Image via Complex Original
The fifth generation Ford Mustang has certainly been one of the most influential cars in recent years. It has been one of the standard bearers for retro in car design, and one of the best performance bargains in the world since the engine update in 2011. It has also birthed amazing cars like the modern iteration of the Shelby GT500 and BOSS 302.
Alas, the car is now nine years old, and it is certainly time for it to make way for a newer, more advanced version. The new Mustang is set to debut on the 5th in just a couple day, and needless to say, we're excited about this prospect. Ourhopes are high for these 5 Things The New Ford Mustang Needs to Win Our Love (and Money).
RELATED: The 25 Best Movie Mustangs
Heritage Without Retro
Retro was cool, and the fifth generation Mustang brought it back in a big way, but we're all starting to get a little tired of seeing pseudo-'60s car after pseudo-'60s car. We want to go completely in the opposide direction like Lamborghini's Veneno and Nissan's BladeGlider have. It's time for balls-to-the-wall futurism.
That said, it still needs to look enough like a Mustang to be immediately recognizable as such. The above image is purportedly a leaked photo of the new 'stang, and while we like it, we would have preferred a bit more risk in the design.
A Decent Automatic
Don't get us wrong here, we love manual transmissions, and there's nothing like the feeling of just nailing a heel and toe downshift. At the same time, we're not haters, and some of the best cars we've ever driven have had automatic transmissions. Anybody who says that driving a car at the limits of performance is boring with paddle shifters is chock full of crap.
A quick responding, paddle shifted automatic is a must in the new Mustang, because most people don't want a manual, and the Mustang is a sports car. It deserves much, much better than what it currently has.
A Diet
The V6 Mustang weighs 3,501 lbs, and while that's better than the porky Camaro (3,719 lbs) or the obese Challenger (3,834 lbs) it's still way more than we'd like. Cars are getting lighter and lighter, which is a miraculous way to improve speed, handling, and fuel economy all at once.
We've been promised weight loss, but we'd like to see major weight loss. Bring on the Mustang Jenny Craig Edition, Ford. Steel is heavy, so pump out some aluminum.
Independent Rear Suspension
The new model is off to a good start, because this has nearly been confirmed. Drag racers managed to convince Ford to keep a solid rear axle until the Mustang up until now, but everybody else has complained about it enough to get a proper IRS dropped in there. Seriously, you can read about solid axles in the old testament, it's time for them to go.
A Telescoping Steering Wheel
The single most annoying thing about the current Mustang has certainly been the lack of a telescopic steering column. Driving position is very, very important in a sports car, so why did Ford cut this very important corner?
We really hope that we'll be able to get comfortable and relaxed behind the wheel of the new Mustang, and being able to properly adjust the steering wheel is the only way this will happen.
