Giugiaro's interpretation of the Ford
Icon Mustang
The 2005 Ford Mustang captured the
hearts and minds of millions of fans and future owners when the
all-new model debuted. But the proportions and design of Ford’s
first purpose-built muscle car in 30-plus years caught the eyes and
sparked the imaginations of a pair of the world’s leading
coachbuilders in Italy as well.
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“When we saw the new Mustang, we knew
two things: It was the best we’d seen since the original, and we had
to get our hands on one,” said Fabrizio Giugiaro, styling director
of Italdesign – Giugiaro S.P.A. “We still believe it’s important to
show the automotive world pure exercises in style that interpret key
models reflecting the history and image of important brands.”
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Ford
Mustang
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So in early 2005, Giugiaro
pitched J Mays, Ford Motor Company’s group vice president,
Design and chief creative officer, on his idea to do an
Italian job on the beloved Mustang. The result: Mustang by Giugiaro – a one-of-a-kind concept powered by Ford Racing
technologies, marking the Italian coachbuilder’s first
reveal at the inaugural November Los Angeles Auto Show.
“It seemed only fitting,” said
Mays. “This design study reinforces the global appeal of
Mustang, yet it’s right at home in L.A. – America’s most
enthusiastic performance and muscle car market. Plus, design
icon Giorgetto Giugairo’s offer to work his magic on Mustang
alongside his son underscores the timelessness allure of
Ford’s most iconic car.”
Design aficionados will remember
that
the senior Giugiaro – who last year celebrated his 50 th anniversary
in the business by designing a custom-made Ferrari, the GG50 –
created the 1965 Bertone Mustang.
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The car, which was unmistakably
Italian in its interpretation, became the first European-styled car
to make its international debut in America following the end of
World War II.
The senior Giugiaro’s portfolio
includes concept and production designs for nearly every automaker
in the world – from Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Volkswagen to Mazda, Lotus
and Bugatti. Since joining ItalDesign, the family firm, in 1990,
Fabrizio Giugiaro has helped deliver key global designs as well, but
American automotive icons have long captured his attention.
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He designed the Chevrolet
Corvette Moray, unveiled in early 2003, and was eager to
expand the collection of Giugiaro-interpreted American
metal.
Fabrizio Giugiaro led the 2-D
design process on the Mustang by Giugiaro concept, allowing
him to deliver a complete exterior model from the family’s
Turin, Italy, studios in just four months.
Visually, the Mustang by
Giugiaro appears more compact than the production car,
thanks to a reduction of the rear overhang and a signature
Giugiaro “trick” of tapering the angles on the car to the
limit of its mechanical outlines.
Still, the Italian version of
America’s most popular muscle car hasn’t lost any of its
swagger.
The vibrant orange concept is
wider than the production version. The Giugiaros added 30
millimeters to the front, gradually expanding the width by a
full 80 millimeters toward the rear, which is typical in
Italian design.
With its longer hood and the
trunk barely visible, the car looks more of a fastback in
side view. But details throughout reinforce the freedom and
rebellion synonymous with Mustang. Fabrizio Giugiaro’s
favorites include:
The single curved glass
panel that bridges the windshield and rear window,
serving as the concept’s roof. Produced by Solutia of
Detroit, the panel is made from a special type of
crystal that filters out 100 percent of UVA rays while
providing unfettered vista views.
Its dramatic doors, which
are hinged at the base of the upright A-pillar and open
vertically at the touch of a button. Bespoke taillights,
which are three separate elements as found on the 1964
Mustang – but reinterpreted into a more dramatic arrow
shape that links to the louver panels that replace the
rear side windows.
The visible curl that
sweeps into the crest of the concept’s carbon fiber
fenders, hinting at tail fins that defined American cars
of the ‘50s.
The
sporting-but-elegant unique 20-inch rims, fitted with 275/40
tires on the front and larger 315/35 tires on the rear.
As its
wheels and tires suggest, the Mustang by Giugiaro is more than
just a tribute to Mustang design. It also is an exclamation of
the car’s heritage of performance.
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The interior – featuring a
dramatic instrument panel that sweeps the width of the
car; circular gauges that project from behind the
steering wheel; dark brown horsehide-covered headrests
with horse logo accents; and seat cushions and backrests
elaborately upholstered in dark brown mottled horse
hides.
The concept features a powertrain and chassis enhanced in conjunction with Ford
Racing – which is responsible for Ford Motor Company
motorsports development and operations.
Ford Racing’s efforts include
the development and sale of a race-prepared version of the
Mustang, called the FR500C, for the Grand-Am KONI Challenge
Series. In its first season alone, the FR500C scored five
wins in the 2005 GS Class, including the manufacturers’
championship, in which Mustang bested other production-based
sports cars, including the BMW M3 and Porsche 911.
This Mustang, a turn-key race
car sold to privateers, provided the inspiration for the
Mustang by Giugiaro concept’s performance and handling
attributes.
Ford Racing improved on the
already-robust 300 horsepower all-aluminum 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8
engine in the production Mustang GT by adding an intercooled
twin-screw supercharger for the new concept.
Additional improvements include fuel
injectors from the Ford GT and a unique engine calibration. Engine
air intake is increased with a larger 95 mm mass air meter and a
conical air filter. Exhaust performance is enhanced with new Ford
Racing mufflers and an X-pipe.
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The powertrain upgrades
deliver an estimated 500 horsepower, complete with a boost
level of 11 psi from the Ford Racing supercharger. A
high-efficiency Ford Racing aluminum radiator provides
increased cooling capability to accompany the extra 200
horsepower provided under hood.
Under the car, the
FR500C-inspired chassis tuning is accomplished with a
tailored Ford Racing Handling Pack. This package, available
through Ford Racing for the Mustang GT, adds new
Dynamic-tuned dampers, lowering springs and anti-sway bars.
The changes give the car a
lower stance while sharpening handling response. The car
rides approximately 1.5 inches lower than the production
Mustang GT.
“The Mustang by Giugiaro drives as
good as it looks,” said Fabrizio Giugiaro. “After taking it to the
limits on streets outside of Turin, I can honestly say this car was
well worth the 30,000 hours of blood, sweat and tears that we
invested to create a modern performance classic.”
