Could a saloon, or even an estate, be the shape of the iconic Ford Mustang's future? Rumours suggest the possible introduction of executive and family 'Stangs by the end of the decade.

Could a saloon, or even an estate, be the shape of the iconic Ford Mustang's future? Rumours suggest the possible introduction of executive and family 'Stangs by the end of the decade.


Imagine fitting flat pack furniture or a brace of family pets into the back of a Ford Mustang... Well, what would previously have been considered a serious stretch of the imagination may become a reality. It’s been rumoured that Ford executives have devised a bold strategy to take the Mustang into the mainstream.


The Mustang was launched in 1964 as an affordable coupé and while an estate prototype was built in the early ‘60s, Ford never intended to produce such a car. However, waning market share and dwindling profits over recent months could prompt Ford to expand the iconic Mustang brand beyond US-only coupés and into the realms of new models, such as the saloon seen in the artist rendering, that should become available globally.


According to a report in , there is a new plan afoot to add saloon and even estate variants to the traditional coupé-only Mustang lineup at the launch of the sixth-generation model in 2011. The Mustang Giugiaro concept, which Ford initially intended purely as an exercise in design, could provide the design cues of the next generation of Mustangs.


has also suggested that Ford's Australian operations (whose Research and Development division recently received a boost) could provide the hardware for this project. It has been tasked with developing a new global rear-wheel drive platform to form the underpinnings of upcoming Ford models, including Lincolns and the next Mustang.

However, the idea of a Mustang Estate is news to Ford. The company’s unambiguous rebuttal suggest that Mustang lovers can breathe a massive sigh of relief.

The company has announced that it will not be building a saloon or estate version of the iconic muscle car. In a statement yesterday, Ford said: "Mustang is an icon and will continue in its current form: a unique, two-door, rear-wheel drive, 2+2 performance car."

There is a possibility that other retro-inspired saloons and estates may be built by the company in future, but none of them will bear the Mustang name.

Ford spokesman, Sinead McAlary, has also been quick to quash the rumour that Ford Australia was developing a new rear-wheel drive platform for a number of future Ford models.

Click here to listen to the marvelous sound of a 'Stang in song (sound courtesy of thundermustang.com).

Original article from Car