Ford Mustang concept draws on original
05 January 2003: DETROIT SHOW - The latest iteration of the legendary Ford Mustang, the original ‘pony car’ that revolutionised the style of automobiles when it was first launched in 1964, has been revealed in concepts form today at the Detroit motor show.
The new concepts give a strong indication of the design direction of the next- generation Mustang, due to debut in 2004.
With its signature long hood and short rear deck, Mustang's design has endured for 39 years. Classic design cues include C-scoops in the sides, three-element tail lamps and the galloping pony in the center of the grille.
An aficionado will appreciate the modern interpretation of the sleek nose of the 1967 models. Yet the car is uniquely modern. The Mustang GT concepts' adaptive headlamps are concentric rings shielded behind a single lens. The rings rotate in a helix pattern to zoom in and out like a professional camera lens. From a single light source, the Mustang GT concepts use fiber optic ribbon to deliver adaptable light levels through their highly focused lenses.
An upward rake angle makes the cars appear to be in motion even while at a standstill. The 20-inch wheels and 13.8-inch vented Brembo(R) disc brakes are pushed out to the corners and anchor the design to the road.
The concepts’ hoods shield a supercharged 400 hp MOD 4.6-liter 90-degree cast-iron block V-8 with aluminum heads, a belt-driven supercharger and a liquid-to-air intercooler.
Three-element taillamps span the width of the vehicle. The sequentially firing lamps appear to have no "hot-spots" thanks to a unique design using forward-facing LED projection lamps set against a satin-finished silver parabola.
The Convertible features a distinct ‘showbar’ with a rim of billet-aluminum trim picking up where the instrument panel and console trim leave off. It has an integral rear roll bar to work in tandem with the one in the windscreen surround in the event of rollover.
