While the Ford Mustang is one of the best selling, and longest running model lines in the history of the automobile, when the Ford Motor Co.
introduced its
2005 Ford Mustang at the North American International Auto Show, it got as much, if not more, media attention than did the
original. The
2005 Mustang (S197) was fully redesigned over the previous
models (New Edge) from the suspension, to the interior, to the
new 3-valve engine in the GT models. Even though there was no "Cobra", or high performance model, pony car enthusiasts new and old were
quick to snatch up these redesigned, retro-looking Mustangs. While boasting better performance numbers than the early era Mustang GTs,
the
2005 Mustang bore a strong resemblance to a
1965 mustang with some rounding here and there for improved aerodynamics. Sales numbers
rolled in, and Ford had done exactly what it had hoped to do, and that was to introduce the retro look to the performance car enthusiast
market, and the car was a tremendous success. But when the retro look proved to be so popular, it was only a matter of time before the
other members of the "Big Three" got in on the action.
General Motors had been under public scrutiny over the cancellation of the Camaro
and Firebird for several years, and during that entire
time rumors had been flying about a 'new, redesigned, retro-style Camaro', and Dodge enthusiasts had been demanding a reasonably priced
rear wheel drive V8 powered car for decades. The 2006 North American International Auto Show brought us the answer from both Dodge and
GM to the retro-styled Mustang, as Dodge introduced their 2008 Dodge Challenger Concept, and
GM introduced the Chevrolet Camaro Concept,
and with these cars (with the Challenger being a great deal more "retro" than the Camaro, it brought more attention from the public) the
new Retro Pony car race was alive and well. The pressure was put upon Ford to "one-up" the other American combatants once again, and with
a recently released artists rendering of the "next Mustang", planned to be released around 2009, it appears that they may have indeed
outdone GM and Dodge once again.
While the artists rendering may be just that, for now, it gives Mustang enthusiasts a look into what is in store for this historic pony car.
Since the initial excitement over the 2005 model Mustang died down a bit, the biggest news, and discussion point, has been the long awaited
high performance model, which like the high performance models of the 1st generation, it will carry the Shelby name, with the
legendary "GT500" designation. The new GT500 will have a ground pounding supercharged power plant and offers some subtle changes from the
base model and GT Mustangs. These subtle changes are some of the items which we see on the rendering of the 2009 Mustang. The 2009 Mustang
is expected to remain very similar to the 2005 model, but like the slight evolution of the 1st generation Mustang into the 2nd generation,
the 2009 model will have additions to help it stand apart from the 2005 models. For one, the headlights may all have the sloping bezels
found on the GT500 as well as the duel front mounted hood scoops. The car will maintain the basic lines of the S197 models, but will have a
smoothed effect to further bolster aerodynamics, and in the artists rendering the trend of huge rims are added, although in my opinion it
is clearly exaggerated, but with the frequent steady increase in rim size across the market, bigger rims and tires are likely to make an
appearance as an option if not standard. In short, we are looking at a smoother, more-sleek version of the S197.
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One item that will not be making an appearance is the addition of the MyColor feature as it has proven to be costly, and undesired. Also,
while many Mustang owners will say that the S197 Mustangs had far better interior than the previous years, with improvements in quality
made to every aspect of the interior design and layout, but we can expect to see more slight alterations to the 2009 Mustang which have
more functional quality than the current interior. Also, while a great many of the buyers of the 2005 "retro" Mustang have been older
enthusiasts, or "baby boomers" who admired the Mustang while growing up, it is important to Ford to keep the Mustang in the eye of today's
youth, so the 2009 Mustang is expected to have newer, state of the art entertainment systems, as well as a more "modern" looking
interior, which has been hinted to be similar to the new MINI Cooper from
BMW, but that stands to be seen.
While the 2007 GT500 will have the same supercharged 5.4 liter
engine that is found in the Ford GT supercar, that engine is likely to stay as a "high end engine" in the 2009 Mustang, but may be optional
as a Cobra model depending on the outcome of its real world performance in the 2007 GT500. The 3 valve 4.6 liter engines are likely to
return, especially with the popularity and performance output of both stock and modified 2005-2006 Mustang GTs. There is the possibility of
a naturally aspirated 5.4 liter which is currently found in the popular line of Ford trucks, but that is only a rumor right now. Another
rumor which is more likely to come to volition, is the insertion of a new base model engine. The current base model engine is a 4.0 liter
engine originally designed for trucks, but a 3.5 liter V6 is currently being developed which has an expected output of around 260
horsepower, and will likely be much smoother than the current V6 offering.
All in all, the 2005 Mustang sort of reinvented the glory days of the American pony car, and with it, several new (and old) entries into
the class. The 2005 Mustang embodied the memories of the great original Mustangs with the smooth lines and modern technology, and even
for those not familiar with the vintage Mustangs, the 2005 Mustang is just another in the long line of affordable performance cars, and
with the GT500, Ford has itself a new street legal monster. The 2009 Mustang will likely take cues from the positive aspects of the
current Mustangs, and if the steady evolution of the Mustang has been any indication as to what the 2009 Mustang will offer, the
general public will be just as amazed with the next generation of the Mustang as they were when the current model was released.
