Mustang Giugiaro

By James Disdale

08th December 2006

	Entry is by way of scissor doors, which are hinged at the base of the A-pillar and open vertically at the touch of a button

Mix Italian style and American muscle and what do you get? The Mustang Giugiaro. The fast Ford was unveiled at the LA Show, and is the work of Fabrizio Giugiaro from the legendary Turin-based styling house Italdesign.

Boasting shorter overhangs than the standard car, a wider track and plenty of curves, the concept strikes a fine balance between beauty and beast, and is finished off with unique 20-inch wheels fitted with mighty low-profile rubber.

Entry is by way of scissor doors, which are hinged at the base of the A-pillar and open vertically at the touch of a button. Inside, you are greeted by an orange and chrome cabin which harks back to the Sixties' original. And in a nod to the Mustang name, the bucket seats are finished in horsehide and emblazoned with the car's famous logo.

"This design study reinforces the global appeal of the Mustang," said J Mays, Ford's vice president. "Giugiaro's offer to work his magic on the car underscores its timeless allure."

A look under the skin shows that it's not only a pretty face, either. The standard 4.6-litre V8 engine gets a supercharger, tuning tweaks and a huge 500bhp power output.

"The Mustang is as good to drive as it looks," said Giugiaro. "It is well worth the 30,000 man-hours of blood, sweat and tears it took to create."