near the style of the 641/2 but kept the idea of long hood/short deck/cheap/light weight/fun/seating for 5/easily tuned V8 kinda car the Mustang was built to be.

 

You have a point. If it weren't for those bland versions, we'd be in the same boat as Camaro and Challenger owners. As much as we hate some of those years, they kept the brand alive. I do think, however, the timing is not right for another bland car by making a Fusion coupe.

 

I definitely want them to get off the retro kick and lighten the car up. I just hope it still says "Mustang" when you look at it and retains the basic Mustang formula... long hood, short deck, rwd, powerful, fun.

 

Looks like if it goes as they say the Mustang will have a lot more competition than just the Camaro and Challenger. People will be cross referencing the Mustang with as much as a dozen different cars that are like or similar to the Mustang. You may bring in some younger buyers but going to isolate the older crowd as the whole retro theme is what made the S197 such a big hit. I do not think that the lack of sales is just because of the retro theme. More competition, higher prices i think has hurt the Mustang more than its looks.
I know if the Mustang becomes a 2 door Fusion/Evo type the '13 will be my last Mustang. Im sure I'm not the only one who feels like this either.

 

 

I think these wailings about the Mustang becoming some sort of "Fusion Coupe" like, say, a Honda Accord Coupe, are way overwrought. Will there be some common Ford Kinetic II stylistic DNA, sure, but in no way does that automatically translate into Fusion Coupe. The '15 Stang will certainly be front engined, RWD with the requisite V8 performance versions.

As I've mentioned, and that WSJ article might confirm, I predict the NextStang to more closely resemble a long-nosed Evos with some requisite Stang stylistic elements incorporated. Having seen the Evos, that in most definitely NOT a bad thing.

 

No one is really discussing price. The last time I looked, the latest incarnation of Mustang (GT, base) was up 5K from the 2005 - 2012 models. I'm not sure where that trends in the rest of the industry but, if people in the 25 - 35 year old range DO have money to spend on a fun car outside of vehicles they need to haul their new families around in, it's not going to be a new, 40K Mustang GT premium (most of the time). They'll go used or look for a cheaper fun car. Being that age bracket and in that situation myself, when I went to buy a Mustang a little over a year ago I chose to buy a low-mileage 2001 Roush S3. Gobs of power, the convertible top is great for nice weather, and with 12K mi and much less than a new Mustang GT I found it was easier to forgive the "antequated" chassis (which still manages a 1G on the skidpad) and lack of interior bells and whistles. When I went to Ford to look at a new Mustang GT the cheapest one that had on the lot (end of model year) was MSRP of just north of 39K. If they don't address the issue of cost, then the average buying age is simply going to continue to go upward - just my $0.02.

 

I'm in that younger audience they are supposedly going after. And I have to say I love the Evos and the new fusion. But I have always wanted a Mustang. I even got an 05 vert, but was unhappy with the Buick style soft suspension. So I definitely want a car that is unmistakably a Mustang.

That being said, I also want the "cockpit toys". My partner just got an Explorer Limited with all the toys and I would love for the next mustang to be available with:

Keyless entry and start
My Ford Touch
Cooled seats
Adaptive cruise / collision warning
Lane keep assist
Keypad to unlock
Tight, stiff sport suspension available on the vert.

And make it available on the V6 with a real manual. Just because we want to shift it ourselves, doesn't mean we want a stripped down basic car. (See the Focus for the reason I'm worried).

And I don't think I'm so different from the rest of my age group. If they want the younger crowd they are going to have to keep up with the tech. There is just no way around it.

This is going to be my daily driver. So I want one car to do it all. Fun to drive, great for long distance and all the toys that make both of those happen.

 

http://online.wsj.com/video/ford-to-...BC71E4C41.html

I can't imagine they would go this far with the styling, although it does looks a tiny bit like the 1994-1998 body. Of course, the Boss being featured is pretty awesome!

 

Ouch ! ...... If you want an Aston Martin buy a Aston Martin. Looks to much like a rip off to me from their partnership.

 

In terms of this picture... the average "non mustang forum member" (from yahoo comments) doesn't have a single positive comment about "ford's direction". http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoram...145308691.html

 

People don't know what they're talking about. The Mustang II was anything but a flop, selling well over a million units and better than Mustang had for several years prior. The supposed widespread "hatred" for the Mustang II back then is nonsense. I've said this before but the "all-American" Mustang was an effort by Ford to make an affordable, European-inspired (yes, European!) sporty car (muscle car? hah!), with some early-60s Lincoln Continental thrown in too. So odd how skewed people's views on the Mustang have become.

Like it or not, it sounds like we may have a contemporary, true "spiritual successor" to the original 1965 Mustang (and not simply just a car that mimics a 50 year old Mustang). I have reservations about abandoning the so-called "retro" look, but in some aspects, I do wonder if the car will be as "non-retro" as it might initially seem. Not so much in aesthetic design but in the philosophy behind it...

 

I don't remember what magazine it was in, but in one of the first road tests I read when the S197 came out in 05 I distinctly remember a passage where the writer said that despite the fact that the car didn't say "Mustang" on it anywhere, and the name Ford only appears once, on the trunk medallion, you just knew as soon as you saw it that it was a Ford Mustang. I think the exact quote goes something like:

"this is simply what a Mustang looks like. It certainly won't be mistaken for anything else."

My hope with the MY15, is that it retains that characteristic. I don't think it has to be retro in order to do that. But it needs to be a Mustang. If people have to walk around behind it and read some little chrome letters that say "Ford Mustang" on the trunk to know what it is than I'll be very disappointed.