Ford Mustang FX shows the 1990s are far enough away to be retro now

7NEWS

a day ago

Have we moved on from the 1960s being the go-to decade for retro automotive design cues?
Though the design of the latest S650-series Ford Mustang still nods to the early years of the iconic pony car, as most of its generations have, its latest special edition is looking towards the more recent past.
The FX package, as the name suggests, pays homage to the Fox Body Mustang produced from 1979 to 1993, but its design elements are looking distinctly towards the latter end of that run.
Pictured alongside a 1993 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra, the FX package is claimed to have 'Fox Body swagger with a modern edge'.
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Ford has released only a short teaser video on social media, but US outlets including Car & Driver have published more information on the special edition that's unlikely to come to Australia.
It's available with the GT Premium trim (equivalent to our GT), which comes standard with a 5.0-litre V8, and as either a coupe or convertible and with either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission.
It's been revealed in a distinctly 1990s shade of teal – or, as Ford calls, it Adriatic Blue metallic.
The 19-inch alloy wheels are finished in Oxford White, which is also used for the pony and 'nostrils' on the grille, and as an outline on other badging on the vehicle's exterior.
Ford has also shown off the white tail-lights, reminiscent of the clear-lens units used on export versions of the previous S550.
Inside, there are black Recaro seats with plaid inserts. There's also an emblem on the dashboard that uses the same typeface as the old Foxes.
Ford had already harkened back to the angular Fox Body with the latest S650 generation, incorporating a layout for its digital instrument cluster intended to resemble the analogue gauges of its predecessor.
Amusingly, Toyota has also released a special edition of one of its vehicles called the FX, which also pays homage to a vehicle sold during the 1980s.
The Corolla FX Edition is also only an appearance package, but it's based on the standard Corolla hatchback in the US with its naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Not quite as exciting as the Mustang FX, then…
Other companies to look towards the 1980s and 1990s for design cues include Nissan with its latest Z, which has tail-lights inspired by the Z32 300ZX, while Hyundai's square lighting elements on vehicles like the Ioniq 5 have a distinctly 1980s flavour, even if that electric vehicle (EV) is inspired by a 1970s concept car.