2012-15 Ford "Mustang Lite" concept-
Design brief-
-Smaller, reduced size update to this iconic car, 2 generations after 2005 remake.
-keeping some retro cues while also 'pushing the envelope'.
-Utilizes advanced technical elements.
-Due to cost, the existing platform (5th Gen Mustang Platform [DC2], codename S197:http://mustangs.about.com/od/history/a/generation-5.htm) will be updated, as opposed to a new rear drive platform to be shared with other rear drive 'world cars' (US, Austrailia, etc.) , which Ford has cancelled (1/09).
[Update Jan. 2009]
1/23/2009- The poll here for a 4 door variation shows this is not a good design alternative.
1/13/2009- Ford announced it's read drive sedan program is dead, incl. for Lincoln.
Poll results here for a 4 door Mustang do not look good, but will do a few concepts anyways.
Re-attempting a '4-door Mustang' concept variation, as this may become more viable as the 'pony car' markets possibly shrinks in the future due to growing fuel and practicallity concerns.
This would give Ford a read drive sedan entry that alos takes' advantage of the '4 door coupe' rage (aka Passat CC, Benz CLS et al);
An alternative would be a coupe Mustang 'lite' for Ford, on a shortened WB, and a Lincoln 4 door 'muscle lux' sedan using the existing WB. A friend Eric Vieceli recommends suicide type doors with the rear door latch/handle hidden inside the jamb until the fron is opened. A pillarless hardtop would also suit this car. This door would also harken back to the 'Kennedy' Lincolns of the 60's;
This would give Ford a read drive sedan entry that alos takes' advantage of the '4 door coupe' rage (aka Passat CC, Benz CLS et al);
An alternative would be a coupe Mustang 'lite' for Ford, on a shortened WB, and a Lincoln 4 door 'muscle lux' sedan using the existing WB. A friend Eric Vieceli recommends suicide type doors with the rear door latch/handle hidden inside the jamb until the fron is opened. A pillarless hardtop would also suit this car. This door would also harken back to the 'Kennedy' Lincolns of the 60's;
[update Dec. 2008]
-New economic concerns require serious alterations for future viability of this niche product:
-- This next Mustang will either update the 2005/2008 platform, OR will have to spread the platform to many other offerrings to cut costs. Thier is some possibility of of a '4 door coupe' offerring (toyed with when also doing a rear drive sedan project last year) that would maybe expand the market. Danger is that this might cause a backlash from some Mustang buyers. Some concepts of this should be further attempted that minimize the extra door.
-- Car will be 70-80% the size of the 2008 model, with a strong focus on 4 cyl 'Ecoboost' turbo and V6 versions. V8's might be relagated to a limited prod. model to meet CO2 and CAFE stds.
-- As oppossed to earlier specs, car will be more conventional, so no scissor doors, and rear camera is just an option. Other advanced elements might be curtailed to cut costs.
-- Current sales are lowest in history at about 30-40k units annual. This model 5-7 years hence will take into account a similar niche type sales target.
[Latest News March 2008]
- Ford just announced late this month that in fact they approved a global rear drive platform to underpin a sedan for the US, sedan and coupes for Australia, and the next Ford Mustang. This was my original premis, and seems correct now!
-Renderings-
http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b346/jackdogg890/2013-15%20Ford%20Mustang%20concept/
Rick;s take-
Those who know me, know I have too many 'favorite' cars (1970 camaro, early e-type jags, MGB's, DB6 aston martin, even the simply styled 83 GTI I owned, and on it goes); At the top of the list is the Mustang, the best being
in my opinion, the first generation fastback. This project picks up where the coming update (2009-10) of the new retro 2005-2007 model leaves off.
So this uses a new platform and is not a simple update, but a remake yet again. This near 'clean sheet' give
me alot of latitude technology wise (see specs). The down side is such an 'iconic' car is very difficult to style, keeping the retro elements while trying some new ideas. I now have new appreciation for how hard the real designers have it under such limitations for the 'next' 'stang.
Specifications and Overview-
Utilizes technologies in use on various cars now (2007) but expected to be fairly common in several years:-Scissor doors, all LED lites, rear cameras/no mirrors, sound canceling exhaust, ect.
