Summary
- The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette are iconic models of the American automotive industry.
- Our digital artist has created an exclusive mashup of the Mustang and Ford GT, incorporating a mid-engine layout and design cues from both models.
- A mid-engine Ford model, possibly a Thunderbird, could potentially outperform the C8 Corvette with its active aerodynamics and Ford's expertise in high-performance mid-engine vehicles.
It’s safe to say, Ford and Chevrolet are two brands that best embody rivalry in the American automotive industry. The Mustang versus Camaro, Corvette versus Cobra, and Explorer versus Suburban are only some examples of the two brands clashing. When it comes to Ford, the Mustang is one of the most iconic nameplates while the Corvette is the same for Chevrolet.
The two models are in different segments, but they have both experienced significant changes in recent years. The S650 Mustang has become more digitalized while the C8 Corvette is the first mid-engine Corvette to enter production. Digital artist, Yasid Designs, has given us an interesting take on the Mustang, which involves the mid-engine layout and unsurprisingly, a lot of Ford GT design features. In case you have wondered what a mashup between the S650 Mustang and a Ford GT would look like, here’s your answer.
A Mid-Engine Ford That Isn’t A GT
We have seen similar mashups between the Mustang and Ford GT before, but those were, essentially, a Ford GT with the headlights and taillights of a late S550 Mustang. Here, we see something a bit more comprehensive. If the last iteration of the Ford GT was a bit too soft around the edges, the S650 design cues fix that for you.
The front end is noticeably more upright than the regular GT, featuring the Mustang’s center grille while retaining the GT’s lower apron and hood. The LED headlights have been redesigned to feature a DRL pattern similar to the GT, but in a body much more similar to the Mustang’s front lights. On the side, things are almost unchanged from the Ford GT we've known since 2016.
The signature, flying buttresses are still here, but the rear quarter panel is larger and more akin to the Mustang. The rear end still features the high-mounted, dual-center-exhaust tips, but is now flanked by the S650 Mustang’s tri-bar taillights. The diffuser features hexagonal shapes more akin to a Lamborghini. The engine cover is no longer transparent, and we suspect the McLaren GT’s rear luggage shelf may have served as inspiration for it.
How A Mid-Engine Ford Could Beat The C8 Corvette?
We already saw how the Ford GT makes short work of the C8 Corvette on a drag strip, courtesy of Throttle House. Even though the race was close, the C8 Corvette Z06 lost that race. This begs the question, how would a mid-engine Mustang beat the C8 Corvette? If we use that GT vs C8 battle as a reference point, the Z06's aerodynamics had a part to play. While offering plenty of downforce, this ultimately, creates drag, slowing the car down at high speeds. The Ford GT's active aero may be the answer to a mid-engine Mustang's dominance over the mid-engine Corvette.
As For A Future Mid-Engine Ford…
Every time a rendering like this comes out, it begs the question, will Ford make another mid-engine supercar? Ford is keeping a tight lip about any potential successor to the GT, but in 2021, a C8 Corvette as spotted at Ford’s testing grounds. This coincided with Ford’s trademark of the Thunderbird name, which led us to believe a mid-engine Ford Thunderbird could be in the making. In 2022, the second-generation Ford GT ended production, which leaves space for something else.
The Chevrolet C8 Corvette and Ford GT may be similar on paper, but Ford’s model is much more exclusive, being a limited-production model. The price points for, both, models were also quite different, which means they aren’t quite the direct competitors some believed them to be. Ford has proven, on numerous occasions that it has the know-how to make a high-performance, mid-engine model. The Thunderbird name would be an interesting choice since it’s always been a more luxurious model that sat above the Ford Mustang.
The original, 1955 Ford Thunderbird was a Corvette competitor, and it managed to outsell Chevrolet’s Pride and Joy by a margin of 23 to one. There have been more than a few renderings of a new Ford Thunderbird, but so far, they have all been neo-retro recreations of the 1955 original. The Mustang has already branched out in a different direction with the Mach-E and the GT is no longer being made, a mid-engine Thunderbird is a realistic possibility. We know the Mustang would not go the mid-engine route in the foreseeable future, but Yasid Designs gives us an epic representation of what the Mustang could be in another universe.