Discussion: How should Ford evolve the styling of their iconic products?

[DeluxeStang]

I'm mostly thinking of bronco and mustang, as those are two of Ford's best passion products at the moment, and both are virtually guaranteed to have a next generation. 

 

For mustang, I personally believe they should keep the 60s inspiration, it's a lot more timeless than say mustangs from the 80s or 90s that are fads in one moment, and out the next. 60s styling has always looked good, and always will, that's what mustang should pattern itself after instead of chasing styling trends. These are cars that'll be at car shows in 50 years, make them timeless and striking. 

 

In terms of what I'd love to see, it basically boils down to a reduction in visual mass. Lowering the roof by maybe 2 inches, and the beltline by an inch or so, so you have less metal over the wheels. Push the wheels to the corners and really shrink the overhangs, especially in the front. Give the mustang an even longer hood to sell that seductive look. 

 

Basically a 1967 Shelby gt 500 in terms of lines, and an Aston Martin in terms of proportions and sexy surfacing would make for a great looking car imo. Something like this image with slightly sharper lines to sell the muscle car look while also looking striking and more exotic. Make the mustang look so good that people stop complaining about paying 60k for a gt, make a design that makes 60k feel like a bargain. 

[DeluxeStang]

In terms of bronco, keeping the boxy, rugged looking, I quite like this sketch even if it looks a bit like a defender. 

 

 

[Dequindre]

The Mustang could use a styling intervention. I think part of the reason why Mustang sales have slumped is due to the more evolutionary approach to its styling. It has looked pretty similar since 2015. 

[DeluxeStang]

5 hours ago, Dequindre said:

The Mustang could use a styling intervention. I think part of the reason why Mustang sales have slumped is due to the more evolutionary approach to its styling. It has looked pretty similar since 2015. 

Agreed. It's not a bad looking car, it just looks too similar to the s550. To be fair, Ford usually does this with mustang, two generations with similar styling followed by a massive change. That's the way it's been at least since the 90s.

 

So if they apply the same approach here, that's ok. I just hope Ford returns to giving us a new mustang generation every 5-7 years instead of having us wait 7-10 years. 

[akirby]

Meanwhile in Germany…….

 

[Rick73]

Prefer cleaner lines of Top Gun: Maverick’s classic 1973 Porsche 911 S.  If Ford did a complete redesign of Mustang, my vote would be to make it simpler and aesthetically less “cluttered”.  Not sure what the right term or description is, but present Mustang looks too busy to me, in a similar manner that Porsches posted above by akirby look overdone compared to original 911 from movie.  Functionality aside, Mustang inspiration should indeed come from 60s IMO.

 

[coupe3w]

Three reasons why the new Mustang is not selling. One, the front of the car is to cluttered looking. Two, the dash i pad look doesn't cut it. Three, the price is just way to much. JMHO

[DeluxeStang]

Even though it's an entirely different price point, this is a great example of what I have in mind. Having something that still looks like a 60s muscle car with a blocky shape, but more exotic proportions. 

 

Something like this with more pronounced hips and dynamic rear end like that original pic I showed. I basically want the mustang to be the best looking front engine coupe on sale. 

[akirby]

2 hours ago, coupe3w said:

Three reasons why the new Mustang is not selling. One, the front of the car is to cluttered looking. Two, the dash i pad look doesn't cut it. Three, the price is just way to much. JMHO

Three reasons - Price, Price and a continued market shift away from coupes.  Current design is not bad enough to turn away serious buyers especially with almost no competition.  

[ExplorerDude]

Just wait for the additional doors to join the pack.

 

Also heard the “New Edge” styling of the 1999-2004 Mustang might make a subtle reappearance at some point.

[akirby]

3 hours ago, Rick73 said:

Prefer cleaner lines of Top Gun: Maverick’s classic 1973 Porsche 911 S.  If Ford did a complete redesign of Mustang, my vote would be to make it simpler and aesthetically less “cluttered”.  Not sure what the right term or description is, but present Mustang looks too busy to me, in a similar manner that Porsches posted above by akirby look overdone compared to original 911 from movie.  Functionality aside, Mustang inspiration should indeed come from 60s IMO.

But for every potential buyer that wants retro styling there is at least one that wants modern.   You can’t please everyone.

 

Personally I love the 930 but I don’t want a modern 911 that looks like that.  I would just buy a 930.  I feel most retro Mustang fans would do the same.

 

The one area I agree with is making enough changes to keep repeat buyers, especially lease customers.  Bit that doesn’t mean wholesale changes.

