Ford Mustang Giugiaro

Ford Mustang Giugiaro

For the 2006 LA Auto Show Italian design house Italdesign, led by Fabrizio Giugiaro (Giorgetto Giugairo's son - see Ferrari GG50 concept), decided to reinterpret the contemporary Ford Mustang.In 2005 Guigiaro had approached J Mays, Ford Motor Company's group vice president, Design and chief creative officer, with the idea to create an American icon with Italian flair powered by Ford Racing products.It took just 4 months to create an exterior model of the Guigiaro Mustang in the Turin, Italy, based studio.The Ford Mustang by Giugiaro appears to be more compact than the standard production car, thanks to a reduction of the rear overhang and the signature Giugiaro style of tapering the angles on the car to the limit of its mechanical outlines.The Giugiaro styled Mustang is 30 millimeters longer in the nose, and wider by a full 80 millimeters in the rear.Ford Racing improved the Guigiaro Mustang's all-aluminum 4.6-liter 3-valve V-8 engine by adding an intercooled twin-screw supercharger, fuel injectors from the Ford GT and a unique engine calibration. Engine air intake was increased with a larger 95 mm mass air meter and a conical air filter. Exhaust performance of the Guigiaro Mustang was enhanced with new Ford Racing mufflers and an X-pipe. The upgrades allow for an estimated 500 horsepower at a boost level of 11 psi from the Ford Racing supercharger. To keep the Guigiaro Ford Mustang handling as good as it looks, 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. Features of the Ford Mustang Concept by Guigiaro:• 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 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.• Doors 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.