and longest running model lines in the history of the automobile, when the Ford Motor Co. introduced its 2005 Ford Mustang at the North American International Auto Show, it got as much, if not more, media attention than did the original. The 2005 Mustang (S197) was fully redesigned over the previous models (New Edge) from the suspension, to the interior, to the new 3-valve engine in the GT models. Even though there was no "Cobra", or high performance model, pony car enthusiasts new and old were quick to snatch up these redesigned, retro-looking Mustangs.While boasting better performance numbers than the early era Mustang GTs, the 2005 Mustang bore a strong resemblance to a 1965 mustang with some rounding here and there for improved aerodynamics. Sales numbers rolled in, and Ford had done exactly what it had hoped to do, and that was to introduce the retro look to the performance car enthusiast market, and the car was a tremendous success. But when the retro look proved to be so popular, it was only a matter of time before the other members of the "Big Three" got in on the action. General Motors had been under public scrutiny over the cancellation of the Camaro and Firebird for several years, and during that entire time rumors had been flying about a 'new, redesigned, retro-style Camaro', and Dodge enthusiasts had been demanding a reasonably priced rear wheel drive V8 powered car for decades. The 2006 North American International Auto Show brought us the answer from both Dodge and GM to the retro-styled Mustang, as Dodge introduced their 2008 Chevrolet Challenger Concepte , and GM introduced the Chevrolet Camaro Consept, and with these cars (with the Challenger being a great deal more "retro" than the Camaro, it brought more attention from the public) the new Retro Pony car race was alive and well. The pressure was put upon Ford to "one-up" the other American combatants once again, and with a recently released artists rendering of the "next Mustang", planned to be released around 2009, it appears that they may have indeed outdone GM and Dodge once again.
While the artists rendering may be just that, for now, it gives Mustang enthusiasts a look into what is in store for this historic pony car. Since the initial excitement over the 2005 model Mustang died down a bit, the biggest news, and discussion point, has been the long awaited high performance model, which like the high performance models of the 1st generation, it will carry the Shelby name, with the legendary "GT500" designation. The new GT500 will have a ground pounding supercharged power plant and offers some subtle changes from the base model and GT Mustangs. These subtle changes are some of the items which we see on the rendering of the 2009 Mustang. The 2009 Mustang is expected to remain very similar to the 2005 model, but like the slight evolution of the 1st generation Mustang into the 2nd generation, the 2009 model will have additions to help it stand apart from the 2005 models. For one, the headlights may all have the sloping bezels found on the GT500 as well as the duel front mounted hood scoops. The car will maintain the basic lines of the S197 models, but will have a smoothed effect to further bolster aerodynamics, and in the artists rendering the trend of huge rims are added, although in my opinion it is clearly exaggerated, but with the frequent steady increase in rim size across the market, bigger rims and tires are likely to make an appearance as an option if not standard. In short, we are looking at a smoother, more-sleek version of the S197.
