When Ford unveiled the curvaceous Ford Evos Concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the biggest buzz around the industry were signs that the American automaker will retire the Mustang's retro styling to take the icon to an all new design direction.
Slated to unveil as a 2015 model, images of the sixth generation Mustang in its early stages of development have leaked today. Uncovered by enthusiast site Mustang 6G, a selection of 2015 Mustang clay models are taking shape at Ford Motor Company's design studio.
Based on the images, designers are tackling the new Ford Mustang design language by presenting several promising designs at the same time. Variations include different wheel designs, over-sized or sunken headlights, a rounded or crisp edged front end, and narrow or wide grill openings. However, the iconic Mustang Fastback silhouette seemed to have retained its charm without dramatic redesign.
Beyond hints from the clay models, the images also offer a look into the illustrations hung on the wall that provide inspiration for the next design. The sketches are clearly the current Ford Fusion midsize sedan, a bold design that played a key role in Ford's new brand design. Given the critical acclaim of the Fusion's design, it is likely that for Ford to employ the design into the next Mustang as well.
A significant redesign, the next-generation Ford Mustang will boast more than just new sheet metal. The new Mustang will finally retire the ancient live rear axle suspension for a fully independent setup. Performance-wise, a live rear axle suspension set up has been popular in North America as its ability to deliver traction under brutal acceleration makes it ideal for the drag strip. However, a fully independent suspension will likely make the next-generation Mustang more acceptable as it is slated to enter global markets.
While the Ford Mustang has traditionally offered V6 and V8 powerplants, a new-for-Mustang turbocharged EcoBoost 2.3 liter four-cylinder engine will be available in Europe and other markets. Ford will likely retain its V6 and its range-topping 5.0 V8 Mustang GT trims.
Beyond performance output, experts expect the new Mustang to also weigh less than the outgoing model, providing a stronger power to rate ratio than before.
The 2015 Ford Mustang is slated to unveil at the summer of 2014. Expect to see the official unveiling of the Mustang production car by later this year.
