[jcthorne]

Not really Shelby related unless it becomes the basis of a 2009 Shelby but....


I was invited to participate in a customer focus study group session related to styling the 2009 Mustang today. Was pretty interesting to see what Ford thinks its competition is and where the Mustang is going.

I really liked new details on the body sides and fenders. The front is more modern but still carries the 'mustang look' Did not care for the new tail lights and sculpted rear bumper. Kind of hard to describe and of course there are no pictures.

The new interior is sweet. Nicely stitched seats, metal accents around the gear shift and door speaker. Video display in center column with rows of grouped buttons below for HVAC and sound systems, navigation. Much more upscale look than the current plastic interior.

No info on drivetrain other than a discussion to see if the participants knew the difference between FWD and RWD and why it mattered.

All in all an interesting morning.

[RUFDRAFT]

OMFG!

They're considering FWD?

[srandall]

What other changes are there to the shape?
Specifically are the same rear side windows retained, or has the look changed?

[Jesse_Bolt]

¿Does it have xenon headlights?

JB

[RUFDRAFT]

Now - be nice Jesse!

We're both Tar Heels!

[Alloy Dave]

RUFDRAFT, on Jul 30 2006, 06:05 PM, said:

OMFG!

They're considering FWD?

Just drive it backwards like "Gone in Sixty Seconds".

Dave

[jcthorne]

RUFDRAFT, on Jul 30 2006, 05:05 PM, said:

OMFG!

They're considering FWD?

No its still the same basic car with updates. Some of the Mustang's perceived competition is FWD so they were asking folks questions to see if the public understood the difference.

The rear quater windows and indeed the entire roof line is unchanged.

Could not tell if the headlights were xenon or halogen but were a more modern design and the fog lights were projector style lenses.

The rear fenders are more muscular, the body line along the side is more pronounced, the nose is more agressive and slightly shorter grille. They really seam to be going for the mucsular, agressive look.

[09GT500]

jcthorne, on Jul 31 2006, 06:20 AM, said:

No its still the same basic car with updates. Some of the Mustang's perceived competition is FWD so they were asking folks questions to see if the public understood the difference.

The rear quater windows and indeed the entire roof line is unchanged.

Could not tell if the headlights were xenon or halogen but were a more modern design and the fog lights were projector style lenses.

The rear fenders are more muscular, the body line along the side is more pronounced, the nose is more agressive and slightly shorter grille. They really seam to be going for the mucsular, agressive look.

Thanks for the update. Now we just need to find out if there will be a Shelby in '09. I'm really hoping there will be. Anyone have any idea when some sort of definitive answer will be given from Ford? I have watched the clip with the SVT rep where he mentions 8-10K the first year and a five year run. Personally, I hope this is the case and we see steady production for at least 4-5 years of the Shelby. I want to be able to buy one without feeling too guilty for shelling out 40+ thousand. If Ford does make an '09 Shelby and it's the first one with the model change, I'm sure the ADM will be through the roof...again.

This post has been edited by 09GT500: 31 July 2006 - 07:04 AM

[brands5.0]

Can do drawing of what the car looks like, It can be a crud shetch but something to wet our wistles. Just the best you can do

[brands5.0]

funny ( ill take two) i hear the splitter make 1,000,000 lbs. of down force

[RUFDRAFT]

That car is your brain on drugs.

[94gt]

How many headlights, 2 or 4? Were the rear tail lights long and rectangular like on the GTR concept or a 67, 68 Shelby? It sounds like they put hips on the rear quarters like the 67, 68 mustang. Yes they will make a 2009+ Shelby. If you saw the you tube video with jay o connell he openly admitted they are working on more versions of the gt500. Why would carroll shelby make a comment of "GM better not even think of outpowering the shelby as the car could easily be bumped up to 600 horsepower" when the camaro doesn't come out till 2009! MM & FF mag. aug issue states a 5 yr. run. Internet posts from industry insiders have said this as well.

[JETSOLVER]

94gt, on Jul 31 2006, 12:30 PM, said:

Why would carroll shelby make a comment of "GM better not even think of outpowering the shelby as the car could easily be bumped up to 600 horsepower" when the camaro doesn't come out till 2009!

A few Q of my own. Where are you located and were you pulled of the street, or contacted via a club? Did the nose look longer from the rear from the front wheelwell to the door seam? (re rumours of the hurricane) I would also be interested in if the "touchy'feelly" bits like switchgear and armrests were noticably differant and finally have you spent any time in the current S-197 platform for comparison? Thanks and bet that was a neat way to spend a Sunday morning!!!

This post has been edited by JETSOLVER: 31 July 2006 - 10:49 AM

[Alloy Dave]

JETSOLVER, on Jul 31 2006, 02:48 PM, said:

A few Q of my own. Where are you located and were you pulled of the street, or contacted via a club? Did the nose look longer from the rear from the front wheelwell to the door seam? (re rumours of the hurricane) I would also be interested in if the "touchy'feelly" bits like switchgear and armrests were noticably differant and finally have you spent any time in the current S-197 platform for comparison? Thanks and bet that was a neat way to spend a Sunday morning!!!

Yes, agree that must have been neat.
I get pulled off the street all the time...usually by the fashion police.

[SCGT500]

evilchris, on Jul 31 2006, 12:56 PM, said:

Spy Photo:

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!

[flattusmaximus78]

IT's great to hear about the update in looks, for which sound great so far, but none the less did ford give any perforance specs... or was it just a look and respond sort of get together with customers.

[Topnotch]

Did it look anything like this?

[RUFDRAFT]

I'm not buying it if it's FWD.

Almost time for another Perc..

[BlueOval]

Topnotch, on Aug 2 2006, 09:51 PM, said:

Did it look anything like this?

Man, that reminds me of a '71 Grande.

RUFDRAFT, on Aug 2 2006, 09:53 PM, said:

I'm not buying it if it's FWD.

Almost time for another Perc..

I don't think he meant that the Mustang would be FWD - I think they were just verifying people knew the difference for comparisons sake.