MUSTANG IS THE NUMBER ONE CAR TEENS WANT
[Get the latest "Truth With Speedzzter" here]
The elite automotive press often makes it seem like only Japanese invader cars are the only ones popular among America's "Fast and Furious," video-game-saturated teen drivers.
Think again.
According to a recent survey reported on Forbes.com, three of the top ten most popular vehicles among teens are Fords. And the most popular vehicle of all? Ford's Mustang!
This is not a new position for the lead ponycar.
Unfortunately, some parents who buy cars for their young drivers don't seem to be as enamored with Ford's iconic ponycar.
However, this survey shows that many of America's kids aren't ready to quietly acquiesce to the Prius-ification of the American highway. Soulless, government-approved FWD Obamamobiles haven't yet captured the hearts and minds of our next generation of drivers.
For Mustang brand manager Allison Revier and the others charged with nurturing the Mustang legacy, it is critical that Mustang be kept true to its legendary V8, RWD heritage and not be diluted into a FWD ProbeStang gelding.
This will be hard under the crushing burden of the Obama Administration hikes in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. However, Mustang is a defining, aspirational model for Ford. Much like some Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Mustang provides an iconic canvas for self-expression. It has strong cross-generational appeal. It is the spiritual successor to the '32 Ford V-8 as a foundation of grassroots motorsports.
Even though most of the current Mustang powerplants (excluding the hyper-exclusive Shelby GT500) are way down on power to GM's Camaro and other competitors, the Mustang remains the true heart and soul of the Ford Motor Company. Other Fords may sell in greater volumes, but the Mustang is the one that Fordophiles care about.
Jim Farley, Ford Group Vice President of Marketing and Communications, told 0-60 Magazine that "The Ford Mustang is one of the world’s most beloved automotive and cultural icons . . .Since April 17, 1964, it has been a symbol of American freedom and fun.”
Thankfully, many of the kids still "get that."
[Get the latest "Truth With Speedzzter" here]
The elite automotive press often makes it seem like only Japanese invader cars are the only ones popular among America's "Fast and Furious," video-game-saturated teen drivers.
Think again.
According to a recent survey reported on Forbes.com, three of the top ten most popular vehicles among teens are Fords. And the most popular vehicle of all? Ford's Mustang!
This is not a new position for the lead ponycar.
Unfortunately, some parents who buy cars for their young drivers don't seem to be as enamored with Ford's iconic ponycar.
However, this survey shows that many of America's kids aren't ready to quietly acquiesce to the Prius-ification of the American highway. Soulless, government-approved FWD Obamamobiles haven't yet captured the hearts and minds of our next generation of drivers.
For Mustang brand manager Allison Revier and the others charged with nurturing the Mustang legacy, it is critical that Mustang be kept true to its legendary V8, RWD heritage and not be diluted into a FWD ProbeStang gelding.
This will be hard under the crushing burden of the Obama Administration hikes in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. However, Mustang is a defining, aspirational model for Ford. Much like some Harley-Davidson motorcycles, Mustang provides an iconic canvas for self-expression. It has strong cross-generational appeal. It is the spiritual successor to the '32 Ford V-8 as a foundation of grassroots motorsports.
Even though most of the current Mustang powerplants (excluding the hyper-exclusive Shelby GT500) are way down on power to GM's Camaro and other competitors, the Mustang remains the true heart and soul of the Ford Motor Company. Other Fords may sell in greater volumes, but the Mustang is the one that Fordophiles care about.
Jim Farley, Ford Group Vice President of Marketing and Communications, told 0-60 Magazine that "The Ford Mustang is one of the world’s most beloved automotive and cultural icons . . .Since April 17, 1964, it has been a symbol of American freedom and fun.”
Thankfully, many of the kids still "get that."
Labels: 2010 Mustang, Allison Revier, CAFE, Ford Motor Company, Fuel Economy, FWD Mustang, Jim Farley, Obamamobiles, Prius
posted by Editor at 15:59
2 Comments:
There was an article on Jalopnik that suggested that Ford was pretty close to meeting the new CAFE standards. If the Fiesta and the next Focus get over 40 MPG, then that should give enough wiggle room for the next Mustang to be RWD and V8-powered, like it should be.You should be rooting for the new compacts to be smash hits.
Most certainly Ford will need some "smash hits" in the 40+ m.p.g. "transportation appliance" segments to satisfy the government's demand for "happy, smiley" "Obamamobiles." Moreover, Truth With Speedzzter acknowledges that some (misguided and mostly underskilled) drivers actually prefer motoring in tiny, underpowered FWD fruit-cups.
However, Ford would have to sell approximately 19 40 m.p.g. vehicles to "average in" one 18 m.p.g. vehicle. So in other words, once the Obamamobile CAFE increase is fully in place in 2016, V8 production will necessarily be extremely limited and priced accordingly. The late, grossly overpriced Shelby GT500KR may look like the "deal of the century" by 2016.
Truth With Speedzzter has at times lamented Ford's decision to kill the American version of the ST170 (a/k/a the SVT Focus) instead of fitting it with a proper turbocharger to defeat Dodge's SRT-4 and Chevrolet's Ecotec Cobalt SS. While Truth With Speedzzter firmly contends that all of the Detroit 3 missed the mark by failing to build small RWD sport sedans, Ford compounded this by abandoning the "sporty" FWD niche.
Perhaps Fiesta and/or the next generation Focus will address this.
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