Positively Official: The 2010 Ford Mustang has surfaced, I approve

[Jon Igielnik]

This is it! After all that waiting, the 2010 Mustang is finally here.

Ford certainly did not make the wait easy by constantly teasing us with leaked information. But now, after official photos have been released from Ford, the wait is over and we can sit back and take in the beauty that is the 2010 Ford Mustang.

The countless teasers that Ford gave us to preview this car hardly do it justice, as this car truly shines. The original s197 Mustang inspired an entire "modern retro" movement in the United States, and caused GM and Chrysler to create some amazing competition. This new Mustang seems to have kept all the things from the s197 that worked well in addition to adding many new design lines and cues that I think are beautiful.

The car is clearly moving in a new and interesting direction. There is noticeable inspiration from the Giugiaro Concept, and overall the design looks much smoother than the previous incarnation. I really enjoy the new fender flares, as they give it a more powerful muscular stance. No questions asked though- the 'Power Dome' is my favorite addition to this pony car.

The car's rump, though, is one place that I'm sure will draw criticism from many classic Mustang fans. Personally, I like the rear end a lot. The Mustang's exterior designer George Saridakis describes the changes to the car's exterior as making it more "voluptuous" and that sounds right on the money to me.

The logical increase in power is nice (if not smaller than many had hoped I'm sure) as is the new interior, which really looks much more user friendly. Overall, I would say this Mustang is a terrific improvement over the already good looking and high quality vehicle that is the s197.

I had worried that Ford was going to overlook their competition from the Camaro and Challenger, but I was pleasantly surprised by Ford Motor Company this time. The new Mustang is truly a retro inspired pony car for the year 2010, no bones about it.

Be sure to check out the StangPlanet 2010 Ford Mustang Gallery for over 100 hi-res images of the redesigned stallion.

[Source] Autoblog

[stangzilla]

i like it.

[TheClassic]

Originally Posted by Jon Igielnik

I had worried that Ford was going to overlook their competition from the Camaro and Challenger, but I was pleasantly surprised by Ford Motor Company this time. The new Mustang is truly a retro inspired pony car for the year 2010, no bones about it.

It looks good, but the 15hp boost is just less than I expected, especially as hyped as it was and coming outta the gates swingin @ the competition. I know it doesn't matter much, but a 30-50hp boost would have been somethin.

Otherwise, a nice looking pony car. I probably won't be on the market til 2012, and perhaps I'll opt for one of these, if not a good 'ol fashioned s197, haha.

[Jon Igielnik]

over at autoblog, they have put up a terrific video taking an in depth look at the new mustang and its definatly worth taking a look at.

VIDEO: Autoblog goes in-depth with 2010 Ford Mustang - Autoblog

[682X2STANG]

I like it but it doesn't get the full credit for innovation and concept designation of "redesign" So I'd like to see the car fixed by the talented people on the street and all the people behind the curtain like Foose that for me have an idea of how to take this car and make it stand out from Challenger and Camero. At this point it doesn't and "we approve" is an over statement thank you A better statement for me would be, 'we'll wait a bit before we give it a pass'

[Jon Igielnik]

being the writer of that post, i would say that i can explain my approval. obviously ford cant create the tuners mustang of the aftermarket, as that doesnt have a high appeal to the majority of Mustang owners, in addition, issues there arise as to who of the tuning side to choose. also, this car is not up for full redesign, and this is the best that could have come from what is really just a slightly bigger mid life update.

[682X2STANG]

What ever Jon, you're not old enough to remember that Ford use to redesign the Mustang every two years and back then we did see real improvements, both style and performance.
Aftermarket modders have done more to improve the 04-08 Mustangs than Ford would or ever consider doing, this is nothing more than Fords way of tweaking a market to better suit everyone rather than the serious sports car enthusiast.
Not unlike the redesign from the 73 to the shameful example of the "marketing" ploy to sell with the Mustang II, we saw grannys driving them. I'm glad you're proud of your article, you should be, you're a good writer but...
Do you often speak of yourself in the third person? "we" do not whole heartedly approve, that's my opinion and I'm sticking with it until what I said happens in the aftermarket!

*EDIT*
I didn't really mean "third person" what I meant is that you approve by a concensus of "we" we is a group of one

[David Burkart]

Originally Posted by 682X2STANG

Do you often speak of yourself in the third person? "we" do not whole heartedly approve, that's my opinion and I'm sticking with it until what I said happens in the aftermarket!

