According to the Wall Street Journal, the next generation 2014 Ford Mustang will ditch the popular retro styling for a new look based very obviously on Aston Martin’s styling.  The WSJ claims that Ford insiders have seen preliminary versions of the next Mustang and that it is very close to the Evos concept car from last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show (shown here).  The Evos is a beautiful car, as well it should be since it’s a copy of Aston’s design cues.  The styling change is designed to help the Mustang appeal more to young buyers from Generation Y (born between 1980 and 1999).

Muscle car fans might agree with me in saying that the Evos concept reminds me of the last Camaro F-body, which ended production in the 2002 model year.  The catfish mouth grill from the Camaro seems to live on in the Evos, which might be a bad omen for Ford.  You’ll remember that the Camaro was so badly beaten in the sales war that Chevrolet didn’t sell the Camaro for eight years.

Ford’s decision to drop the retro styling might be a genius move, similar to the decision to adopt the style in 2005. Customers have been able to buy an old school (looking) muscle car for seven years now, and it’s very possible that everyone who wants a modern version of a 60s pony car has one.  Ford might also be making a huge mistake in assuming that buyers looking for modern looks aren’t the same buyers who would buy a Nissan 370Z or a Hyundai Genesis Coupe over the Ford just because the rivals are imported.

Image via Autoblog.