LA Auto Show Mustang

[XcYZ]

Here's some info on the next Mustang from the LA Auto Show. Nice find, Payton. :thumbsup:

In a late night blitzkrieg, Ford dropped all the details on Giugiaro's reinterpretation of the Mustang and words seem to fail it. The world-class coachbuilder has taken the iconic coupe and transformed it into rolling automotive pornography, leaving no body panel untouched and enlisting the help of Ford Racing to provide motivation to match its extreme design.

The bespoke creation takes all the right cues from the current Mustang, beginning with the classic front end, and then pulling the fascia down and outward to create a menacing homage to the original. Broad indentations flank the doors and lead into massive wheel arches topped with a classic crease that's brought to a point at its highest peak. Those same distinct creases define the rear end and provide a trick angle for the taillights to wrap overtop.

A single piece of glass forms the windshield and roof, which flows into the trunk lid, and the louvered glass aft of the b-pillar gives a nod to Mustangs of yore. The doors are touch operated and, when asked, pivot up from the a-pillar, while five-spoke dubs get a healthy slathering of chrome and Giugiaro's orange hue.

On the inside, the mixture of brown and butterscotch upholstery is warm and inviting, with a combination of smooth and furred horsehides covering the seats. The instrument panel houses the required duo of gauges, which snuggly fits inside a dash that flows from pillar to pillar. Custom switchgear, shifter and steering wheel all make it clearly known that this is something special, and more is on the way.

Raise the mildly bubbled hood and you'll find the stock 4.6-liter V8 from the Mustang GT, but with a twin-screw supercharger mounted on top. The intercooled powerplant receives a 95 mm mass air meter, KN-shaped filter and fuel injectors from the Ford GT, to produce over 500 HP at 11 psi of boost. The stock radiator has been nixed in favor of an aluminum Ford Racing unit, which the company claims could allow the engine to create another 200 HP without worry of catastrophe.

Although style and power are all well and good, handling must be addressed in equal parts. Thankfully, Ford Racing was tapped to provide their Handling Pack, which includes thicker anti-sway bars, lowering springs and tuned dampers, all of which is available for the base Mustang GT.

We absolutely can't wait to see this in person tomorrow, so stay tuned for more as we make our way down to the Los Angeles Auto Show.

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/28/giugiaros-mustang-hotness-revealed/

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/11/g_mustang_450_02.jpg

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/11/g_mustang_450_03.jpg

[Payton King]

I like it. Where do you go with a retro styled vehicle....right here.

[ZZ3ElCamino]

For some reason, I feel as if I should like it, but I am not diggin' it.

[XcYZ]

I think there's a hint of 5th Gen Camaro in the styling. Or at least in that direction.

[Musclerodz]

Coachwork is amazing, but I don't care for the design.

Mike

[zbugger]

Not really a fan of that one. Oddly, it reminds me of my girlfriend's Scion Tc from the front.

[Smack_talker]

Not feeling that design....where is the puke smiley when you need it?? :_paranoid

[mdprovee]

I think there's a hint of 5th Gen Camaro in the styling. Or at least in that direction.

That exactly what I was thinking when I saw it.

Why do the tail lights extend up on top of the trunk area. So the Highway Patrol can see you stepping on the brakes from the air.

[427]

The high beltline makes it look like a toy. I think the roof would look better painted also, but I like regular old cars mostly.

Kurt

[71Nova]

I like some parts of it and dislike other parts of it. I will go to the la auto show and take a lot of pictures for you guys. I just found out it is on Dec 1-10th. $10 to get in.

[Damn True]

In profile it looks A LOT like a 350z.

As a whole I kinda dig it but see some things that are odd.

- The moonroof thing is beautiful, but I kinda doubt it would get through the DOT.

- I didn't think it was possible to make mirrors smaller and more useless than on the Camaro concept. I was wrong.

- The exhaust tips are goofy.

- Um, I think the PETA types might not dig the seat-covers.

- Doors: Lambo no-no.

- Are those door handles off of a C-3 Vette?

[zbugger]

The moon roof may pass DOT as long as it has the roof supports. The Scion Tc has a full glass roof. This car also reminds me of a BMW 650i, for some reason. Although I can't stop laughing at the seats....

[Damn True]

The moon roof may pass DOT as long as it has the roof supports. The Scion Tc has a full glass roof. This car also reminds me of a BMW 650i, for some reason. Although I can't stop laughing at the seats....


Yeah the rear does have a bit of "Bangle-Butt" to it huh?

Scion - Does it really? Wow. I've never looked at one of those things any longer than it took to laugh at the meathead driving it for dumping thousands into wheels and fart can exhaust on a 160hp car.

[Kris Horton]

I like parts of it, and definitely appreciate the amount of work that went into it, but there are many things on the car that just don't mesh for me.

I don't like the back end. Maybe some different taillights would do the trick, but it seems to me that there was a lot more effort put into the front end than the backside.

The mirrors are kind of a joke I think. Very concept car, which, while appropriate, still looks silly.

The front looks really agressive and definitely hints at being a competitor to the new Camaro stylistically.

The interior...well, it goes without saying that it's bad, but it REALLY knocks the car down a couple pegs. It's very tacky and as someone said, PETA will probably have a fit when they see it. Keep a look out for people with buckets of red paint entering the building.... :D

The roof is interesting. Not practical from a production standpoint, but being a one-off car, I think it's pretty slick. I'd like to see it with a painted roof panel too though.

