A car conceived by an Italian-American has in last month’s LA Auto show set an example of an Italian American collaboration. An iconic car, the brainchild of Lee Iacocca, Ford Mustang of ’65 has never really had a successor worthy of its guise until the current Mustang production car was born in 2005. It is no surprise then that it caught the eye of the Giugiaro family just like it did at the time of the Mark-1. Only this time round the Giuiario’s Mustang is more faithful to the production car’s design cues than in ’ 65 as Bertone Mustang.
Giugiaro’s interpretation of the Mustang back then was different from the present one. In that then he was simulating the beauty of an Alfa or any other Italian sports car onto the chassis of an Iconic American car of all time. It did not necessarily follow the Mustang cues like a new Golf would do of its predecessor! This is not to take away any credit for designing the new one. But to say that in essence the Corvette Moray of 2003 would exemplify better as an illustration of Italian statement of American metal. Right down to the wheels. Moray incidentally is a former Giugiaro stable inmate.
However in ‘Mustang by Giugiaro’ unveiled last month the car’s basic shape seems invincible even to the Italian’s 2H pencil on tracing paper. Though the clear crystal roof dome immediately reminds one of Giugiaro’s recent study on the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. The GG50. All said and done it depicts Italy’s love affair with America, and their muscle cars. Accentuated by the vast difference in design language and culture between the two countries. Ensuing in the appreciation of each other’s diversity and uniqueness through this trans-Atlantic collaboration in car design. The bones of an American car with the muscles of Italian design language in form and enhanced by touches like the scissor doors and detailing of the lights.
Very often we realize elements of our own culture through the eyes of a foreigner. This may or may not be prejudiced. While these elements are not unknown to the inhabitant of the culture in question, it is usually taken for granted. And usually never given the status of importance it may perhaps deserve. The ‘Mustang by Giugiaro’ is a byproduct of the way an Italian sees an American muscle car of our times, arguably on similar lines. The cross-cultural dynamic is best displayed in the interior through the application of leather and chrome, complimented by orange-lit instrument clusters. Clusters that is part of a symmetrical dashboard, typical of American sports car.
The Mustang taillights are still distinguishable on the Giugiaro example. In spite of being separated and wrapped over the boot end lip in a diamond array synonymous to the louvers on the side windows. These louvers revoke the late 60’s sporty fastbacks while enhancing the side window which otherwise seems unadorned in the production car. Such subtle features that come with Italian scultura is what makes this car different from the original American design.
Ford (America) would do well to pick a handful of points from here or maybe its effect would be seen in models to come… the next Mustang perhaps?