Probable 2015 Mustang News

Ford is working to cut their 3,570 pound pony car back to the 3,100 pound range. They're doing this by using fewer pieces overall, using aluminum, and shrinking the proportions of the car; "There is going to be less overhang" in the front, rear and on the sides of the Mustang, the source said.

Less overhang means the wheels are located more at the corners. This with the lighter weight will aid in making the car handle better. Mass is also the bane of MPG, a category all car manufacturers have been mandated to improve. More at Edmunds.com

The only thing I see wrong with this is costs and comfort. An easy way to shave weight is to remove most if not all of the backseat and trunk. Can't really make the engine bay much smaller, unless they're losing the V8s option. Furthermore, lighter weight materials will cost more... Ugh, I don't know. I'd like to know more about how they're accomplishing the weight savings. Maybe they're going old-school and pulling the power-options, stereo, carpet, insulation, etc, etc??? Worst case would be losing the back seat and going with an I4 engine...

Sim, look at Corvette though.  They utilized many new weight saving techniques and materials and the price is still very close to what it's always been.  Granted that price is higher than a standard 'Stang, but they sell a shit-ton of Mustangs and I've heard production techniques are imporving making certain materials only slightly more expensive.  I guess we'll see.

From what I heard, the base model will stay about the same price, but the GT and Cobra model(s) will have a price increase.

Supposedly they are just eliminating the overhangs, and overall making the car smaller. Fine with me. Tired of 4K plus weight Mustangs that need 650+ HP to keep up with 450-500 HP fox bodies.

Carbon fiber

Stalker, you can thank crash tests for a lot of the bulge in modern cars. And people's desire to have all the latest bells and whistles. It's harder to get rid of substansial amounts of weight than you might think...

Sounds like our Forza debacle....

There is what the general public expects of the Mustang, and then there are what the true fans and enthusiasts of the Mustang want.

Honestly though, less weight is better for everything. I doubt creature comforts and features will be eliminated, this is 2013, not the 60's and 70's.

StalkerStang wrote:Sounds like our Forza debacle....

There is what the general public expects of the Mustang, and then there are what the true fans and enthusiasts of the Mustang want.

Honestly though, less weight is better for everything. I doubt creature comforts and features will be eliminated, this is 2013, not the 60's and 70's.

Agreed, that's why I want to know how they plan to cut 750 pounds out of the car.

I think their target is dropping 400 pounds first and they have a plan to make a smaller proportioned car out of lighter materials. Lightweight (formerly more exotic) materials are coming down in cost enough to be reasonably installed on mass produced products. A smaller car of lighter materials sounds like they're on their way to their n - 400 target.

Lord, I wish our government would step off with their mandates. Want a lighter car? Rip out the chassis and crash reinforcements (like the door bars) and remove your umpteen airbags. Then the solution is, don't put yourself in a situation where you would require them … Oh yeah, that would require Americans actually KNEW how to drive and didn't drink six glasses of dumb ass every morning.

Partial reveal of the new Mustangs thats running around....... Bottom pic of what most the Mustang sites think it will end up looking like....

That rendered pic looks badass!  I'm not a ford fan but I could see myself driving one of those!  All though I would have to get rid of the wife and kids first.

StalkerStang wrote:Partial reveal of the new Mustangs thats running around....... Bottom pic of what most the Mustang sites think it will end up looking like....

I would buy a mustang if it would look JUST like this

Ugh, not my cup of tea. Looks like a Fusion, which looks bland... I like what they already have better.

Sim, you have no idea how much I predicted your response.....

Anyways... Lighter, more power, better suspension, IRS standard (I think to please the Euro BS & Sim). Can't please everyone I guess.

My only issue: I can't afford one.

Simcik wrote:Ugh, not my cup of tea. Looks like a Fusion, which looks bland... I like what they already have better.

I understand this is strictly a subjective discussion, however you think the Fusion looks bland?  Competing in a bland segment, I'd say the Fusion does a nice job of being just the opposite.  Again, subjective, that's my opinion.  Either way, I think the rendering and spy shots look very Mustang-like.  Can't wait to see the real thing.

I like the new Fusion, as do many.... Seeing how they are EVERYWHERE, most the Ford dealers here in the valley can't keep them in stock. Thats what my girlfriend wants to get, 2.0l Ecoboost, 240 HP, 30+ mpg, not too bad.

Only thing that I hope Ford does at some point with this new Mustang: 5.0 Ecoboost. Already badass motor with turbos? Oh yes

Since the car is getting smaller and losing some weight I'd like to see trim SVO return. Punch out the 2L Ecoboost to 2.3L, make the only transmission option a manual, and poof!

I think Ford is already planning that. Some thought that the Ecoboost 4 cyl. would replace the V6 and become the new base model, but I read somewhere that Ford intends to keep the base V6, and bring back the SVO as a mid-level model before the V8 cars. Maybe 350 HP or so?

The current V6 has 300, so maybe they will just carry that engine over instead of giving it more power for the new model.

The only issue I have with making the V6 have so much power and offering a 4 cyl turbo model with even more is that means the end of the V8 era would be coming. I've read about and heard rumors that Ford may eventually offer V8's in special model Mustangs only (Boss, Mach 1, Cobra etc.) and that the GT may no longer have a V8 option.

I hope not.

StalkerStang wrote:Sim, you have no idea how much I predicted your response.....

Anyways... Lighter, more power, better suspension, IRS standard (I think to please the Euro BS & Sim). Can't please everyone I guess.

My only issue: I can't afford one.

I like classics, so yeah, that opinion isn't hard to guess...

And IRS FTW! I'm telling you, man, from an engineering prespective, it is better if it's built right.

Classics... yeah... I'm sure it has nothing to do with it being a Ford product, or more appropriate; not a Chrysler product.

IRS, yeah it is a better suspension design, makes the Euro world happy, and goes well around the road course. Not better for drag racing though, which is probably 85% or more of what Mustang enthusiasts do with their cars.

Stalker, you mention a majority of guys drag racing their Mustangs. I saw a lot of solid axle vs. independent rear discussions on the Corvette Forum. The Corvette is a sports car, and guys on the forum were talking about how much better the car would be with a solid axle yadda bullshit yadda. Luckily for them all 1953 - 1962 Corvettes were made with a solid rear axle.

The manufacturers are simply damned. It doesn't matter what they release because a segment of people will bitch.

Strength of the rear end is almost out of the question because independent rear components are becoming strong enough [key words: strong enough] to handle a drag launch. The way I understand it, it's the acceleration squat changing the rear suspension geometry (more so than a SRA) that frustrates drag racers.

I look at the move to IRS as Ford possibly shifting their view toward road racing the Mustang with anything from pseudo factory effort to full factory effort. United Sports Car Racing is coming next year. Mustangs race in Grand-Am's GT class and that's a class which will be carried over.

The only reason Ford is going IRS is because this is the first model Mustang that will be sold worldwide, and those countries expect the IRS.

I'm not totally against have the IRS, I just feel that if you are that serious about wanting a Mustang to handle that much better beyond what a solid axle will do, you can build one or swap one in from a different model (99-04 Cobra).

While IRS componets can be made to handle a lot of power, it still comes down to cost vs. function and gain. You can buy $1200-$1500 half shafts for 99-04 Cobra IRS that handle a lot of power, but by the time you do that, you could have built an entire 9 in. Ford rear end with a locker, gears, axles and have an easier time setting it up with available suspension componets.

Not that anything I say matters, I wouldn't buy a new Mustang anyways lol, take that 40K for a base model V8 and shove it up.........