silverbullit05

why didn't they keep this back end i think it looks awsome!

DAVE05GT

COST, MOST LIKELY. I DOUBT THATS PLASTIC LIKE THE PRODUCTION 05S AROUND THE TAIL PIPES BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD MELT IF IT WAS, BUT JUST MY 2 CENTS. THAT IS ONE BAD @$$ REAR FACIA THOUGH.

SpikeGT

I don't know why they didn't use it, but that is a picture of the concept car. i have the 1:18 scale die-cast model of that exact car on my desk. that might be a picture of a model. it is awesome looking though.

Redfire

Yeah it looks great, but I think they were tryin to make the new Stang look more like the old ones. Ya have to admit, the tailights they did use look more like the old Stangs than that Fururistic setup.

281GT

I agree that the concept car's tail looks pretty good but I like the production model just as much. I think the production model is a little more retro. Probaly less expensive to build also. I think Ford did an amazing job on the mechanicals of the car and too me that's what really counts. Just my 2 cents.

dan

JC74

Lol, damn Dan, your point threw off the entire page view. (nice macro shot).

Aixtreme89

I agree, I wish they used those concept tail lights on the production car. The ones they used look too much like the 99-04 mustangs. But I think they are going to put the tail lights from the concept car onto the upcoming cobra. along with the side air scoops. They are saving the best for the best. Or mabye they will put it on the GT500 if they make it.

graphicguy

Got a really cool book from the dealer I ordered mine from. It's a hard back book with the title "A New Breed of Pony Car". It was written by one of the R&T editors. It speaks mostly about the '05 Mustang, but has some chapters on Mustang evolution over the years and a chapter about future Mustangs.

J. Mays, VP of Design for Ford is quoted in the book that he really wanted the tail lights of the concept car, but the rest of the design team thought it would have made the production version too "japanese". So they went with the more traditional Mustang tail lights as a statement that the '05 Mustang was "purely and Amercian design".

Interesting book that talks about all the design and performance elements and the debate that ensued within Ford to come up with what has turned out to be the final design. It's also clear in the book that Mays isn't a fan of extraneous, non-functional scoops and great big spoilers. That's why the current one doesn't have them. The only reason they said they didn't use the "ducktail" spoiler design was because they thought it looked silly on the convertible versions.

He also went on to say that "...the interior design is an excercise in simplicity....it's the muscle car interior that you remember (from earlier muscle cars)."

BTW....the same designer said that future Cobras would have to have a lot more HP in order for them to shave a couple of 10ths of 1/4 times....he said a minimum of 90-100 HP increase could be expected.

I don't know if the book can be bought at Borders, but it's author is Matt DeLorenzo. There's no price on it anywhere, but you may be able to get it through Ford as there's a sticker that says it's an "Ford Official Licensed Product".

Nice of my dealer to send it to me while I'm waiting for my car.

silverbullit05

wow graphicguy that is a score. i will look around for that. i do think that the production lights and rear look more traditional but i still like the look of the concept back end a little better. either way they both look good in my eyes.