[antimatr]

I wasn't too crazy about it when I saw the leaked Autoweek issue, but after seeing the TIME magazine photos, I've warmed up to it a bit.

But...it still doesn't grab at me like the '05 which made me want to go out and get one, or the 2010 refresh which made me want to go out and get another one once Ford dropped a proper engine in it (and I got tired of getting the run-around from the local Chevy dealers regarding pricing for the then-new Camaro, but that's a whole other story). I don't find it ugly overall, and from a glance you can tell it's a Mustang (although the pony on the grille really helps this time around), but there are details on the car I do not like at all (the following rant/critique/whatever below is of course, purely subjective and my opinion...).

I really don't like the ass end of the car. The big black insert with the pony in the middle between the taillights just somehow looks really wrong. Also, the proportions of the rear end, especially from the roof to the decklid, almost look like a current-gen Camaro. And the rear bumper just looks too busy-looking. Shame, really. I really liked the 2013-2014 rear end; this new car's back end looks worse than the 2010-2012 models.

I'm not crazy about the front, either. Huge thumbs down on the grille, in both size and shape. Nor am I crazy about the headlight placement, shape, or the LED bars. I'm usually neutral about automakers trying to incorporate their 'brand identity' into their model lineup, but Ford took it way too far here. I'm fine with it on the rest of their lineup, but not here. Not by a longshot.

Finally, while I like the overall proportions of the car (back end aside), I do not like how the car has gone more 'global' in its styling. When I look at it, it looks like quite a bit of Asian and European influence seeped into the car's design (maybe a bit too much). While I understand that this car is going to be sold around the world, I wish that they kept the design language distinctly American (not that I have a problem with a little Euro influence here or there. The '70-'73 Camaro comes to mind, is one of my favorite cars, and it definitely had a bit of European flair to it, yet kept its identity firmly American.).

As far as the rest of the car goes regarding size, weight and more importantly, performance and price (which, despite the above rant on styling, those areas take precedence to me), guess we'll have to just wait and see. But, as it stands now, after seeing this new Mustang, I think I'll hold on to my 2011 a little longer, at least until GM and Chrysler debut their new Camaro and Challenger (or replacement), respectively.