Giugiaro's Mustang Concept

Could this be one of the most signicant concept cars in the history of the automobile? A stunning blend of all that is right with the fabulously successful 2005 Mustang, combined with the genius of the iconic Italian styling house of Italdesign - Giugiaro S.P.A.

It was the original 1964 Mustang that transformed the American motoring landscape. This low priced (based on the underpinnings of the humble Falcon) but sensational looking 2+2 created a whole new category of car. We could go on for twenty pages on why the Mustang and those who created it will forever be a part of motoring history, but that’s for another time.

For ten years the Mustang was the darling of young (and not-so-young) Americans, but the fuel shocks of the seventies nearly �?nished it off. Ford’s response was to castrate it, put a four cylinder engine in it and style it like a bloated Pinto. Only the name survived as the Mustang struggled on like a Vespa lumbering under the weight of a Harley Davidson badge.

Eventually Ford saw the error of their ways and did something about it. The 2005 Mustang was styled after a mixture of the original ‘64 and the even better looking ‘67 facelift. It also maintained the simple yet distictive interior style of its forbear, and even the rigid rear axle, the last production car in the world to do so.

None of this mattered to eager American buyers - they snapped the new Mustang up and continue to do so.

“When we �?rst saw the new Mustang, we knew two things,” said Fabritzio Giugiaro, styling director of Italdesign - Guigiaro S.P.A. “It was the best we’d seen since the original, and we had to get our hands on one.”

They did, and this is the result.

It’s a fabulous interpretation of the classic Mustang shape, and doesn’t lose any of the American car’s ‘swagger’. While maintaining the Mustang’s distinctive signatures such as the classic grille shape, tapering side creases and stand-alone three-element taillights, it introduces new drama in the form of extra curvature in the roof and flanks, as well as a tightening of the body form around the extremities dictated by the mechanical hard points.

It looks smaller than the original, thanks to a reduction in rear overhang, but is actually wider (by a full 80mm at the rear), a typical Italian design feature.

The roof is a continuous glass panel from windscreen to rear window, made of a special type of crystal that �?lters out 100% of UV rays while still allowing uninterrupted views.

The concept car also features doors which open upward at the touch of a button from a hinge point at the base of the A-pillar.

Inside, the Giugiaro Mustang reflects the original in the basic con�?guration of the instrument panel, but it’s a far more dramatic interpretation with circular instruments that project from behind the steering wheel, along with brown horsehide covered headrests. The seat upholstery is fashioned in a random pattern of dark brown mottled horsehide.

Elegant yet sporty 20 inch rims are �?tted with 275/40 rubber on the front and 315/35 on the rear.

Ford Racing have been involved in the development of the powertrain and chassis, in fact the
FR500C turn-key Mustang racer was the basis for the performance and handling parameters
estabilished for the ‘Mustang by Giugiaro’.

An intercooled twin-scroll supercharger was added to the 4.6 litre V6, as well as Ford GT-spec
fuel injectors, a high-ef�?ciency Ford Racing radiator and unique engine calibration.

All this provides an estimated 500bhp (370kW), and the extra performance is complemented by a special Ford Racing handling pack.

The motoring world owes a vote of thanks to Italdesign - Giugiaro S.P.A. for this gorgeous piece of automotive art. That an Italian styling house recognises the excellence of a basic American design is one thing, but to embark on an even more dramatic Italian interpretation of it without departing from the original DNA is another thing altogether.

Some have suggested that Italdesign have been contracted by Ford to design the next generation 2010 Mustang and that this is the prototype. That story is being denied, but there is no doubt that much of the look of this car will �?nd its way into the production ‘stang. It’s too good for that not to happen.

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