Ford today unveiled the Mustang Giugiaro concept — a one-off design study by Fabrizio Giugiaro, styling director of Italdesign. Ford officials aren’t saying anything, but there’s speculation in the automotive that Giugiaro concept might preview some aspects of the next-generation ‘Stang.
Visually, the Mustang by Giugiaro appears more compact than the production car, thanks to a reduction of the rear overhang and a signature Giugiaro “trick” of tapering the angles on the car to the limit of its mechanical outlines. The vibrant orange concept is wider than the production version. The Giugiaros added 30 millimeters to the front, gradually expanding the width by a full 80 millimeters toward the rear.
The 500 horsepower car features a single curved glass panel that bridges the windshield and rear window, serving as the concept’s roof. Produced by Solutia of Detroit, the panel is made from a special type of crystal that filters out 100 percent of UVA rays while providing unfettered vista views. The car’s doors open vertically, with hinges at the base of the upright A-pillar. Gallery after the jump…


11/28, 9:33 AM
posted by:
peter g
Very retro. The tail is, in my opinion, quite overdone and too 70’s Italo-design but the overall bodywork is gorgeous, and I seriously want one…Hope it performs.
11/28, 9:33 AM
posted by:
Xymox
No.
11/28, 9:35 AM
posted by:
Renton
Yes.
11/28, 9:39 AM
posted by:
Bertjan
In other articles it is stated that Ford emphasizes this car has nothing to do with the new generation Mustang. Which is planned for 2010 by the way and would make this a very early concept. And for a car that leans so heavily on the current model that would not make too much sense to me. Technically it is just a current Mustang with a tuned engine by Ford Racing (with some GT parts) and a lowered suspension kit which is also available for the current Mustang.
I think it is just nice publicity to keep the Mustang in the news with the new Chevy and Dodge muscle cars coming closer to production.
11/28, 9:45 AM
posted by:
MikeFX
If Ford keeps wasting money on ridiculous styling exercises, there won’t be a Ford to produce this thing anyway! And what is the sense of having an Italian design firm fiddle with an all-American car like the Mustang? Give them the Edge for a week and give that thing some personality, but hands off the Mustang.
11/28, 9:48 AM
posted by:
peter g
We all know Ford’ll never build this car, this is a one off showcar. Fun though seeing an Italian interpretation of an American icon.
11/28, 9:59 AM
posted by:
Asher
This car is amazing - I never knew the old-school Mustang look could be re-done so well with respect to combining both retro and modern design elements into 1 cohesive package. This is the first variant that I actually like versus all the Shelby/Rousch/Saleen etc versions…
11/28, 10:00 AM
posted by:
acura_el2000
looks nice, left lane news, the picture links are screwy
11/28, 10:11 AM
posted by:
Bush
YES!!!
11/28, 10:27 AM
posted by:
Foster
ya you pick one and it takes me to a different picture. AnywaysI like it.
11/28, 10:28 AM
posted by:
Foster
change the front a little and call it the new Mavrick?
11/28, 10:31 AM
posted by:
Phileas Fogg
Absolutely amazing, I want this as the 09 remodel.
11/28, 10:32 AM
posted by:
YourNameHere
that NEEDS to be the next mustang. period
11/28, 10:33 AM
posted by:
Scott Kempton
MikeFX—Ford isn’t “wasting money” when they do stuff like this. It demonstrates to the public, themselves, and their board of directors that Ford isn’t dead, or in dire straits, yet. And we all know how public reaction can tilt a decision to produce a car that starts out as a concept (at least it does at Chrysler). So styling exercises like this one may just be a “trial balloon” to see what kind of reaction they get from the public. Also—if Ford treats each model as a separate business case, then the Mustang is one of the few vehicles they make that they can afford to lavish a little money on.
By the way—I think this car is gorgeous; I don’t care WHO styled it. I never knew the Mustang could look so exotic!
11/28, 10:34 AM
posted by:
Fatstrat
are those actually exterior mirrors?!
nice ride.
11/28, 10:35 AM
posted by:
dmanero
Truth be told… I don’t know where to go with this, The rear horrible and I probably would have gone a diffent direction with the front end. Love the vertical doors and the interior. I can not see Ford going with this design for the next Mustang. Would be a big mistake
11/28, 10:39 AM
posted by:
Foster
Anyone remember the last concept mustang they did in like 04 the one that had a class roof and the real taill lights from the 1967 mustang shelby that I still think looked the best .
11/28, 11:18 AM
posted by:
alfa_Romeo
front end is gorgeous so is the interiors but rear end suckss!!!!!!!!!11
11/28, 11:23 AM
posted by:
James
Nice look, the gold seats and vertical doors gotta go.
