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These may be grainy and a bit fuzzy, but these are the first photos of what is likely Ford’s Mustang Concept.

Photographed on a secluded beach in California by a hiker crossing its path, we apparently caught the Mustang while it was involved in its own “official” photo shoot.

While a disposable camera doesn’t do the future pony-car justice, it does reveal many important styling cues. Retro styling is once again hip and the 1960s are back again, although this time the Mustang is sharing a platform with a Jaguar (S-Type) and Lincoln (LS).

We’re expecting the new Mustang to be offered with a variety of engine choices, including a 215-hp 3.0-liter V-6, and a modified 4.6-liter V-8 with 280-hp. The Cobra version will likely be fitted with a 400-plus horsepower V-8.

We’ll see the concept debut at the NAIAS in January, but the all-new (production) Mustang will wait until its 40th anniversary in 2004 to make its official debut.

Looks nice. I'm a little disappointed in horsepower numbers for now, but I suppose since the Camaro is on a hiatus, there's not much of a shooting match right now.

 

Lay off the crack. I can't recollect a design that integrates classical design with new age styling so poorly. That thing looks like ass.

 

It's a design study for now. And my primary comment was on the power figures.

 

You said it looks nice :eh:

 

that thing looks nasty.... also has a strange similarity/resemblance to the new T-Bird... yuck

 

I think the profile and rear look pretty good, although they look unrefined and way too "conceptish" which, shockingly enough, it is a concept, as I previously stated.

And gollee gee whiskers, I said it looked nice, but my PRIMARY comments dealt with powertrain performance.

 

Very FUGLY. Not reminiscent at all of the "legendary" Stangs its supposed to be derived from.

 

By the way, 1000 posts.

 

Ford has an oportunity now to really advance the pony/muscle cars into the 21st century of refinement and quality. With the GM F-bodies on hiatus, Ford really should do something fantastic and make GM have to go back to the drawing board to compete. I'd really like to see a rebirth of muscle cars that are refined and reliable. They can do that. I know they can. Please?

 

The Mustang has outsold the Camaro and Firebird combined for something like the last twenty years. GM has had Ford outgunned in the horsepower department for about the same amount of time. Ford hasn't needed to do something "really fantastic" to make GM compete, because GM hasn't been able to compete. Hell, the SN Mustang chassis is essentially the same thing as the Fox chassis which came out in 1978. And even back in 1978 the Fox chassis was little more than repackaged Fairlane bits.

Ford is strapped for cash right now so I wouldn't expect miracles out of the next Mustang. Its been widely known for quite some time now that it will be built on the DEW98 platform like the article mentioned. The motor choices sound appealing and assuming they get the chassis tuning right, it might even be worth comparing to the 350Z. Is that "fantastic" enough for ya?

Edit: the terms "muscle car," "refined," and "reliable" should not be used in the same sentence unless the term "not" is also involved.