The first 2015 Mustangs have begun rolling off the assembly line at Ford’s Flat Rock, Michigan assembly plant and will be arriving in showrooms this fall. Get all the latest car biz news in the Executive Briefing.
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+ Toyota is adding 250 workers and investing $32.5 million to expand its technical engineering center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. More at Mlive.
+ Seat maker Lear Corporation in Southfield, Michigan has agreed to acquire Eagle Ottawa LLC, the world’s largest automotive leather supplier, for $850 million. More at Crain’s Detroit Business.
+ Kia Motors of Korea will spend $1 billion on its first assembly plant in Mexico, with production scheduled to begin in 2016. More at Motor Trend.
+ After missing three races following the death of driver Kevin Ward, Jr., Tony Stewart will rejoin the NASCAR Sprint Cup field this weekend at Atlanta. More at CNN.
+ Nissan has unveiled its next generation Pathfinder SUV and a Russia-specific Sentra sedan at the Moscow Motor Show. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ Cadillac will unveil the ATS-V high-performance version of its ATS compact sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. More at USA Today.
+ The first 2015 Mustangs have rolled off the assembly line at Ford’s revamped Flat Rock, Michigan assembly plant just south of Detroit. More at The Detroit News.
+ Formula One Supremo Bernie Ecclestone charges that New Jersey investors have reneged on a deal to provide financing for a Grand Prix event there. More at Forbes.
For the previous Executive Briefing from August 25, click here.
Sadly the 2015 Mustang looks more like a Dodge Charger with a Fusion Grille than the 1966 Mustang.
I also disliked the new Mustang when it was debuted but have since grown to like it. I think the angles in the photos must have been unflattering. I can see what you’re saying about the Charger though. The previous Mustang was the one styled after the 1966 Mustang. Just be thankful this one wasn’t modeled on the 1976 Mustang.
I would like to make a personal plea for the obliteration of “fog lights”. They have all the candlepower of a glovebox light, are useless in fog and contribute nothing as driving lights. Every car is given jowls to accommodate these useless features and it makes me think that no designer can craft a decent looking valance panel.
If I could give your comment a thumb’s up (or two), I would.
Give me a 66 350gt any day over that 2015 monstrosity
You mean a GT350? If we’re talking Shelby Mustangs then the 2016 model looks different from the car pictured. Not a huge difference but still.
And I was wrong in my previous comment. The previous generation was largely based upon the ’67-’68 not the ’65-’66.
I agree the 67-68-69s were almost as bad as the Mustang IIs But that. 2016 looks too much like a cross between a Fusion and a Charger for me. The 66 Shelby GT350 is correct . I guess I’m stuck in the 60s. Even the Challengers look obese to me and the Vettes can get the rear end right including the 2016 with it Camaro tail lights.
Correction : Vettes can NOT get the rear end right
It’s no accident that all three current pony cars — Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger — are retro designs. That’s the product, that’s the buyer. The new Mustang pushes back against dictum about as far as it dares.
Ok but when you can’t tell a fusion from a Mustang it’s a bad day in Dearborn. Just ask NASCAR how that’s working out. Attendance is so far down that refuse to announce it.