I've owned a '93 Probe GT (2800lbs) and a '98 Integra GS-R (2600lbs) and despite being front wheel drive they were huge fun to drive. Plus, being hatchbacks, they could hold just as much stuff as my s197.

Trust me, you notice the lighter weight and smaller size every time you toss the car into a curve. I am hoping for a smaller and lighter next gen Mustang.

 

As a former '94 PGT owner, I fully agree with the above. I always imagined what a Probe-sized/weight RWD package, with a highly tuned (400hp) smaller (~4l) V8 would be like. Probably a real scorcher more in tune with future constraints than the current Stang. More realistically, I'd be happy with something mid-range between the old Probe GT and today's Stang. A hatchback would be icing on the cake, greatly improving overall utility with no significant downside.

 

Amen!

 

im a 99-04 guy by heart, mainly the 03/04 cobra. god i miss mine. but id be all over a 11+ plus if i could have 2. the 2010 styling is dead on in my book. they fixed all the things i hate about the 05-09.

 

Smaller. And lighter for me as well. It's a pony car with optional muscle, not a hulking great musclecar.

 

Well said, and an important distinction as to how a Mustang is different from, and better than, a muscle car.

 

And I'll take roughly S-197 sized Alex for well whatever a 2015+ Mustang costs.

Proportion is the key word here and a Coyote/Condor DOHC V8 and Mustang DNA is what dictates that.

If the aluminum 5.4 carries over to the new car, your going to get roughly S-197 width. Imagine how cartoonish that would look with a Fox car or SN95 length. Not to mention the whole upright seating arrangement a fox or SN95 dictates.

As for a 370Z sized Mustang???? Yeah thats not a Mustang at all, might as well just dump Mustang all together and go straight for GR1 as its replacement going forward.

And as crazy as this sounds, some of the folks buying Mustangs also really loved the four seat T-birds and didn't like Mustangs when they were puny by comparison and really dont dig the much larger Tarus, by building a bigger Mustang, Ford kills two birds with one stone and with this segement getting crowded no reason to shot yourself in the foot by alienating the "personal coupe crowd" (I think thats what they refered the Monte Carlo/T-Bird folks)

 

I'd love to hear why it wouldn't be a Mustang.

As far as I'm concerned, and I've said it many times before, a GR1 inspired Mustang is just what the doctor ordered and would be a nice return to the Mustang's sporty, small, light n' lean roots.

 

I would institute a 1965 "box rule," that the NextStang has to fit within the dimensions of the '65 fast back, with perhaps a few inches allowance on width. This would apply to beltline height too (none of this high-waisted, gun-bunker look found in so many modern designs.)

 

Would be nice to get as close as possible to 3000 lbs. Oh, and with the Alluminator in it :-)

 

I would go along with that!

And yes, the closer to 3000lb we can get, the better.

 

Thank god some of you guys have nothing to do with Ford.

 

Agreed 100%

 

Even without changing an of the other proportions, I just want to see the whole modern high belt line/cowl look to go away, not to mention the related high-*** syndrome that every new car has now. I assume it is to suggest a look of speed or forward motion, but it needs to go. It has made the current model too bloated looking. I think this would do wonders to improve the look, weight, and handling.

Although the Fox isn't exactly a styling gem, I miss its low sleek proportions and profile. It seems the only manufacturer who hasn't fallen into this look is BMW. I would love something with the general proportions of the 335i.

 

I agree with this too.


Styling aside, I think the Fox is one of the best "post-classic era" iterations of the Mustang ever made. I think it stayed true to the original concept of a "pony car": small, sporty, affordable...

 

I agree - wasn't much on the styling, unfortunately the 79 v-6 I had was dog slow, but yes inexpensive.

 

I think one reason the belt lines are so high on new cars is for side impact protection. Don't see that changing.