Next Ford Mustang to follow Evos concept, ditch retro styling, report says

The Ford Mustang has been rolling with a retro-heavy styling theme since the fourth generation of the pony car appeared as a 1994 model.

But the Wall Street Journal reports that the sixth-generation Mustang, due out in about two years, will break that mold.

The newspaper, citing sources it did not name who know of Ford's plans, says that the new Mustang will look a lot like the Evos concept from last year's Frankfurt show.

Why? Ford wants to attract younger buyers to the Mustang. The group of those who have fond memories of the original 1964 Mustang is shrinking.

Also, the Mustang has been getting beaten in the sales race by the revived Chevrolet Camaro. Through the first three months of this year, Chevy has sold 21,924 Camaros, while Ford has sold 20,133 Mustangs, a gap of nearly 1,800 cars. For 2011, the Camaro outdistanced the Mustang by 17,811 cars--88,249 Camaros to 70,438 Mustangs.

But Ford is working to keep the Mustang in the hunt. For the 2013 model, which goes on sale later this spring, it has boosted engine output of the top-line Mustang Shelby GT500 to 650 hp. That puts the Mustang some 70 hp ahead of the 580-hp Camaro ZL1.

By Dale Jewett