GOD. PLEASE. YES! I can definitely see a modern Mustang sharing aesthetic ques with modern Aston Martins.

 

This has a much greater chance of going wrong than it does right.

 

It's just input guys.
If they aren't good...Ford NA is going to file them under 'G'

 

Does anybody REALLY think that Ford is going to produce something for the 50th anniversary year that doesn't SCREAM "Mustang"? Really?

The Engineering team lead for the S197 (Hau Thai Tang) was a Vietnamese immigrant. Being brought up in a different culture didn't stop him from "getting" what a Mustang was all about, and I don't think it'll stop talented European or Australian designers from maybe adding some good input and ideas. The Aussies in particular have a musclecar tradition of their own, and I can easily see them adding some good stuff to the mix.

 

Well, I guess that any country that happened to make Mad Max can be let in to give some input then.

 

The styling of the Aussie musclecars is truly unique--every one of them looks like they were made in 1995. And their engines are underpowered despite forced induction.

 

A '73-'76 Falcon XB GT does not look like it was made in '95, nor was it underpowered for it's day. I was talking history and tradition, not the current crop of models from Ford Australia or Holden. If you look at Ford Australia's lineup, they NEED something sporty/aggressive to really round it out.

 

The Sky is Falling . . . . The Sky is Falling . . .

 

But if the Mustang were sold in Australia, then we could still hope that it makes it as the next ultra cool post-apocalyptic killing machine.

Honestly though, if it has to be smaller and lighter weight, then other countries do have some history of doing that well. The whole PintoStang thing is not the best example of what America can do. Other countries do small well. They certainly should at least have a go at seeing how well they can make an American muscle car.

I do think that the current generation of mustang would make the best post-apocalyptic and/or zombie killing machine. A smaller Mustang would probably not be as good at that.

 

I'm quite aware that it has NOT happened yet. But more importantly it could. Just the idea makes me sad. I do not have a global mindset when it comes to the Mustang. (not much else either) If you think this is not Mustang news, my friend, pass it up.

 

Yet the 2005 S197 head engineer was born in Vietnam and the 2010 refresh borrowed heavily from an Italian design studio's concept rendition. Seems like a pretty healthy American ideal: use the best ideas regardless of their class or heritage and make something awesome out of them.

Also, wasn't the Mustang II a domestic design?

 

well i hope the euro input will insist on BMW, MB, Porsche type wheel gaps, not the current 4x4 style. If there is one thing i think everyone can agree on with the S197s is that the gaps should be much smaller

 

Given that the next-gen car could be with us within 2-3 years, is it not likely that the design is pretty much already set in clay? Perhaps the Ford design studios around the world have already submitted their proposals?

 

I think now I understand you.

 

I think there is no need for concern. Love it or hate it the new Camaro also had supposed global design influence and I think they got the idea of the Camaro right. Sure it's overweight and impractical but that is what the Camaro has always been. As far as styling goes the Camaro is still very American looking.

Worst case scenario if people don't like it, Ford can always make a quick restyle. I'm glad the days of the 5+ year body styles are over. Something different will even help older Mustangs stand out. 2010+ Mustangs are cool looking but at first glance they still look like 05-09 Mustangs.

 

Probably has to do with the availability of gas. I noticed the FPV engines were tuned for low or mid-grade gasoline as oppossed to the high -grade stuff available at the pumps here.

 

Not to be bragging, but I've been all over the world and have talked to many people of all ages about cars, mainly the Mustang. Just because a person is not from the USA doesn't mean they don't have good ideas for the car. I would love to see this car availible to every market on the planet which means some things will have to be changed to comply with the law of that country. I believe that can be done without taking one bit from style of the car and making it legal everywhere. Believe me, I went through hell getting my '97 through German TuV. I think the potential is there to make the Mustang a real world class automobile. If the guys and girls at Ford remember that Mustang is a American Iconic Muscle Vehicle it should be fine. If they don't they can put it in the museum next to the Edsel.

 

I think thats the underlying fear when somebody mentions global input and thinking it will end ujp something like this

 

Uh-oh

 

True dat. People around the world want a Mustang, not a global committee designed thing with horse badges on it. However much I do think it should look like a Mustang, it has to drive like the best mustang ever built so the pent-up demand isn't disappointed when they meet their hero. And, yeah smaller wheel arch gaps please.