When Ford debuted the 2005 Ford Mustang redesign, enthusiasts embraced the evolutionary design that harkened back to the retro days of the original design. And for a while, things were good; the Mustang remained the only muscle car in town, sales were up, and the aftermarket was all about the retro design. Nowadays though, sales are slow, there’s a lot more competition, and the Mustang desperately needs a new, forward-looking design.

According to Automotive News, who spoke to Ford’s chief designer J Mays, the Blue Oval’s designers are just about ready to “lock down” the new design of the 2015 Mustang.

What does this mean? Not a whole lot. J Mays has spoken on the next-generation Mustang several times, insisting that he won’t ruin an American icon, and that the Mustang will stay true to its roots. According to Mays, the real challenge here is to have a forward-looking design that also captivates that legion of Mustang faithful.

“It has to look like a Mustang,” says Mays. What exactly that entails though is up for interpretation, as the Mustang has had many distinctly different looks over the years. But expect a long hood, short trunk, and rear-wheel drive at the very least. Anything else is just up for grabs, though Mays insists that a final design is close to being locked down. It can’t come soon enough.