S550 still retro?

[let me ride]

Saw this article with a few choice quotes:

The Mustang's first full redesign since 2005 presented Ford with a tough task: Update and freshen an icon without alienating fans. More than 9 million Mustangs have been sold since 1964, and the car has more than 300 fan clubs around the world, including one in Iceland and one solely for owners of yellow Mustangs. Farrah Fawcett drove a white one in "Charlie's Angels;" Steve McQueen raced a dark green one through the streets of San Francisco in 1968's "Bullitt."

The new car takes plenty of cues from the old. The long hood and sloping fastback are still there, as is the trapezoid-shaped grille with the Mustang logo from the original. But the new car sits lower and wider, and the roof tapers dramatically in the front and back. The signature rounded headlights are smaller and sit back under a fierce, chiseled brow, while the traditional three-bar taillights are now three-dimensional and tucked beneath the rear deck lid. The overall look is wirier than the current, more muscular version designed in 2005.

Ford design chief J Mays said the design wasn't overly influenced by European or Asian sensibilities.

"The reason they love it is because of its American-ness," he said.
Still, Stephanie Brinley, an auto analyst with the consulting company IHS, expects modest sales overseas. IHS forecasts European Mustang sales will triple from current levels to around 2,500 in 2015. Sales in China will likely remain low because two-door coupes aren't popular there.

Ford hopes Mustang can again become the top selling pony car in the U.S. The Chevrolet Camaro, which followed the Mustang to market in 1966 and was last redesigned in 2009, has outsold its rival for the last three years and is on track to do it again this year, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Aaron Bragman, the Detroit bureau chief for the Web site cars.com, likes the new Mustang but questions whether it can beat the Camaro, which has a less retro-inspired design.

"Anyone looking for something a bit more modern is going to choose the Camaro," he said.

But Ford countered that it takes its history seriously. Fields noted that he was wearing a set of gold cuff links given to him by someone on the original Mustang marketing team, and said he plans to pass them on when another new Mustang is revealed someday.

http://www.wsbtv.com/ap/ap/business/ford-celebrates-mustangs-50th-with-new-design/ncB9K/

Is the Mustang always going to be considered Retro if it retains some of the usual Mustang cues?

Who knew it is LESS modern than the CURRENT Camaro.

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[S3XPanther]

Saw this article with a few choice quotes:



Is the Mustang always going to be considered Retro if it retains some of the usual Mustang cues?

Who knew it is LESS modern than the CURRENT Camaro.

Well, I can understand both sides of the argument. However, it's important to keep in mind that the 5thgen Camaro is almost entirely designed to look like a modern interpretation of the the 1st gen. Thus, on this basis, I will disagree with the notion that the outgoing Camaro is more "modern" than the S550.

The S550 on the other hand, certainly takes some cues from it's past iterations, but it is in no way intended to be a re-interpretation as the 5thgen is/was. The S550 is an all-new, modern-day mustang.

 

[TampaBear67]

It's all semantics at this point. If you use Design Cues/DNA it could be considered Heritage or Retro. I personally think it's less Retro, but still Pure Mustang. As for Less Modern than the Camaro... Uhhh No. This car looks as modern if not more so than the Camaro, and definitely more tasteful.

 

[BenH]

I agree with this^

Every car with an identity has its own cues that define the car. That's different than a throwback version meant to re-interpret a specific model. I sold my 2008 partly because I got tired of the retro thing. Ford took a big enough leap forward with the S550 for me to want back in.

It's thoroughly modern to me, much more so than the current day Camaro which still has muscle car size, proportions, and design IMO. I guarantee that will change with the 6th gen Camaro, the trend is going against them right now.

 

[stangray11]

I still think the SN95/New Edge was the most modern/forward looking mustang DESIGN to date. Not talking about modern in terms of tech or engineering which obviously is in a different league now.

The S550 may not be retro per se but it is more faithful to the S197 (and as a result, the Mustang I) than the SN95 was to any previous or subsequent Mustang>

 

[aardvark]

I still think the SN95/New Edge was the most modern/forward looking mustang DESIGN to date. Not talking about modern in terms of tech or engineering which obviously is in a different league now.

The S550 may not be retro per se but it is more faithful to the S197 (and as a result, the Mustang I) than the SN95 was to any previous or subsequent Mustang>

Oddly enough, way back in 1994, Ford was pushing the idea that the SN95/New Edge WAS retro. I remember the marketing campaign... pictures of the new car with the '65... along with the slogan "It is what it was."

IMO, the S550 design is still somewhat retro, perhaps less than the S197 but a bit more than the S95.

At the end of the day, though... retro, shmetro... As someone said above, it's semantics. We're living in 2014 (almost), and the car is what it is. If you like the car, buy the car. If not, buy something else... or wait a decade for the next Mustang. ;)

 

[Dirk McGurck]

The Camaro looks like a child's drawing of the original 1960s car.

 

[S3XPanther]

The Camaro looks like a child's drawing of the original 1960s car.

Sadly, I sort of agree...sort of.

 

[rjhoskins]

It's all semantics at this point. If you use Design Cues/DNA it could be considered Heritage or Retro. I personally think it's less Retro, but still Pure Mustang. As for Less Modern than the Camaro... Uhhh No. This car looks as modern if not more so than the Camaro, and definitely more tasteful.

^^^This

Every car with an identity has its own cues that define the car. That's different than a throwback version meant to re-interpret a specific model. I sold my 2008 partly because I got tired of the retro thing. Ford took a big enough leap forward with the S550 for me to want back in.

It's thoroughly modern to me, much more so than the current day Camaro which still has muscle car size, proportions, and design IMO. I guarantee that will change with the 6th gen Camaro, the trend is going against them right now.

^^^And this.

 

[Rich]

Is the S550 retro? Of course it is. Is it modern? Does it look great? You bet it does. Anyone who looks at the back end can see the first generation influence. It isn't retro like the current Challenger, though, which looks almost identical to the 1970. Dodge didn't use any imagination designing that car. The only Mustangs that were not retro were the Fox body when it was new and the SN-95. The Porsche 911 is one of the worlds most iconic sports cars, yet it has always been retro. Does it look great? You bet it does.

 

[Fenderaddict2]

I've posted this elsewhere and will post it over and over again. The '05 Mustang was a reset button to bring the Mustang back to its roots. The car will now continue to evolve from there as an icon should. Think Aston, think 911. The benefit to all is a Mustang in step with the times that honours it heritage. Win win all around I say.

 

[jrm]

I've posted this elsewhere and will post it over and over again. The '05 Mustang was a reset button to bring the Mustang back to its roots. The car will now continue to evolve from there as an icon should. Think Aston, think 911. The benefit to all is a Mustang in step with the times that honours it heritage. Win win all around I say.

Copy That!!! Could not agree more, well said...

 

[ChuckC]

I've posted this elsewhere and will post it over and over again. The '05 Mustang was a reset button to bring the Mustang back to its roots. The car will now continue to evolve from there as an icon should. Think Aston, think 911. The benefit to all is a Mustang in step with the times that honours it heritage. Win win all around I say.

It's retro(old) to describe the new Mustang as "retro". As the above poster correctly points out, the reset button was hit in '05 and the car has been evolving since.

The word "retro" has been misused. I think it should only apply to aspects of a car that are technically outdated. Anybody want to identify an aspect of the new Mustang that is technically outdated??

 

[aspensilver]

Aaron Bragman is an idiot. S550 already much more modern looking than the chunky, boxy camaro.

 

[yanks1]

it sure looks like a Mustang, so label it whatever you wish

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