The Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger haven’t been on the same block since 1974, but all three will have to relearn how to coexist again early next year. However, the biggest challenge that will likely face the reborn muscle cars will not be competition from each other, but rather the stigma of their fuel-inefficient pasts.
To combat the preconceived image of a fuel-gulping muscle car, Ford designers and engineers have actually given the all-new 2010 the look of a much smaller car. In today’s economic environment, consumers typical equate smaller cars to better fuel mileage, so Ford really wanted to take advantage of that mentality.
“We have a car which I think is more suitable for the times than the Challenger and the Camaro,” Peter Horbury, Ford Motor’s North American design director, told Automotive News. “Especially the Challenger — it is a huge car when you see it on the road.”
Compared to the 2008 Mustang, the 2008 Challenger is 10.1 inches longer and 1.8 inches wider. Chevrolet has yet to give officially dimensions on its upcoming Camaro, but the concept was 1.4 shorter and 5.7 inches wider than the current Mustang. Horbury says the 2010 Mustang will be comparable in dimensions to the 2008 model.
“By cleverness in design, we’ve been able to make it look like the wheels are further out, further forward and further rearward,” Horbury said. He added the middle of the Mustang is the widest part, allowing designers to taper the design inward toward the wheels.
It remains unclear if the look of a smaller car will give the Mustang the green credentials it needs to survive in the $4 a gallon world we live in today, but we will find out shortly as the 2010 Mustang is slated to hit the market in the early part of 2009.
06/02, 11:16 AM
posted by:
HemiRoadRunner
I’m tired of this BS with everyone dissing the Challenger. We don’t ALL need to drive econobox’s. Yes you can buy a muscle car or an economy car from the same manufacturer, that’s called a well balanced line up. Ford is retarded, lets admit our car is a monstrosity, but make it look smaller and fool consumers, oh wait, we already admitted it, damn, what do we do now?
06/02, 11:31 AM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Ford is just doing the opposite of what Honda did with the Crodgeline.
The Honda Crodgeline is almost as big outside as a fullsize pickup but has the interior utility of a SportTrac, if that.
06/02, 11:41 AM
posted by:
xyunya
Wow, what about shaving few hundred pounds and maybe actually making exterior dimensions a little smaller. It is not the most comfortable 4 seater in the world, yet it’s far from smallest or lightest or even fastest. BTW I am not advocating Mustang II of late 70’s early 80’s, I am suggesting a better car in more fuel efficient package. The shape looks great, for my taste.
06/02, 11:45 AM
posted by:
BlackX
Now all green hippies will buy V8 mustangs, because it looks smaller…
.
Put ****ing 1.9TDI engine and then say its greener.
.
Everybody is just possessed about this green bull****
06/02, 11:56 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Kind of ironic, really, all this effort to make it look smaller. I mean most guys see this type of car as an extension of their junk, so you’d think that would be the last thing they’d want.
06/02, 11:57 AM
posted by:
renzogtr
5$ a gallon I would be possessed too
06/02, 12:12 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
It’ll be a great time to pick up an existing new GT on the cheap. The dealers are already deeply discounting them. 300 hp won’t make you king of the dragstrip, but it’s enough.
06/02, 12:52 PM
posted by:
BlackX
rezogtr, in Europe we pay 8$ a gallon but those who buy car with 200+ hp dont give a ****. including me.
06/02, 1:06 PM
posted by:
renzogtr
BlackX, that’s good for you glad you can afford it hope that Ford makes the right amount of cars to fit your segment of society that doesn’t care about gas prices
06/02, 1:44 PM
posted by:
cwa107
howsmydriving: That’s exactly what I was thinking! Now if only I didn’t have a need to have two car seats in the back.
I love the 2005 redesign and hope they don’t turn it into a Mustang II look-alike.
06/02, 3:38 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
owa107,
Their is soon concern over that. But in all likely hood the next full rebuild will look more like an early 1970s Mustang. The MUSTANG II is a dirty word for a lot of Mustang Fans.. Like the Probe as well.
The general direction FORD is going will favor more iconic Mustangs going through the 1960s and 1970s. I would not expect the see a Mustang II “revival”, at least in terms of style anytime soon. It was just the most awful looking member of the Mustang tree.
Anyway I would love the Mustang to be small again, but Lighter… a LOT lighter. There is no reason why a car the size of a Honda Civic has to weight two tons.
06/02, 4:14 PM
posted by:
bolex
why didnt they just make it smaller? anyways, imo the solution to this ‘pony car revival’ is to make there V8s more fuel efficient(similar to what dodge just did for there Ram that got 20% better fuel efficiency). it aint turbo’d 4bangers. the whole purpose of a ponycar woud be lost, if they want to make 4banging turbo’s make small cars for it. gas crisis or not i wouldnt buy a ‘pony’ if it had a 4 cylinder..but thats just me.
06/02, 4:27 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
I agree, they should make it smaller and lighter, and ditch the live rear axle. I do like the EcoBoost V6 idea, but I wonder how much it will cost over a regular V6 and I like the 5 liter V8 (Bring back the Boss 302).
06/02, 5:08 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
HemiRoadRunner: well f*cking said!
06/02, 6:02 PM
posted by:
JoshyLofty
Like ohmuhgod, the challenger is SOOOO fat. its like 1.8 inches wider than my mustang. How obsurd!
I feel like Ford just became a blonde cheerleader talking about how the challenger is SOOO much bigger @ only 10 inches in length… Last time I checked, a measly 10″ is nothing when we’re talking about muscle cars. The challenger is GORGEOUS!
06/02, 6:17 PM
posted by:
zoomzoomer
Is Joshy a chick? Because there aren’t many guys that would say 10″ is nothing!
06/02, 7:11 PM
posted by:
Need4SSpeed
I saw one of these up close parked near Ford’s main engineering complex in Dearborn, with full camos, but from what I could see it looked the same size as the current mustang, all pretty much looks like the same body, just looks like they modified the front end, and rear end. The interior looked slightly different but not too different.
I predict that the Stang will still outsell the Challenger and Camaro.
Also you heard it from me…. (BTW I was 50hp off back when the Cadillac CTS-V posts were on here, someone from inside GM told me it was going to have between 550-600hp and I said this months before it debuted, Just as I was told that the ZR1 was going to have upwards of 650hp and it was just revealed a couple months back that it had 638hp.. ok so 12hp off)
Announcing the Camaros future lineup… (from what I was told)
Camaro -with the 306-310hp 3.6L V6 (which everyone already knows)
Camaro RS same V6
Camaro SS- (It’s going to have a very similar de-tuned 6.2L V8 that the G8 GXP is getting 400-403hp)
Camaro Z28 (Getting the LSA that the CTS-V has est 550hp)
Mark my words ladies and gentleman…..
06/03, 2:55 PM
posted by:
bigp
be smart its shouldnt just look smaller it should be smaller in weight.from an 100 to 500 wouldnt kill any about the car
06/03, 5:44 PM
posted by:
nitinsharma1000
put a independent suspension in it and just sell it as a v8 to keep the cred up.
06/03, 6:03 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
I think Ford really needs to break the ice, and invest in independent suspension and a lighter car overall. It’s an investment that will LAST.
blackX- Happy you put up with your politicians advocating ridiculous taxes!