[DeluxeStang]

1 hour ago, ExplorerDude said:

Just wait for the additional doors to join the pack.

 

Also heard the “New Edge” styling of the 1999-2004 Mustang might make a subtle reappearance at some point.

Oh God lol. Even as someone born in '94 who's early childhood was influenced by the new edge, I want to get past those days lol. I get the 90s are the trendy thing right now, but once you get past nostalgia, it wasn't a good period for mustang design compared to 2005-present and 1965-1970. I firmly believe mustang is one of those cars where designers need to ask themselves "Will these still look great at a car show decades from now?" 60s styling does, 80s and 90s styling, not so much lol. 

[Rick73]

1 hour ago, akirby said:

But for every potential buyer that wants retro styling there is at least one that wants modern.   You can’t please everyone.

 

Personally I love the 930 but I don’t want a modern 911 that looks like that.  I would just buy a 930.  I feel most retro Mustang fans would do the same.

Having an all-new Mustang inspired by early models is not to say it must be retro per se..  Not to me anyway, though I can see some not differentiating.  To me it’s more about capturing the original’s essence.  To be honest, I don’t normally like cars that are retro-looking, so not looking for a 65 convertible knockoff. 

[DeluxeStang]

8 hours ago, ExplorerDude said:

Also heard the “New Edge” styling of the 1999-2004 Mustang might make a subtle reappearance at some point.

So it could be somewhat close in appearance to something like this in coupe form with a lower, more rounded off front end? I don't hate it, but it kinda kills the muscle car look. 

[Sherminator98]

7 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

I firmly believe mustang is one of those cars where designers need to ask themselves "Will these still look great at a car show decades from now?" 60s styling does, 80s and 90s styling, not so much lol. 

 

While I'm about 20 years younger then you, I wouldn't mind seeing a good modern take on the post 1986 Mustang GT...sans the cheese grater tail lights, which can stay in the in 1980s. 

 

I really hated the New Edge Mustang-I had a 1998 Mustang GT which most likely didn't help, but my issue was that it was done on the cheap and it just didn't look that good. The Focus, Contour and Cougar (esp the Cougar) was best looking products of that generation. The first gen SN95 had a good retro vibe while being in the post jellybean era of Ford. The 2005 Mustang nailed the retro thing, but it fell out of favor within a few years. 

[DeluxeStang]

2 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

While I'm about 20 years younger then you, I wouldn't mind seeing a good modern take on the post 1986 Mustang GT...sans the cheese grater tail lights, which can stay in the in 1980s. 

 

I really hated the New Edge Mustang-I had a 1998 Mustang GT which most likely didn't help, but my issue was that it was done on the cheap and it just didn't look that good. The Focus, Contour and Cougar (esp the Cougar) was best looking products of that generation. The first gen SN95 had a good retro vibe while being in the post jellybean era of Ford. The 2005 Mustang nailed the retro thing, but it fell out of favor within a few years. 

I think you meant to say 20 years older unless you're 10 lol. But yeah, I see where you're coming from. 

[tbone]

On 7/4/2025 at 11:31 AM, DeluxeStang said:

I'm mostly thinking of bronco and mustang, as those are two of Ford's best passion products at the moment, and both are virtually guaranteed to have a next generation. 

 

For mustang, I personally believe they should keep the 60s inspiration, it's a lot more timeless than say mustangs from the 80s or 90s that are fads in one moment, and out the next. 60s styling has always looked good, and always will, that's what mustang should pattern itself after instead of chasing styling trends. These are cars that'll be at car shows in 50 years, make them timeless and striking. 

 

In terms of what I'd love to see, it basically boils down to a reduction in visual mass. Lowering the roof by maybe 2 inches, and the beltline by an inch or so, so you have less metal over the wheels. Push the wheels to the corners and really shrink the overhangs, especially in the front. Give the mustang an even longer hood to sell that seductive look. 

 

Basically a 1967 Shelby gt 500 in terms of lines, and an Aston Martin in terms of proportions and sexy surfacing would make for a great looking car imo. Something like this image with slightly sharper lines to sell the muscle car look while also looking striking and more exotic. Make the mustang look so good that people stop complaining about paying 60k for a gt, make a design that makes 60k feel like a bargain. 

I like your line of thinking here. The image you provided is very appealing. 

[tbone]

14 hours ago, coupe3w said:

Three reasons why the new Mustang is not selling. One, the front of the car is to cluttered looking. Two, the dash i pad look doesn't cut it. Three, the price is just way to much. JMHO

I think you make valid points, as I think one and three are most likely the biggest culprits. Though the front fascia is acceptable I don’t think it is particularly good looking.  I personally think it is bad enough that it should be redesigned for 2026.  The current design does not feel cohesive to me and the leading edge of the hood is too flat. 
 

