January 05, 2003
A Coke bottle, a swoosh, the hula hoop – all are
instantly recognizable shapes in American pop culture.
So too is the unmistakable silhouette of the all-American
pony car, the Ford Mustang.
That silhouette is taking on a striking new definition
with the introduction of the Mustang GT coupe and convertible
concept cars. The new concepts give a strong indication
of the design direction of the next-generation Mustang,
due to debut in 2004.
With its signature long hood and short rear deck, Mustang’s
design has endured for 39 years. Adorning the legendary
shape are classic design cues that define Mustang: C-scoops
in the sides, three-element tail lamps and the galloping
pony in the center of the grille.
The Mustang GT coupe and convertible concepts are clearly
the latest evolution in a long line of Mustang models.
With 39 years of storied automotive history, 8 million
customers and legions of fanatic fans to satisfy, Ford
is introducing two all-new Mustang design concepts at
the 2003 North American International Auto Show.
The Mustang GT convertible and coupe concepts arrive ready
to take enthusiasts’ breath away – three design-generations
after the original made history in 1964. The latest legends
of the American pony car are contemporary automobiles
that capture the essence of Mustang’s design and
performance heritage.
Presented as a two-seat fastback coupe and convertible,
the Mustang GT concepts are strong indicators of the next-generation
Mustang’s design direction. They emerge as a bold
testament to the timeless value that automotive enthusiasts
hold for the original American pony car.
“These Mustang concepts are thoroughly modern automobiles
that point to a bright future for Mustang,” says
J Mays, Ford Motor Company vice president of Design. “Their
powerful stances, smooth surface language and ultra-modern
interiors set new standards for muscle cars. Above all,
these concepts communicate the soul of Mustang: a classic,
cool and quintessentially American muscle car.”
The designs are modern, crisp and reveal the true character
of what Mustang means to so many people. The original
1964½ Mustang actually evolved from the racing-inspired,
two-seat concept car called the Mustang 1. After reviewing
archived files, Mustang’s modern-day crafters were
struck by how the original design embraced the same inspirational
cues that communicate performance. The design team looked
beyond production models to the Mustang 1 concept for
modern inspiration. Much like the Mustang 1 and the later
Mustang Mach 1 show car in 1968, the Mustang GT concepts
are rare, radical designs that will appeal to everyone.
The Mustang GT concepts are instantly recognizable as
Mustangs, yet they stretch the design far into the future
with a distinctly modern look. Like the Mustang 1 concept,
the GT concepts are two-place sportscars: one a coupe
and the other a convertible. Both cars started out with
a significantly modified Ford Thunderbird rear-wheel-drive
architecture. The platform was sectioned to achieve the
proper proportion. The front-end geometry is all original
– customized to accommodate the signature Mustang
MOD 4.6-liter V-8.
In concert with plans for the all-new Mustang, due in
2004, the exterior and interior designs of the Mustang
GT concepts were penned by designers in Ford’s Living
Legends Studio in Dearborn, Mich., and Ford’s California
Design Center in Southern California. The concept design
execution was done exclusively at the California Design
Center.
The coupe conjures images of 1967 and 1968 Fastbacks while
the convertible brings back cues of the early Shelby Mustangs,
especially in its “show bar” and wide-element
tail lamps.
Inside, there’s no mistaking the no-holds-barred
Mustang classic cues. The cockpit is dramatic for the
driver and passenger with lush red and charcoal leather
accented by billet-aluminum hardware. They’re reminiscent
of another era yet, inside and out, the Mustang GT concepts
are thoroughly modern.
Technical Specs
Powertrain
Drivetrain layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine type 90-degree MOD V-8, cast-iron block, aluminum
heads, belt-driven supercharger with liquid-to-air intercooler
Valve gear DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Bore/stroke, in/mm 3.55 x 3.54/90.2 x 90
Displacement, in/mm 280.8 / 4,601
Compression ratio 8.5:1
Horsepower @ rpm 400 @ 6,000 (estimated)
Torque @ rpm 390 @ 3,500
Redline, rpm 6,500
Transmission 6-speed manual (coupe)
5-speed automatic (convertible)
Axle ratio 3.55:1
Final-drive ratio 2.24:1
Chassis
Brakes Brembo 13.8-in vented disc
Wheels (front)
(rear) 20 in x 8.5 in aluminum
20 in x 9.5 in aluminum
Tires (front)
(rear) 245/40ZR20 BFGoodrich g-force T/A
275/35ZR20 BFGoodrich g-force T/A
Dimensions
Body style 2-door coupe and convertible
Seating capacity 2
Legroom, in 44.0
Shoulder room, in 57.6
Hip room, in 54.9
Headroom, in 37.0
Length, in 182
Width, in 74.7
Height, in 50.8
Fuel capacity, gal 18
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