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| 2003 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Concept |
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| IMAGE CREDITS - Supercars.net |
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| With 39 years of storied automotive history, 8 million customers and legions of fanatic fans to satisfy, Ford is introducing two all-new Mustang design concepts at the 2003 North American International Auto Show. The Mustang GT convertible and coupe concepts arrive ready to take enthusiasts breath away three design-generations after the original made history in 1964. The latest legends of the American pony car are contemporary automobiles that capture the essence of Mustangs design and performance heritage. Presented as a two-seat fastback coupe and convertible, the Mustang GT concepts are strong indicators of the next-generation Mustang's design direction. They emerge as a bold testament to the timeless value that automotive enthusiasts hold for the original American pony car. Introspective and Extroverted The Mustang GT concepts draw on the very elements that have made Mustang the definitive American sports car for nearly four decades. Their exterior designs are clearly inspired by some of the extroverted Mustangs of the past and have been created by a design team that took an introspective approach to updating a classic design. The designs are modern, crisp and reveal the true character of what Mustang means to so many people. The original 1964� Mustang actually evolved from the racing-inspired, two-seat concept car called the Mustang 1. After reviewing archived files, Mustangs modern-day crafters were struck by how the original design embraced the same inspirational cues that communicate performance. The design team looked beyond production models to the Mustang 1 concept for modern inspiration. Much like the Mustang 1 and the later Mustang Mach 1 show car in 1968, the Mustang GT concepts are rare, radical designs that will appeal to everyone. By melding the true character of Mustang into these fully modern offerings, we've ensured that even the uninitiated will instantly recognize these cars as Mustangs, says Mays. We went beyond their exterior designs to truly understand the extent to which Mustang has embedded itself in American culture. New Design The Mustang GT concepts are instantly recognizable as Mustangs, yet they stretch the design far into the future with a distinctly modern look. Like the Mustang 1 concept, the GT concepts are two-place sportscars: one a coupe and the other a convertible. Both cars started out with a significantly modified Ford Thunderbird rear-wheel-drive architecture. The platform was sectioned to achieve the proper proportion. The front-end geometry is all original customized to accommodate the signature Mustang MOD 4.6-liter V-8. In concert with plans for the all-new Mustang, due in 2004, the exterior and interior designs of the Mustang GT concepts were penned by designers in Ford's Living Legends Studio in Dearborn, Mich., and Ford's California Design Center in Southern California. The concept design execution was done exclusively at the California Design Center. Interior Inside, there's no mistaking the no-holds-barred Mustang classic cues. The cockpit is dramatic for the driver and passenger with lush red and charcoal leather accented by billet-aluminum hardware. They're reminiscent of another era yet, inside and out, the Mustang GT concepts are thoroughly modern. The view from behind the wheel of a Mustang GT concept is as good as the view from afar. The Mustang GT concept vehicles put the driver and the passenger in a most enviable place the future of the pony car. While the evocative unmistakable exterior designs draw admirers, it is the inviting interiors that demand closer inspection. The modern interior designs pay homage to another era in Mustang history while their use of high-quality materials, precision craftsmanship and technical innovations point to Mustangs to come. The Mustang GT coupe and convertible concept cars interiors are awash in supple red and charcoal leather and accented with billet-aluminum hardware that gives an appearance that is robust and highly technical. These incredible interiors speak volumes about where Mustang and Ford are headed in the future, said J Mays, Ford Motor Company, vice president, Design. The functional, contemporary look of this interior and its precise execution set a new standard for muscle car design. Story by Ford Motor Corporation |
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| Year 2003 Origin Not Available Make Ford Base Price Not Available Model Mustang GT Coupe Concept Production Not Available Engine & Transmission Body / Chassis Position Front Longitudinal Drive Wheels Not Available Configuration 90 Degree, Cast Iron, MOD V8 Curb Weight Not Available Valvetrain DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl Length 4623 mm / 182 in Displacement 4601 cc / 280.8 cu in Width 1880 mm / 74.7 in Power 298.3 kw / 400 bhp @ 6000 rpm Height 1290 mm / 50.8 in Torque 528.77 nm / 390 ft lbs @ 3500 rpm Wheelbase Not Available Bore 90.2 mm / 3.55 in Front Track Not Available Stroke 90 mm / 3.54 in Rear Track Not Available Redline 6500 Steering Not Available HP / Liter 86.94 bhp per litre Body / Frame Not Available HP / Curb Weight Not Available Front Brakes Brembro Vented Discs Gear Type 6-Speed Manual Front Brake Size 351 mm / 13.8 in 1st Gear Ratio Not Available Rear Brakes Brembro Vented Discs 2nd Gear Ratio Not Available Rear Brake Size 351 mm / 13.8 in 3rd Gear Ratio Not Available Front Wheels F 50.8 x 21.6 cm / 20 x 8.5 in 4th Gear Ratio Not Available Rear Wheels R 50.8 x 24.1 cm / 20 x 9.5 in 5th Gear Ratio Not Available Front Tires 245/40ZR20 6th Gear Ratio Not Available Rear Tires 275/35ZR20 7th Gear Ratio Not Available Front Suspension Not Available Final Drive Ratio 3.55:1 Rear Suspension Not Available |
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| IMAGE CREDITS - CarDesignNews.com |