Platfrom to be shared with Ford Rear drive sedan, Lincoln rear drive sedan, Austrailian read drive cars, and others. See my Ford Futura project.
V8's to use fuel saving technology like displacement on demand (runs on 4 cyl. unless required demand for 8). Even a hybrid might become available.
1/25/07:2008-2009, Mustang refresh to front and rear.
2010-2011. Remake, likely on updated current chassis.2015 or so. another remake, and what this project entails......a very future Mustang, that while becomes more advanced, stillharkens back to its roots.
No rear view mirrors, as rear camera used to display to Nav.Headlites are LEDS- HIDs.
1/27/07:The few concepts so far are mostly too 'current' or '2010' , and need to be further out styling wise for the future.
Models: 4.0 (v6), 4.0GT (GT but with a V6), 5.0GT (v8)
All have IRS, and 6 speed trans (auto or man.).
Platform shared with world-wide Ford global family, incl. Austrailian Falcon and such.
WB=106 (down from 107)Length reduced due to much less rear overhang.
-New economic concerns require serious alterations for future viability of this niche product:
-- This next Mustang will either update the 2005/2008 platform, OR will have to spread the platform to many other offerrings to cut costs. Thier is some possibility of of a '4 door coupe' offerring (toyed with when also doing a rear drive sedan project last year) that would maybe expand the market. Danger is that this might cause a backlash from some Mustang buyers. Some concepts of this should be further attempted that minimize the extra door.
-- Car will be 70-80% the size of the 2008 model, with a strong focus on 4 cyl 'Ecoboost' turbo and V6 versions. V8's might be relagated to a limited prod. model to meet CO2 and CAFE stds.
-- As oppossed to earlier specs, car will be more conventional, so no scissor doors, and rear camera is just an option. Other advanced elements might be curtailed to cut costs.
-- Current sales are lowest in history at about 30-40k units annual. This model 5-7 years hence will take into account a similar niche type sales target.
[Latest News March 2008]
- Ford just announced late this month that in fact they approved a global rear drive platform to underpin a sedan for the US, sedan and coupes for Australia, and the next Ford Mustang. This was my original premis, and seems correct now!
-Renderings-
http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b346/jackdogg890/2013-15%20Ford%20Mustang%20concept/
Rick;s take-
Those who know me, know I have too many 'favorite' cars (1970 camaro, early e-type jags, MGB's, DB6 aston martin, even the simply styled 83 GTI I owned, and on it goes); At the top of the list is the Mustang, the best being
in my opinion, the first generation fastback. This project picks up where the coming update (2009-10) of the new retro 2005-2007 model leaves off. So this uses a new platform and is not a simple update, but a remake yet again. This near 'clean sheet' give
me alot of latitude technology wise (see specs). The down side is such an 'iconic' car is very difficult to style, keeping the retro elements while trying some new ideas. I now have new appreciation for how hard the real designers have it under such limitations for the 'next' 'stang. Specifications and Overview-
Utilizes technologies in use on various cars now (2007) but expected to be fairly common in several years:-Scissor doors, all LED lites, rear cameras/no mirrors, sound canceling exhaust, ect.
Platfrom to be shared with Ford Rear drive sedan, Lincoln rear drive sedan, Austrailian read drive cars, and others. See my Ford Futura project.
V8's to use fuel saving technology like displacement on demand (runs on 4 cyl. unless required demand for 8). Even a hybrid might become available.
1/25/07:2008-2009, Mustang refresh to front and rear.
2010-2011. Remake, likely on updated current chassis.2015 or so. another remake, and what this project entails......a very future Mustang, that while becomes more advanced, stillharkens back to its roots.
No rear view mirrors, as rear camera used to display to Nav.Headlites are LEDS- HIDs.
1/27/07:The few concepts so far are mostly too 'current' or '2010' , and need to be further out styling wise for the future.
Models: 4.0 (v6), 4.0GT (GT but with a V6), 5.0GT (v8)
All have IRS, and 6 speed trans (auto or man.).
Platform shared with world-wide Ford global family, incl. Austrailian Falcon and such.
WB=106 (down from 107)Length reduced due to much less rear overhang.
