Whoa: The 2015 Ford Mustang

When a new Mustang drops, it tends to become a monumental experience for the car-buying public, and this year is no exception as Ford prepares to debut the sixth-generation of the original Pony Car. After months of speculation, Ford's finally given the world some answers.

Between those narrow headlights and significantly lower hood, the massive front grille's aimed at keeping things nice and cool, while the bulge on the hood hints at the the 420-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 that's there to make sure you stay firmly planted in the back of your seat. For those that remember the days of the SVO, a new 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder option promises fun, well-balanced handling without breaking the bank at the fuel pump.

It's obviously much more fastback-y than the last Mustang, but astute eyes will note the much thinner pillars to reduce blind spots, more pronounced bulges by the rear wheels to allow for a 1.5-inch wider width in back, and even a little bit of German, where the quarter window curves up at the back into a very BMW-like "Hoffmeister" kink that would make David Hasselhoff blush. Out back, a rear diffuser underneath the bumper helps calm airflow behind the car, presumably so that calm can be thoroughly shattered by the growl emanating from the dual chrome tailpipes.

Inside, the car's a smooth evolution, with a deep-dish steering wheel, and a significantly lower dash that flows as a single piece thanks to Ford's engineers putting the airbag in the glovebox. Of course, it's a Mustang through and through, so you won't find any paddle shifters here — shift your own damn gears! Or, you know, buy an automatic.

Wheels up to 20 inches in diameter complete the look, but once you take off down the road, the biggest change to the new Mustang sits between the wheels out back: it’s got a smoother ride and much-improved handling thanks to an independent rear suspension — the first time a Mustang’s had that since the 1999-2004 SVT Cobra.