With the discontinuation of the Camaro and the Charger/Challenger, the Mustang should have seen a sales increase, not a decline. Not every person in that segment is brand loyal, and since you are the only kid on the block now there really isn’t an excuse. 

[Sherminator98]

6 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

I think you meant to say 20 years older unless you're 10 lol. But yeah, I see where you're coming from. 

Yeah oops that is what I get for post past 10PM…I’m old lol 

[Sherminator98]

5 hours ago, tbone said:

With the discontinuation of the Camaro and the Charger/Challenger, the Mustang should have seen a sales increase, not a decline. Not every person in that segment is brand loyal, and since you are the only kid on the block now there really isn’t an excuse. 

I think it’s more about the changing auto industry marketplace than competition. 
 

25 years ago you couldn’t get a “performance SUV” and sedan options where limited. Nor where their EVs that offer carrier catapult like acceleration  

 

The two door market is small and getting smaller because it’s so limited in functionality. The market place seems to favor vehicles that appear to be multi purpose, even if the features are only used once or twice in the vehicles lifetime. 
 

The Mustang will always have a market, but it’s not going to sell 1 million units like it did almost 60 years ago. 
 

 

[akirby]

7 hours ago, tbone said:

I think you make valid points, as I think one and three are most likely the biggest culprits. Though the front fascia is acceptable I don’t think it is particularly good looking.  I personally think it is bad enough that it should be redesigned for 2026.  The current design does not feel cohesive to me and the leading edge of the hood is too flat. 
 

With the discontinuation of the Camaro and the Charger/Challenger, the Mustang should have seen a sales increase, not a decline. Not every person in that segment is brand loyal, and since you are the only kid on the block now there really isn’t an excuse. 

So what are they buying instead?  Why do you think they killed Camaro and Challenger?

[atomcat68]

21 hours ago, akirby said:

Three reasons - Price, Price and a continued market shift away from coupes.  Current design is not bad enough to turn away serious buyers especially with almost no competition.  

Agree! The only reason I haven't and will not buy a new Mustang is the obscene price tag. They do start in the low 30's , but every time I go to by a dealership, the same row of $60,000 plus cars sit there for years rotting on the lot.

 

Even if the engine or transmission fails on my car every year, it would still be cheaper to repair my car than make payments on a new one.

[DeluxeStang]

23 hours ago, tbone said:

I like your line of thinking here. The image you provided is very appealing. 

Thanks. I'm mostly just trying to think of the best ways for Ford to enhance the styling of the mustang, while also making it timeless. If they end up going the direction Explorerdude is hinting at, I'll be concerned.

 

I said it before, I understand 90s cars are popular right now, and Ford might be looking at that trying to cash in on it, but applying that style to a new mustang would be a mistake imo. 90s nostalgia is a fad that'll likely fade quickly, and then Ford's left with a questionable design that pays tribute to a less than stellar era of mustang design.

 

Ford shouldn't chase trends with the mustang, they've tried things like that with the touchscreen in the s650 and it blew up in their face. 

 

 

[tbone]

16 hours ago, akirby said:

So what are they buying instead?  Why do you think they killed Camaro and Challenger?

A fair question, but it’s not as if every buyer of those vehicles or those considering buying them evaporated.  Though the market may be smaller, there’s still a market for this vehicle type. What is the answer if they aren’t buying Mustangs?

 

Dodge must think there is a market since they are basically rebooting their game. 

[tbone]

23 minutes ago, DeluxeStang said:

Thanks. I'm mostly just trying to think of the best ways for Ford to enhance the styling of the mustang, while also making it timeless. If they end up going the direction Explorerdude is hinting at, I'll be concerned.

 

I said it before, I understand 90s cars are popular right now, and Ford might be looking at that trying to cash in on it, but applying that style to a new mustang would be a mistake imo. 90s nostalgia is a fad that'll likely fade quickly, and then Ford's left with a questionable design that pays tribute to a less than stellar era of mustang design.

 

Ford shouldn't chase trends with the mustang, they've tried things like that with the touchscreen in the s650 and it blew up in their face. 

 

 

I agree with you the 90’s styling wasn’t notable and I think it pays to evolve the retro styling. Hopefully Ford reverses course on the screens control everything trend. Though they needed to incorporate a bigger screen into the s650, they didn’t need to be that drastic.