After introduction of the 2005 Ford Mustang, 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. "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." 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.
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 from the side. The interior features a dramatic instrument panel that sweeps the width of the car, while a single curved glass panel bridges the windshield and rear window, serving as the concept's roof. The dramatic doors, hinged at the base of the upright A-pillar, open vertically at the touch of a button. The taillights, which are reinterpreted into a more dramatic arrow shape, link to the louvers that replace the rear side window panels. 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's also an exclamation of the car's heritage of performance. The concept features a powertrain and chassis enhanced in conjunction with Ford Racing. Under the car, the FR500C-inspired chassis tuning is accomplished with a tailored Ford Racing Handling Pack. "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."