11/28, 11:26 AM
posted by:
F451
Although a styling exercise, it is by far one of the better these days. Great show circuit car.
11/28, 11:35 AM
posted by:
YourNameHere
it looks enough like a mustang that ppl know what it is…but its not so retro that ppl confuse it with a 30yr old car.
11/28, 11:40 AM
posted by:
A4
it looks amazing
11/28, 11:52 AM
posted by:
GL1
Very very nice… but Ford doesn’t have the guts to build it…
11/28, 12:24 PM
posted by:
MyGodBeatsYourGod
An Italian cartoon of current car. Expected MORE from the Greats at Italdesign.
So full of Mustang design cliches as to be silly.
Thought I would like it, but actually DON’T.
Give us a REAL interpretation of what a ‘pony’ car could be 5 to 10 years hence. Forget the goddamn ‘reinterpretation’ of a 1969 Mustang. Jeebezuz.
His dad didn’t reinterpret everything when he created the first Golf, beautiful Maseratis, etc.
Looks like a MotorRama fibreglass Kustom Kar. YUCK.
11/28, 12:26 PM
posted by:
moogleii
Oh man that is hot. I love the redone front. not a fan of that black stripe though.
11/28, 12:28 PM
posted by:
moogleii
Ok, i just noticed the interior. That’s ass.
11/28, 12:48 PM
posted by:
Elvio
I do think this one looks very good…but it is just a concept….when it come out with the production, it may look like a crap…
11/28, 12:48 PM
posted by:
Saud
Kind of disapointing for giugario… um, are those OZ palladio wheels?
11/28, 12:51 PM
posted by:
Ricardo Head
[Drools]
.
.
WTF it’s good for I’ll never know. They’ll never produce the damn thing.
11/28, 1:00 PM
posted by:
anonymous
this is like 10000000 times better looking than the current one.
11/28, 1:10 PM
posted by:
Piablo
…and the new marketing tag line:
“Now made with real Mustang!”
11/28, 1:20 PM
posted by:
Freshshoebox
^^ lol
11/28, 1:43 PM
posted by:
dmanero
The glass roof would never make it to the production line. There is no support between the windshield and the roof, the first time you roll the car, not only will you be died because the rook will cave in but by some miracle your survive, the car will be a right off. and Please the front end is a copy of the Camero.
I’d sure Itladesign can do better than this, and if not, well expect to lose credibality in the auto industry.
11/28, 2:04 PM
posted by:
Foster
how the hell is the front end a remake of the camaro?
First of all the camaro copyed the mustang from the get in the 60’s and they still are. THe concept comaro had a 05 mustang in the shop. Why becasue they are copying it again. Really. The front of this mustang looks more the the concept from the 04 mustang concept than anything else. So open yours eyes before you open anything else.
11/28, 2:18 PM
posted by:
Stuart
Pure beauty only can be a italian design
11/28, 2:39 PM
posted by:
wetstuff
I normally hate these pot-belly, Vargra cars ..but this one is a beauty. Too bad Ford didn’t have the talent in Dearbored to do this. I’m waiting for the Fairlane (new name…) before I consider opening my wallet again with them. Too bad they didn’t contract more with these guys… If it works for Hyundai?!
j i m
11/28, 2:57 PM
posted by:
dmanero
foster tuck in the claws will you, I’m just stating that the front end of the Mustang looks a lot like the camero concept. I did not know that they had a mustang in the shop etc. but the point being it still not a original design.
11/28, 3:12 PM
posted by:
Foster
Point being that its a mustang design original or not. It is a mustang design. THe video of the camaro design is on this website search for camaro videos. ANd you can see the mustang in the back ground.
11/28, 3:34 PM
posted by:
scottns
Get rid of the fuzzy seats
11/28, 4:02 PM
posted by:
Endurancevm
Can anyone say Camaro?
11/28, 4:03 PM
posted by:
Sharif
Looks like a mitsubishi + Camaro concept + Challenger concept + something else - overly retro interior = some how I like it
11/28, 4:14 PM
posted by:
deantj
YES YES YES, Ford build it and put in an IRS as well
11/28, 4:16 PM
posted by:
Foster
OM and the inside. is sopposed to be a mustang style inside yes gone a bit to far with the fake horse hair but kinda neat.
11/28, 4:59 PM
posted by:
Don
ugly rims, ugly rear, speedo goes to 140 only… garbage
11/28, 5:37 PM
posted by:
Ted Bell
YUCK
11/28, 6:35 PM
posted by:
mbftw
YES!
