Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Does the 2018 Mustang remind you of Darth Vader? Ford says it should

By

2018 Ford Mustang
Image used with permission by copyright holder
May the Fourth and Revenge of the Fifth have passed, but we get excited for Star War-related news whenever we get it. And in the rare case when elements of the franchise are brought out into the real world, we get ecstatic. The refreshed 2018 Mustang comes into play here, with a new face that may bring to mind a certain heavy-breathing Sith lord.

Yes, it was revealed that the new Mustang takes inspiration from Darth Vader, particularly his helmet and mask, and the news comes straight from the horse’s mouth. Ford’s design manager Melvin Betancourt recently spoke to Autoblog regarding the background of this design.

Recommended Videos

“When we were designing the new 2018 Mustang, the team wanted to make the new model look more aggressive, and one place where we found inspiration was one of the most famous screenplay villains of all time,” Betancourt said. “The angled nostrils and contours of Darth Vader’s mask became the inspiration for the Mustang’s new fog lamp scoops and front-end shape.”

Darth_VaderInterpretation is in the eye of the beholder, so not everyone may see what Ford wanted you to see. But keep in mind that carmakers can take influence from anything, they don’t aim to directly superimpose that image onto the vehicle. Strong and standout elements are taken into consideration, and the best designs subtly integrate these into the car’s natural curves, points, and surfaces.

Whether or not you see the Vader resemblance, the 2018 Mustang does appear more aggressive. The shrunken, angled headlights glare at the road ahead, and a gaping grille makes it look hungry for its next meal. The meaner look may be polarizing, but it’s starting to grow on us.

Regarding the homage to one of history’s greatest silver screen supervillains, it helps if the Mustang in question is decked out in Ford’s Shadow Black paint.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Albert Khoury
Albert Khoury
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Al started his career at a downtown Manhattan publisher, and has since worked with digital and print publications. He's…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more