You read that right folks. The 2010 Ford Mustang will make its official debut at the LA Auto Show on November 19th. According to a source speaking with InsideLine, the new 'Stang won't be shown in Detroit as originally rumored, conceivably as a response to the Camaro hype-machine we've had to endure over the last two weeks.
When the wraps are pulled off the 2010 Mustang, expect all-new front and rear fascias, including a new grille, headlamps and taillights, along with a tweaked hood and a few cues rumored to be pulled of the Guigiaro Mustang concept.
Speculation about powertrains has been running rampant for months, but a reworked V8 and V6 is part of the package, and possibly a new turbocharged, EcoBoost bent-six further down the line. Sales will begin late early next year.
Just as photos of the production version of the Camaro popped up on the web last week ahead of tomorrow's unveiling, Ford decided to trot out the 2010 Mustang this weekend. Unlike the fully-revealed Camaro, the '10 Mustang remained heavily camouflaged as it acted as the pace car for the Kohler International Challenge vintage race at Road America. The prototype 'Stang lead a plethora of ponies from throughout the nameplate's lineage around the natural terrain course at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The Saturday Mustang Corral also was treated as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Mustang GTP that won in its debut race at Road America. We won't be seeing the updated Mustang in its birthday suit until Ford drives it onstage at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.
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Can you believe we've assembled five galleries so far of 2010 Ford Mustang spy shots? This is our sixth, and the pics contained show the pony car's derriere largely uncovered. Spy photographers caught the convertible with its pants down just long enough to capture an uncluttered view of the Mustang's new taillights. They contain three large vertical rectangular elements separated by two long, thin white elements. Modern Mustang taillights have always incorporated "threes", which harkens back to the original Mustang that first sported three long taillights per side. We also learn from these spy pics that the Mustang 'vert will be dropping its raised spoiler in favor of a decklid spoiler that's more integrated with the rear trunk lid rather than sitting above it. Finally, the large, round rear Mustang badge that's notched on current models appears to have met a belt sander and now features smooth edges all the way around. Can't wait for the seventh gallery of Mustang spy shots!
It seems to be getting easier to take spy shots of the 2010 Ford Mustang, as reader Chris F. chatted up the drivers of these two prototype 'Stangs in Lake Zurich, IL who told him they were both base models with the 4.0L V6. The coupe also features a glass top, which suggests this relatively new feature will carryover to the redesigned '10 Mustang and be available on all models. Unfortunately, the fact that both base models were still powered by the same old 4.0L V6 suggests that, at least when it debuts, the '10 Mustang will not feature the 3.5L V6 that can currently be found in nearly every other Ford product.
We can see all the tell-tale signs of the redesigned Mustangs in these pics, including its new headlights, new grille, new front fascia, new wheels and new taillights. Out back there's only one tailpipe, confirming their base modelness. Unfortunately, the cool drivers Chris met up with asked him not to photograph the interior and weren't willing to give up any other juicy tidbits, but we'll take what we can get.
Hot on the heels of our own reader-submitted spy shots of the 2010 Ford Mustang comes this new batch of images taken by professionals. Here we see for the first time the next Mustang's redesigned interior, and while it doesn't appear that the instrument panel and dash will stray too far from the current car's design, there are many notable differences. First and foremost is the new three-spoke steering wheel with redundant controls for cruise control on the left and multimedia buttons, no doubt designed to help operate Ford's SYNC system, on the right. Spy photographers also noticed that while the gauges look the same as those in the current Mustang, they are now white-faced and the speedometer and tachometer have switched places. We can also make out new rectangular vents sitting atop the center stack, though a familiar round vent remains to the left of the steering wheel. The basic shape of the center stack appears to be tweaked somehow, but we can't say for sure what the switchgear for the stereo and HVAC controls will look like since they were well covered in this prototype. Also included in the gallery below are new shots of the 2010 Ford Mustang's front and rear with exposed views of the 1970-inspired headlamps as well as the updated taillights. We expect to see plenty more spy photos between now and the car's official introduction at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show.
We haven't seen new spy shots of the 2010 Ford Mustang for a while, so leave it to an Autoblog reader to have his camera at the ready when one flies by on the highway. Brandon R. took these pictures on an undisclosed road somewhere in the U.S. (that should narrow it down for you) and tells us that the driver wasn't very interested in smiling for the camera. After he realized that the car was being photographed, the Mustang jockey slammed on the brakes and promptly pulled over, but not before Brandon had taken his pics and recorded video of the Mustang showing off its passing power.
It's all speculation as to what's powering this prototype, but it appears to be a GT model if wheel size and two grille-mounted fog lamps are any indication. Out back are dual exhaust pipes and what must be a rear spoiler all covered up, as well. The hood features a big bulge, but don't get too excited as we surmise it's not to make room for some monster engine but rather keep the contour of the new hood a secret. Studying the front end, we also get a clearer view of the Mustang's new headlights as well as the lower air intake. All in all, Brandon did an excellent job in his impromptu debut as a spy photographer/videographer and we hope he spends more time with the cruise control on and his camera riding shotgun.
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How do you make a muscle car appear more fuel-efficient? According to Ford's North American design director, Peter Horbury, you make it look smaller. In an interview with Automotive News, Horbury said that the Mustang, "... is more suitable for the times than the [Dodge] Challenger and [Chevy] Camaro." By "times" we're assuming Horbury is implying that big muscle cars will become less popular due to rising fuel prices and that vehicles like the Challenger and Camaro will endure much of the same wrath that SUVs have garnered in the last few years.
While the Camaro concept is 1.4-inches shorter and 5.7-inches wider than the Mustang, the Challenger overshadows Ford's pony car in length by over ten inches. Whether those facts will have any effect on the buying public is open to debate, but appearances are just that, and a focus on weight reduction and more fuel-efficient drivetrains would seem to be a better solution than making the 2010 Mustang, which will share the same dimensions as the current model, appear to be the smarter choice.
We've shown you plenty of 2010 Ford Mustang spy shots in recent months, but after seeing the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 in person this week at the Chicago Auto Show, our eagerness for the pony car wars to begin anew has reached a fever pitch. These new spy shots of the refreshed Mustang GT that is scheduled to debut as a 2010 model focus exclusively on the car's rear end where we get our best view yet of its new taillights. It appears that brake lights are inspired by three vertical brake lights that were on the original Mustangs. Brenda Priddy's spy photog also happened to catch this particular convertible just as a train was passing by bearing "GT" on the side of a car. It must make spy photography so much easier when random objects in your environment happen to caption the subject of your shot.
Don't for a second believe that Ford is just going to roll over and hand over tens of thousands of Mustang sales to the upcoming Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro without a fight. We've been showing you spy shots of what Ford's got up its sleeves for weeks now, but this is the first time we have a shot of the next Mustang's interior. Unfortunately, Ford is just as concerned with keeping any interior upgrades a secret as it is shrouding the Mustang's new face. We've got a high-res pic of what Brenda Priddy's photographer could snap of the interior just the same, as well as new front and back shots of what we expect will be the 2010 Ford Mustang.