11/28, 7:36 PM
posted by:
force
Exxxxxxxxxxxcellent! but the front light remind of BWM
11/28, 8:23 PM
posted by:
autonutt
In a word, blah. From some angles, this is uncomfortably reminiscent of the 1974-78 Mustang II liftback.
11/28, 8:55 PM
posted by:
SmartriX
The only way that Ford is involved with this is to unveil the concept for Italdesign, it is a one-off design study by Fabrizio Giugiaro, styling director of Italdesign. This has nothing to do with possible future Ford productions or any future Mustang concepts.
11/28, 11:33 PM
posted by:
jm1
Looks like a BMW 6 series on crack.
11/29, 12:20 AM
posted by:
360Modena&335i_drivr
Wow, what a stunner!!!
This design is supposed to be an American car with an Italian twist, not an Italian car, so I don’t agree with those criticizing it. I think Giugiaro did a stunning job of designing it exactly as that. The interior is absolutely spectacular. The interior may be the best design and materials I have seen in any car.
The one-piece glass roof / windshield is amazing, and the technology sounds very interesting. I’d like to see a picture from the inside. I hope that is what the future of holds for road car roofs.
My only criticism would be the scissor doors. That is not in any way Mustang. It’s reminiscent of Lambo, and is completely out of place here.
All that being said, Ford - you need to lighten this car. As far as American cars go, I am sticking with my 3100 lb Z06. Performance > design. Beautiful design of a sports car is in its function - light, fast, and balanced. You are 8/10ths there Ford. Hire someone from Lotus to teach you about performance through light weight, and I will buy the next mustang.
11/29, 12:30 AM
posted by:
1c3d0g
HEy, you drive a Ferrari 360 and a 335? Those are just cheap competitors to the Vette and Malibu. NOthing more, don’t even try and tell me otherwise.
11/29, 2:47 AM
posted by:
Hyperion
I like this Mustang. It’s got styling and curves again, has 500 horsepower and doesn’t look like a cheap V6 lead weight with plastic bumpers.
Sure, it would cost a good $80,000 or more. They should build them to order. It’s a beautiful car.
11/29, 7:29 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
Stunning, and Fatstrat, the “mirrors” are cameras which show images inside a la the Iosis concept
11/29, 7:48 AM
posted by:
J-Ro
haha yeah the outside is tight, but everything about the inside should be scrapped… including the redneck cow fur lookin **** on the seats. and why have a 500-hp car and only put 140 on the dash?
11/29, 2:45 PM
posted by:
JerInTheBox
Beautiful, but it does look an awful lot like the Camaro concept. Anyway, found videos of the unveiling and an interview with the designer himself.
http://webridestv.com/movie_v2.aspx?movieid=95
11/29, 10:18 PM
posted by:
chevy490
it does it looks pretty close to the camaro and thats ford thinkingfor thell say smack on one thing then thell coppy it!
12/03, 4:22 PM
posted by:
ANALYZE
These people Just dont get it, MUSTANG WAS FIRST ALWAYS WAS, before Camero, Dodge etc. If Any company can afford to try things like this it is FORD!!! They sure COULD produce it, WHY NOT?? Here is another example of copying, Look at a Ford F150, Shocks mounted on the outside and they have been doing that for 3 yrs now. WHAT DOES CHEVY DO?? MOUNT Thier shocks on the outside on thier 2007 model!!! Geeze if that doesn’t tell who is copying who that your just in denial!!! get out of it, it will swallow you!! I Sure do hope Ford produces this EXACT model (some changes to the interrior) but front to back exterrior is TOP NOTCH, keep the verticle doors as most people think they are pretty sick they just dont spend the money and the trouble to put them on thier cars themselves. DO THIS FORD, ITS A SICK LOOKING CAR. 140 on the dash could mean anything, maybe they just used a template from something else doesnt mean it cant burry the needle!!!
Cheers to Giugiaro
01/23, 9:50 AM
posted by:
DialM4Speed
The front is too long and the back is too stubby. Don’t matter anyway because it’s a concept. Seriously, I am curious to see where Ford will go next with the Mustang. I think they’ve painted themselves into a corner with this retro crap. If they go modern all the old timers will cry foul and if they stay retro it will get old. It already is old in my opinion, I’d much rather see something modern with zero retro cues.
04/04, 11:51 PM
posted by:
apologetic123
Gorgeous styling, but I doubt it’ll make to production by 2010. Its unrealistic. It doesn’t even have a trunk. Why do Europeans like small cars? but hey if they do make it tho, I’m getting me one not matter what
03/03, 9:28 PM
posted by:
Heart64
I like it. I think that with an Aluminum 950 HP MiniBlock and Electric Vehicle Plug in this car with its styling would be a huge hit. Ford do it!