Looks like the famous Ford Mustang is getting a huge makeover for 2014. Ford has stated that they are changing the design of the mustang to appeal to Generation Y customers. This is due to the fact that by the year 2020 Generation Y will represent 40% of the car buying market.
As you may or may not know the Ford Mustang has been in non-stop production since 1964 (actually half way through 1964). The Ford Mustang is known for being the first “Pony Car” which is an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image. Through out the years the Mustang has changed design several times since its first production in the 60s. It started out as a smaller version of the muscle car from the era to the smaller compact design of the Mustang II in the Mid 70's to the “Fox body” platform in the 80s to the updated Fox body in the 90s and since 2005 the Mustang has had a Retro Design.
Ford based the retro design off of the late 60s Mustang but still has a modern look to it. The retro styling of the 5th Generation Mustang has proved to be very successful with an increase in sales in 2005. The sales were most successful in older demographics, largely do the Mustang's retro-style reminds older buyers of their Mustangs from the 60s.
While nothing official has been released yet from Ford, several “rumor” statements have been made as well as a concept car.
Lets first start off with the Facts that have been confirmed for the 2014 Ford Mustang. One of the reasons the Mustang is getting a new design for 2014 is it will be the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang and Ford is hoping to create something new and special for it's 50th. The other fact is the 2014 Mustang is going to based off of Ford's Evos concept car. The Evos concept car is the concept that Ford is going to be basing all of its new models off of. Using their new “global design language” all new cars including the Mustang will be based off of it and will be geared to be sold on the global market.
Now that we have the facts covered lets cover some of the rumors floating around in the media. The first and biggest rumor that I have heard from Motortrend, Road and Track and the Mustangforums Blog is the new Mustang will have an Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) instead of a Live Axle Suspension. Ford did experiment with an IRS back in 2003-2004 however the older Baby Boomer Generation wanted the Mustang to go back to a live axle. The main reason for this for drag racing a live axle is needed for the hard launches and the older generation are fans of drag racing as where Generation Y is more interested in motorsports such as drifting, road racing and autocross which require excellent handling which an IRS is better suited for.
Another rumor that has been making its way around the internet is that the 2014 Mustang will be a much smaller car. There have been smaller Mustangs in the past such as the 3rd Generation from the 80s but we're am not sure if Ford is meaning a smaller Mustang such as sport compact car size to compete with the Hyundai Genesis or the Honda Civic or just smaller than the current Mustang.
There is also a lot of talk going on about what new engine is going to power the Mustang. Will the Mustang keep its current 5.0-liter V8 and its 3.7-liter V6? Or will Ford's Ecoboost engines power the Mustang? The Mustangforums blog believes that the four-cylinder Ecoboast that powers the Ford Explorer will power the new Mustang. They also believe Ford may be developing a V6 and a V8 Ecoboost for the Mustang as well.
2014 is still two years away so some of these specs may change before than.
This Mustang review is contributed by Josh, a passionate car fanatic and writer on driver safety at carinsurancecalculator.info. One of his latest contributions can be read here.
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