Own a piece of pony car history: First 2015 Mustang to be sold at auction in January

By Peter Braun December 24, 2013

Are you waiting for your chance to get a 2015 Mustang of your very own? Well, if you are the impatient sort, I suggest that you head to the Barrett-Jackson auction, where the very first of the new generation of pony car will be sold on January 18th.

While it does bring the meaning of ‘2015’ into question to sell the new car in the first month of 2014, there is precedent for this sort of publicity stunt. The very first 2014 Corvette Stingray was also sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction. And if that Corvette is any marker, expect the Mustang to sell for a bundle. The auctioned Stingray went for $1.1 million, just a little bit more than the base MSRP of $51,000.

But don’t worry; the money is going to a good cause. The purchase price of the first retail Mustang will be donated to JDRF to fund juvenile diabetes research.

So, other than donating to charity, why would someone pay an outrageous sum for a car they could get for much less in a few months? Steve Davis, the president of Barrett-Jackson, put it very well when he said, “While every collector wishes they had snapped up the first Mustang sold in 1964, this is an opportunity to realize that dream in a different way.”

The auction strategy doesn’t just commemorate the importance of 50 years of Mustangs, it also helps to build excitement about the new car. Certainly the 2015 Mustang is not a low-profile release. Given the importance of its success to Ford, though, it’s unsurprising that Ford is willing to pull out all the stops for this one.

The winner of the auction will be taking home a GT version with the 420 horsepower V8 and their choice of transmission and paint. My vote goes for manual, with white racing stripes on blue. Sadly, I don’t think I have half-a-million-dollars in quarters in my couch.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Peter is a freelance contributor to Digital Trends and almost a lawyer. He has loved thinking, writing and talking about cars…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.