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Ford's New Mustang Revealed

By Jeff Gilbert
@jefferygilbert

DEARBORN (WWJ) - Ford has big plans for an all new Mustang, which is being unveiled at activities in six locations worldwide.  The company unveiled some teaser photos overnight.

"'Mustang' is the most iconic name in the Ford family. It may not contribute the most toward Ford's profits, but the new model creates a buzz that will resonate across the entire brand," says Edmunds.com Senior Analyst Jessica Caldwell.  "The car strikes a good balance between performance, style and - perhaps most important of all - attainability. That's why Americans can easily connect to its tradition and heritage."

Ford is hoping that the new version will get more traction with younger buyers.  Edmunds.com says that in the past five years, the owner base for the Mustang has grown significantly greyer, with a 12 percent jump in buyers over 55, and a 3 percent drop in the number of buyers under 35.

The Mustang has also trailed the Camaro in sales for three consecutive years, and after 11 months this year, remains 5400 vehicles behind its Chevy competitor.

Unlike the Camaro, which was discontinued for about a decade, Ford has built the Mustang consistently for fifty years.  They are planning a big celebration for the official birthday in April, as it occurs during the New York Auto Show.  The original Mustang was unveiled in New York in 1964.

The new Mustang will be the first one to be sold around the world.  That's why Ford is planning introductions in Dearborn, New York, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Sydney and Barcelona.

"It's going to feature a lot of new drive train options and mechanical upgrades it never had before," said Kelly Blue Book analyst Karl Brauer. "These are things that are going to make it a global vehicle."

The Mustang is currently built at Ford's plant in Flat Rock, Mich.

It's a vehicle that, Brauer says, has really stood the test of time.

"It's iconic.  Everyone knows about it.  It's a world-wide recognized vehicle."

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