Lee Iacocca, who had been one of the forces behind the original Mustang, became President of Ford Motor Company in 1970 and ordered a smaller, more fuel-efficient Mustang for 1974. Initially it was to be based on the Ford Maverick, but ultimately was based on the Ford Pinto subcompact.The new model, called the "Mustang II, was introduced two months before the first 1973 oil crisis, and its reduced size allowed it to compete against imported sports coupés such as the Japanese Toyota Celica and the European Ford Capri (then Ford-built in Germany and Britain, sold in U.S. by Mercury as a captive import car). First-year sales were 385,993 cars, compared with the original Mustang's twelve-month sales record of 418,812.Lee Iacocca wanted the new car, which returned the Mustang to its 1964 predecessor in size, shape, and overall styling,[31] to be finished to a high standard, saying it should be "a little jewel."[32] However not only was it smaller than the original car, but it was also heavier, owing to the addition of equipment needed to meet new U.S. emission and safety regulations. Performance was reduced, and despite the car's new handling and engineering features the galloping mustang emblem "became a less muscular steed that seemed to be cantering.The car was available in coupé and hatchback versions. Changes introduced in 1975 included reinstatement of the 302 CID V8 option (called the "5.0 L" although its capacity was 4.94 L) and availability of an economy option called the "MPG Stallion". Other changes in appearance and performance came with a "Cobra II"version in 1976 and a "King Cobra" in 1978.All images are available in hires by clicking the picIn a late night blitzkrieg, Ford dropped all the details on Giugiaro's reinterpretation of the Mustang and words seem to fail it. The world-class coachbuilder has taken the iconic coupe and transformed it into rolling automotive pornography, leaving no body panel untouched and enlisting the help of Ford Racing to provide motivation to match its extreme design.
The bespoke creation takes all the right cues from the current Mustang, beginning with the classic front end, and then pulling the fascia down and outward to create a menacing homage to the original. Broad indentations flank the doors and lead into massive wheel arches topped with a classic crease that's brought to a point at its highest peak. Those same distinct creases define the rear end and provide a trick angle for the taillights to wrap overtop.A single piece of glass forms the windshield and roof, which flows into the trunk lid, and the louvered glass aft of the b-pillar gives a nod to Mustangs of yore. The doors are touch operated and, when asked, pivot up from the a-pillar, while five-spoke dubs get a healthy slathering of chrome and Giugiaro's orange hue.On the inside, the mixture of brown and butterscotch upholstery is warm and inviting, with a combination of smooth and furred horsehides covering the seats. The instrument panel houses the required duo of gauges, which snuggly fits inside a dash that flows from pillar to pillar. Custom switchgear, shifter and steering wheel all make it clearly known that this is something special, and more is on the way.Raise the mildly bubbled hood and you'll find the stock 4.6-liter V8 from the Mustang GT, but with a twin-screw supercharger mounted on top. The intercooled powerplant receives a 95 mm mass air meter, KN-shaped filter and fuel injectors from the Ford GT, to produce over 500 HP at 11 psi of boost. The stock radiator has been nixed in favor of an aluminum Ford Racing unit, which the company claims could allow the engine to create another 200 HP without worry of catastrophe.Although style and power are all well and good, handling must be addressed in equal parts. Thankfully, Ford Racing was tapped to provide their Handling Pack, which includes thicker anti-sway bars, lowering springs and tuned dampers, all of which is available for the base Mustang GT.
We absolutely can't wait to see this in person tomorrow, so stay tuned for more as we make our way down to the Los Angeles Auto Show.Below you'll find a multitude of pics, joined by the press release at the bottom of the page.
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