Will new 2015 Ford Mustang be just another car?

When does Ford Mustang become just another car?

That's the question that should be asked not only of Ford's pony car, but other models today that have increasingly risked losing their originality and spunk.

"It seems that all vehicles are becoming more similar and people are simply picking what body style works for them or what nameplate they identify with," says Jessica Caldwell, analyst for Edmunds.com.

The 2015 Mustang, as revealed around the world earlier this month, retains its classic fastback shape. That alone may be enough to keep it in the good graces of its millions of fans. But it loses some of the finer points that made it so distinctive:

•Rear axle. The solid rear axle, which is heavy but efficient on a racetrack, is being replaced by independent rear suspension, which improves the ride but feels different.

•Engines. An optional turbocharged engine is being offered for the first time in addition to the V-6 and V-8 for purists. The Ecoboost turbo allows the motor to be smaller and more fuel-efficient but sure to give it less of a Mustang feel when it comes to driving characteristics.

•Luxury options. A growing list of options are on tap, like heated and cooled seats that will make Mustang feel less humble, young and fun, as it was at the start.

Many of the features are mainstays of sedans like the Fusion, not a quasi-sports car like Mustang. Mustang isn't a Fusion. But it show how makers risk alienating their core buyers -- the fanatics for a specific model -- if they stray too far from the basics.

Indeed, when Ford gave a presentation on the Mustang in Hollywood for its diehard owners and press as part of the unveiling on Dec. 5, it highlighted the car's V-6 and V-8 engine options, brushing over the turbocharged option.

It comes down to this: Great cars aren't necessarily about all they have, but what they don't. Hang out with car fanatics and they will wax not just about speed and performance, but what their cars lack. Giant st! eering wheels instead of power assist. A basic radio instead of a fancy infotainment system. The latest Porsche 911 is an awesome machine, but its far from the basics of the model that started it all in 1960s.

It's not just about nostalgia. Automakers, to a large extent, are under pressure as never before to make their cars appeal as broadly around the world as possible. They need to choose features and options to may appeal to buyers in one country, even if they leave others fuming. Independent rear suspension, for instance, is considered a must-have for many European buyers.

We reached out to Ford's Alan Hall about whether Mustang is losing its distinctiveness beyond the looks and big engine. Naturally, he disagreed.

Besides the body shape and power engine, he notes Mustang will still sound like the real deal. "You know it when you hear it anywhere," Hall says. "Nobody can match it."

He points out that Mustang will be Ford's only remaining convertible model and also retain its racing credentials.

But still, you have to wonder.