All in all, while the car doesn't do a lot for me, I'm sure it's well built and I think it's an interersting concept.

Kris

[Steve1968LS2]

If put in production I wonder how much it would cost for a new windshield.. lol

[Kris Horton]

Glass guys would be throwing their backs out left and right trying to work with that hunk of glass. Windex stock would go up. Insurance companies would institute a seperate windshield policy on coverage for these cars. The convertible version of this car would cost $10,000 less than the hardtop...

I think it *might* be smarter to just add a roof panel. Might just be me though. :lol:

[Blake Foster]

I think one of the side profile pics looks alot like the
Aston Martin DB9
i like the interior minus the horse hair. i like the long hood and layed back windsheild. not so big on the way the doors open, but i understand that that is the supercar way, i think standard opening doors would be fine, i like the cab pushed back, or front end extended which ever way you look at it. tail lights........... hummmm maybe add some chrome trim arround the lenses. possibly a small wing to add a little detail, looks a bit sparce. the glass roof ..... ummmm i think it is way cool but i'm not a convertable fan so a option for a standard or stainless roof would be good for me. wheels not so much but that goes without saying seems they never get that part right.

My .02 worth

[Hdesign]

Hmmmmm....From some angles it looks really cool but starts to look more like a Nissan Z from a side view. After finally regaining a true "Mustang" look that even a GM fan like myself could be excited about, I'm not convinced this is an improvement over the current aesthetic. It's actually starting to look like something other than a Mustang...in some ways, dare I say 09 Camaro-esque in proportions? It looks more like the alternative concept from the last redesign that didn't get the nod for production.

In my opinion I don't really think those taillights work for that car, they're too arbitrary and alien looking. One thing that is a strong design element in the greatest of Mustangs is the 3-slot taillights with the recessed horizontal "racetrack" surrounding both of them in the tail panel. The rear looks more like a resultant of what happened with the surfaces creating the trunk and quarters...it needs more definition and detail.

I like the hood but does it say Mustang? I dunno. The nose looks pretty good but somewhat forced and pinched downward...there's just a lot going on in front.

Though the roof concept in it's current form is very stylized and perhaps unrealistic from a manufacturing and service perspective, it's very, very cool. The greenhouse has an awesome shape from virtually every angle. There has to be some way to mold a tinted ABS roof panel, glass would just be way too heavy.

Not a big fan of the mirrors, they are entirely too small even if the technology allows us to replace conventional mirrors with cameras. I would either put bigger mirrors on or remove them all-together and have the cameras hidden somewhere else.

As for the interior, I think a lot of it has some great shapes but it's greatly overshadowed by chosen contrasting finishes, materials, trim and let's not forget the cow-print seats. As plasticy as the current Mustang interior is, I prefer it over the concept vehicle. I think it has potential after the accountants put their hands on it and work their "magic".

Overall, a typical cool and highly stylized show car. If this is their direction, I can't wait to see the production version. Though, I think the Camaro will steal a significant amount of this Mustang's potential buyers. We'll see...

[rwhite692]

I do like the side profile of the car, it has that same "muscular" forward look as a DB9. I was thinking the same thing as Killer said...

It looks big.

It certainly seems to have styling that was done with the new Camaro in mind. Especially the horizontal / flat upper surfaces of the rear quarters...

[69 L88 Camaro]

Kurt's right, looks like a Hot Wheel. The interior fabric really distracts my eye. Would like to see it in person, maybe with a different color exterior/interior.

Kevin

[Ummgawa]

Its like a really ugly chick with a great body.


Nuff said. :wow:

[Hdesign]

Its like a really ugly chick with a great body.


Nuff said. :wow:

What we like to call a "Butter-face"

Great body, but her face?????? ehhhh...not so much!

[T Bell]

What we like to call a "Butter-face"

Great body, but her face?????? ehhhh...not so much!

:lol: :lol: :lol: I thought that was a TN saying.

[Budnik Wheels]

I'm feeling the Aston Martin look to this car. I give it a :thumbsup: !

[fvike]

Its like a really ugly chick with a great body.


Nuff said. :wow:

No, it's like a really beutiful chick with a ugly butt! I don't like the rear end, but the rest is übersexy, ja?

StangNet has more pictures and a movie.
http://www.stangnet.com/Ford-Mustang-News/Giugiaro-Ford-Mustang-in-Los-Angeles-061128.html

[ProTouring442]

I like it... definitely a show car though. If the right elements come through in the production version, I think it will do well.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
'72 442 "Inamorata"
www.FQuick.com/ProTouring442

[JohnnyGMachine]

At first glance it was interesting and new. After looking at it a couple times and it's not new anymore then I make up my mind as to what I think. To me it's not a Mustang, it's some european concept with some Mustang-like styling cues. It really doesn't capture for me. Being a Mustang enthusiast and owner many times over for the last 15 years and being an automotive designer/stylist, There's details on the car executed in a way that just goes against the whole Mustang feel in my opinion. Honestly I think it looks like a 2005 Mustang and a 2005 Tiburon were combined and this is the outcome. It's ineteresting at best. It's sleek looking and has some style but it's just not a Mustang to me.

[DCreations]

I love it!!!! :)