*EDIT*
I didn't really mean "third person" what I meant is that you approve by a concensus of "we" we is a group of one

Ok, ok, ok. My fault- I created the headline, meaning

1. I was speaking for Jon and myself (which I shouldn't have) and
2. Jon isn't a narcissistic loony who refers to himself in the third person. Phew

I do tend to agree w/ you though, Steve, about Ford's lame effort to cater to hardcore performance enthusiasts. But everything they do is intentional.

Let's face it: Ford's sales figures are in the sewer. As much as they should stick to their racing roots, they have to do what's best for them as a company, and if that means appealing to a wider audience to sell more units, so be it.

So, while I agree that they could have certainly done more in the performance dept. these past few years (and yrs to come), I see where they're coming from? Do I like it? No. Do I understand it? Completely.

[Jon Igielnik]

Originally Posted by David Burkart

Ok, ok, ok. My fault- I created the headline, meaning

1. I was speaking for Jon and myself (which I shouldn't have) and
2. Jon isn't a narcissistic loony who refers to himself in the third person. Phew

I do tend to agree w/ you though, Steve, about Ford's lame effort to cater to hardcore performance enthusiasts. But everything they do is intentional.

Let's face it: Ford's sales figures are in the sewer. As much as they should stick to their racing roots, they have to do what's best for them as a company, and if that means appealing to a wider audience to sell more units, so be it.

So, while I agree that they could have certainly done more in the performance dept. these past few years (and yrs to come), I see where they're coming from? Do I like it? No. Do I understand it? Completely.

OK- first things first- i speak using what's known as the "royal we" wherein i refer to myself in the third person much the same way a king might (ex: "we are not amused, send him to the dungeon!") totally kidding

now though i was indeed not around for the stangs back in the day, i do agree that from the perspective of the enthusiasts, ford has, well, screwed up royally. performance upgrade on this new mustang? its garbage, and tuners really should be in charge, but the harsh reality we have to face is that, well, ford kinda sucks at giving us what we really want. its sad that the true mustang lovers are actually the minority of mustang buyers.

when im writing here, i kinda try to keep it real. i really agree with what both david and 682X2STANG said. i dont like what ford has done, but i understand why they did it. i came into this whole situation with the unveiling though, expecting just that, i knew they wouldnt do the bad ass thing and give us a kickass mustang, what i thought they would do is what the bland automakers of today do too much, modest power increase, and an edgier design.

i sort of think of it like ford basically has a level of improvement that they cant go higher than on the new mustang, because it would effect things like customer appeal and price- something they cant afford to impact in a negative way- and with that in mind i think that they really made the best of what they had. you know there are totally some mustang engineers who are totally pissed off that the 2010 mustang wasnt any better than it ended up being, and in a lot of ways im with those guys.

in terms of what they needed to do, and appealing to joe six pack and his dream of owning a mustang, they did well, they made him think that this new mustang is cooler, faster and better than the one before (even if it isnt that much cooler faster or better), and thats why personally, i approve, because they did the best they could within the parameters of still being an everymans muscle car.

in a perfect world ford would have sweet mid life updates and cater to the people here on this forum, but the economy aint doin so well, and ford did what any sensible business would do, and make a car they think will sell the most copies.

(breathes in for the first time since writing all of that... lol)

[682X2STANG]

Both of you said what I said but you said it in a way that writers CAN say it. I don't think we disagree here at all and actually we do agree that Ford has built a car, a car that appeals to the masses (nothing wrong with that) but it's trending back to the Mustang II era when rather than continue with a line (see S197) they choose to reestablish 'the' name with a new marketing ploy. This has always been Ford's downfall, they build and build on better and better ideas and then without out notice veer off and change it all up. The Corvette is an example of an American sportscar that has been thru some of the toughest times in America's economy but yet GM still made the best of what they had. Ford on the other hand was making cars and calling them Mustangs. I do like the car but it's not my favorite, I think the S197 and all that's been done before, after and sence makes it one of the best Mustangs that Ford and modders have built. If, big "IF" the same can be done for the 2010 then I'm not closing the door on my approval but, we'll just have to wait and seeeeeeeweeeeeee

*EDIT*
The "we" group has grown to 2 members