Back in 1964, Ford had no idea that they were about to kickstart a total revolution in the world of cars. They decided to show the world that going fast for not much money was possible, and they proved it with the original Mustang. In addition to making cheap speed possible, especially when they started offering it with a V8, the Mustang was the first car to take customization quite seriously, with Ford giving buyers the opportunity to spec out their Mustang with a variety of different colors, wheels, and accessories to truly make it their own.
After Ford installed a V8 in the Mustang, it was a runaway success. So much so, that Ford couldn't let this muscle car market pass them up, which led to them fitting V8 engines under the hood of some of their other models. The Torino line was an intermediate Ford model, sitting alongside the Fairlane, and eventually replacing the Fairlane family altogether. Sadly, the iconic Gran Torino has been dead for decades now, but what would happen if Ford decided to revive it from the dead? HotCars, with the help of digital artist Bimble Designs, has decided to imagine just that.
What Would A Gran Torino Revival Look Like?
As a refresher, the Ford Torino family used to sit above the Mustang in the lineup, but below the full-size Ford Galaxie. While the Mustang lives on to this day, and it just entered its seventh generation, Ford hasn't used the Torino name since 1976. Still, that hasn't stopped HotCars and Bimble Designs from imagining what a modern revival of the Torino would look like, and it's looking like a solid machine. From the general silhouette, and the front and rear end styling, it's clear that Bimble Designs chose the 1970 Torino Cobra SportsRoof as a starting point. The shape of the glass on the sides and the front adds further credence to this.
The front end features double rounded rectangle headlights on either side, as well as the iconic Cobra badge right in the middle, proving that this is a Torino Cobra. The lower front fascia is also pretty aggressive, and incorporates an old school satin black diffuser. On the sides, it's pretty subtle, aside from the Cobra badge on the front quarter panel and the Torino badge on the rear quarter panel. On the rear, there is a small black spoiler, not unlike the one that's on the original Torino cobra. We also have triple taillights that look like both the original and the ones on the current Mustang, as well as a mysterious lack of exhaust pipes. A satin silver paint finish and black multispoke wheels complement the look quite nicely.
What Would Power A Gran Torino Revival?
As we said before, this Torino render doesn't possess any exhaust pipes. Bimble Designs has opted for the most likely scenario if Ford were to actually do a Torino revival: they would give it an electric powertrain. So far, Ford only has two proper EVs in their lineup, the Mustang Mach-E crossover, and the overnight success F-150 Lightning. We don't know the exact plans Ford has for their future electric vehicle lineup, but we're guessing that this Torino sits atop a modular EV platform that Ford will develop for all their upcoming electric cars, much like their other models.
It's safe to assume that Ford will offer either a single motor or a dual motor version of a Torino revival, with either RWD or AWD. Output could be anywhere from 480 hp, which is the output of the top of the line Mustang Mach-E GT, to well in the neighborhood of 1,000 hp. This would make a lot of sense, as an electric Torino revival would be a perfect competitor to the upcoming Dodge Charger SRT Daytona, a new version of which recently debuted at SEMA. If Ford decided to go the ICE route for the Torino, they have an entire catalog of V8 engines to use. Anything from the Coyote V8 in the Mustang and some versions of the F-150, all the way to the 6.8-liter gas V8 that recently made its debut in the all-new 2023 Super Duty family. Granted, using a truck powertrain in a muscle car like this might not make much sense, but if Ford want to make a limited-run special Torino, similar to what BMW does with their Hommage series, they can take that engine to some pretty insane horsepower figures. Not to mention, with a small increase in capacity, it will almost precisely match the 429 cu in V8 that powered the Torino Cobra Jet of yesteryear.
Would A Gran Torino Revival Ever Happen?
Maybe. Ford hasn't said anything concrete about bringing back the Torino in any form, but there are two major occurrences that make us think they might just do it. One is the revival of the Bronco nameplate. Not only has Ford brought back the Bronco, it stayed true to the original formula, and it has proven to be a smashing success, with demand consistently being higher than the supply. The other occurrence is the Dodge Charger SRT Daytona. The concept car will definitely reach production at some stage, and it would be the perfect time for Ford to respond with an electric Torino. If it looks anything like this, they're on the right track.