Ford To Surrender To Gen Why, Will Euro-Trash Mustang

by Bertel Schmitt

Published: April 16th, 2012

ford to surrender to gen why will euro trash mustang

Nostalgia is so last Millennium says Ford. The new Mustang will ditch retro in an attempt to appeal to Generation Y, the folks that do not want to driver their forebears’ cars or dreams. According to the Wall Street Journal, the new Mustang will retain the shark-nosed grille and round headlights, but will “look more like the new Ford Fusion than the current Mustang.”

Says the Journal:

“The new Mustang is due as a 2014 model, and will look somewhat like an Aston Martin, the high-price sports car often featured in James Bond movies. People who have seen the new Mustang said it is almost a body double for the Evos concept car that Ford showed at the Frankfurt auto show last fall.”

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Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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Landcrusher on Apr 17, 2012

Afflo, It's as American as apple pie. Regardless of what they shot for, it's American now. We are almost always drawing inspiration from people other than the natives.

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- Occam on Apr 17, 2012
  
  And I agree there are elements that should remain there as a nod to the past... but the entire design shouldn't be locked in time, strapped to a Procrustes Bed of styling. I've always seen the Mustang as an optomistic car - yes, it has traditionally used a lot of cheap, old tech, but the spirit of the car is something forward looking, something different. http://www.artvalue.com/photos/auction/0/46/46914/maserati-vehicles-1961-maserati-3500-gt-spider-2424877.jpg http://www.artvalue.com/photos/auction/0/44/44588/ferrari-vehicles-1961-ferrari-250-gt-swb-berlin-2084288.jpg Mix those with a Falcon, and go ahead and slap a Ferrari style horse on the grille for the fun of it, and you have a Mustang. That's the spirit of the Mustang - European styling and American taste blended together and bargain prices.
  
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Ryoku75 on Apr 17, 2012

I wouldn't mind a refresh, but I'd like it to still be distinct from other Fords, something that says "I'm the new Mustang!". Judging by that picture, it could just easily be a special version of a Fusion or a Focus, theres nothing that sets it apart. Plus, a Mustang with Focus styling cues is like a Camaro with Sonic cues, it just dosen't work. By ques I mean "Using the same exact front end".

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