Updated Mustang unveiled
DEARBORN, Mich. — America’s first pony car — the Ford Mustang — is celebrating its 50th birthday with a swoon-worthy new design and plans to go global.
Ford Motor was to reveal the 2015 Mustang today in New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Sydney, Barcelona and its hometown of Dearborn. It goes on sale next fall in North America and will arrive later in Europe and Asia.
The Mustang isn’t anywhere near Ford’s best-seller — Ford sells more pickups in a week than it does Mustangs in a month. But Ford says the Mustang has the highest name recognition and highest favorable opinion of any car in its lineup. And car companies count on beautiful sports cars to cast a glow over the rest of their offerings.
“It’s an emotional connection to the rest of the brand,” said Jacques Brent, group marketing manager for large cars and SUVs.
As for sales, Ford will be happy if Mustang can become the top selling pony car in the U.S. The Chevrolet Camaro, which followed the Mustang to market in 1966 and was last redesigned in 2009, has outsold the Mustang for the last three years and is on track to do it again this year.
The Mustang’s first full redesign since 2005 presented Ford with a tough task: Update and freshen an icon without alienating its passionate fans.
The new car takes plenty of cues from the old. The long hood and sloping fastback are still there, as is the trapezoid-shaped grille with the Mustang logo from the original. But the new car sits lower and wider, and the roof tapers dramatically in the front and back. The signature rounded headlights are smaller and sit back under a fierce, chiseled brow, while the traditional three-bar taillights are now three-dimensional and tucked beneath the rear deck lid.
Ford isn’t saying how much the new Mustang will cost, but the current one starts around $23,000. A convertible version will also be offered.
