Wild-Ass Rumor Of The Day: Mystery Mustang Edition

Almost exactly a year ago, we heard that Ford wouldn’t be developing a global RWD platform in Australia. That came as sad, but obvious news back then… but check it out: Motor Trend just got a hot “scoop”!

Under the global rear-drive platform plan, the 2014 Mustang was to have shared its basic architecture with the next generation Australian Ford Falcon, and possibly a new flagship sedan for Lincoln. The Mustang would have been on the short wheelbase version of the platform, the Falcon on the mid-wheelbase, and the Lincoln on the long wheelbase. But that strategy has changed…

…By the time a new rear-drive Lincoln could appear, the Town Car will have been out of production for three to four years, and with high gas prices in Australia, no-one expects major growth in Falcon sales. These factors taken together seem to have conspired to torpedo the global rear-drive platform. “The [next generation rear-drive] Falcon is dead,” said one Ford insider bluntly, in apparent confirmation.

Shocker! The problem is that Ford’s just released a new Mustang, meaning the current model will be a bit long of tooth when the nameplate’s 50th anniversary rolls around in 2014. The good news? Motor Trend’s “scoop” isn’t that Ford will be slapping together a “very special edition” consisting of paint, wheels, badges and certificate of authenticity.

The bad news?

They have no freaking clue what they’re doing!

Ford planners are reportedly looking at three possible directions for the 2014 Mustang. The first — and perhaps the easiest — is an evolution of the current car, with styling cues that would appeal to the traditionalist, and a continued focus on the 5.0-liter V-8 as the halo engine. The second is more of an M3-style car, probably with turbocharged V-6 power for markets like Europe. The third – and probably the least likely, says our source – is to transform the Mustang into an ultra-high tech, ultra-high performance coupe along the lines of Nissan’s giant-killing GT-R.

Well that sure narrows it down!But hey, at least the 50th Anniversary cars will be… uh… something.

MT’s source does anonymously insist that the 2014 ‘stang will be lighter and smaller than the current generation, and will finally offer all-independent suspension. That sound like a start in right direction, but let’s not fool ourselves: the next Mustang will almost certainly be another evolution of the current chassis. Ford would be crazy to develop any all-new RWD platform until the Mustang starts its second 50 years. And Ford pays off the ruinous debt that Motor Trend is kind enough to never mention.