2015 Mustang (the new detroit war isn't all about horsepower)

[fairgentleman_Z]

Haven’t seen a dedicated 2015 'stang thread yet, so here it is.

Allegedly it will be 400 lbs lighter, 12" shorter length, and 6.5" narrower. Oh yeah, that whole independent rear suspension thing too.

http://www.dailytech.com/Report+2015+Ford+Mustang+to+Shed+400+Pounds+to+Boo st+Fuel+Efficiency/article33177.htm

*** 6/15/14 update: Actually it is 86 lbs MORE, 0.2 inch shorter overall, 1.4 inches lower, and 1.5 inches WIDER. ***

http://blog.caranddriver.com/dont-worry-yall-2015-mustang-curb-weights-revealed-gains-are-minimal/

@dailytech

However, a new report from Edmunds suggests that the new Mustang is also supposed to lose a lot as well – namely a few hundred pounds from its curb weight. According to sources familiar with the 2015 Mustang, the vehicle will be a minimum of 400 pounds lighter than the current model.

Ford hopes to achieve this astonishing weight loss partially by trimming down the dimensions of the pony car. “The big thing is that it will be a ‘smarter’ size,” said Edmunds’ source for the 2015 Mustang information. The vehicle will feature shorter front and rear overhangs, trimming just over a foot off the overall length. The new Mustang is also reported to be about 6.5 inches narrower.

There has always been a strong horsepower war in Detroit between Chevy and Ford, duh, no news here. But, a recent trend has been getting my attention…

We’ll start in at the 2010 LL when the “old” 4.6l 2010 Mustang GT is bested by the then new 2010 Camaro SS:

Lightning Lap 2009: Hottest Lap Times at Virginia International Raceway

Lightning Lap 2009: Hottest Lap Times at Virginia International Raceway

At the 2011 LL the new 5.0l 2011 Mustang GT beats the Camaro’s time:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/lightning-lap-2011-ndash-feature-ndash-car-and-driver/features/lightning-lap-2011-ndash-feature-ndash-car-and-driver/features/10best-2011-10best-cars-feature-car-and-driver/features/lightning-lap-2007/features/lightning-lap-2011-ndash-feature-ndash-car-and-driver-lightning-lap-2011-ll2-class-page-3

Also in 2011 MT tested with the new Mustang GT equaled the M3 on lap times, and the Boss 302 Laguna Seca beat the M3:
http://www.motortrend.com/av/roadtests/1008_2011_ford_mustang_gt_2011_bmw_m3_coupe_comparison_video/

2011 BMW M3 Coupe vs. 2011 Ford Mustang GT Comparison - Motor Trend

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Video - Motor Trend...

Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca: 2011 Best Driver's Car Contender - Motor...

At the 2012 LL the Mustang Laguna Seca drives that point home even further (as it beats the M3 and Cayman R):

Lightning Lap 2012: Ultimate Performance Test v6.0

Lightning Lap 2012: Ultimate Performance Test v6.0

At the 2013 LL the Camaro SS 1LE beats the Laguna Seca’s time, and is close to the GT500, which is in turn beat by the ZL1:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/lightning-lap-2013-hot-cars-hot-track-hot-laps-feature-lightning-lap-2013-ll2-class-page-4#LL2-CAMAROSS1LE
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/lightning-lap-2013-hot-cars-hot-track-hot-laps-feature-lightning-lap-2013-complete-lightning-lap-times-2006-to-2013-page-10

Also in 2013 MT tested a 1LE and beat up a GT Track Pack, because Ford was too scared offer up a Boss 302 for sacrifice:

2013 Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE vs. 2013 Ford Mustang GT Track Pack - Motor Trend

For 2014 the Z/28 will obviously be extremely fast:
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-chevrolet-camaro-z-28-first-ride-review

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 First Ride - Motor Trend

When your author asked Oppenheiser (Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer of the Camaro program) whether there is a driving principle that keeps him and his team on constant watch, he eloquently replied, “Yeah, to beat the shit out of anything Ford puts on the road. And that goes for the whole company from top to bottom.”

Oh, are these guys relevant?
blog.caranddriver.com/pit-viper-boss-how-a-125-hp-passion-informs-srt-engineering-heads-640-hp-profession

Cliff notes:
These things actually can turn now.
Camaro turns more betterer.
Mustang will be on a diet, and should turn more bestest.

I don’t care what it looks like, and actually would prefer a base model with a “track” package for price-point and V6 weight. Don’t see a handling war trickling down though…

magazine racing is always free.

[joelster]

I love the fact that it is shedding weight. Hopefully this weight-loss trend is followed by GM and Dodge as well. Dropping 100lbs is like adding 15hp, getting better brakes, better tires, and better mileage. Just don’t use titanium, lol.

[Paul_B]

Narrower and shorter is better in this case.

[theblue]

I’m excited to see what happens. would love a 250+ 4cyl ecoboost that gets 30+ mpg.

[LZ1]

@theblue

I’m excited to see what happens. would love a 250+ 4cyl ecoboost that gets 30+ mpg.

I assume they will do something like that hell the current V6 makes 300hp

[somedude]

I thought the SVO was getting a reworked 2.0 ecoboost. increasing the engine to 2.3. Was that just a internet rumor? Ford seems to me making positive moves with their ecoboost line of engines. Hell there is a 600whp ford flex on shoforum.

[Jam]

ford is seriously doing some awesome things as of late. nice to see, finally

[Mike93]

@fairgentleman Z"

12" shorter length, and 6.5" narrower.

If this is true this would be the greatest thing ever. Mustangs, Camaros, Challengers…shit, seems like every other car out there has grown to a ridiculous size over it’s previous generation.

[articzap]

I want to cross post all of the info over on the supraforums, but it would take way too many hours. lol

It’s going to be a bad ass car, that’s for sure.

[evane]

Finally a independent rear suspension!

[POOPRA]

Didn’t hear it was going to shed weight too, that’s good to hear. How long till some real facts from ford come out about it?

[08GT500]

Interesting

[bing]

it will be awesome when the interiors of these things are no longer shit too.

[LZ1]

@bing

it will be awesome when the interiors of these things are no longer shit too.

[BigRon]

Next round should be fun, the next Camaro should be shedding a ton of weight (~3300) on the alpha platform. But I am pretty sure the horsepower war is not over yet.

[LZ1]

Probably depends on when CAFE mileage restrictions change?

I assume this is why everyone is moving towards direct injection.

[articzap]

@bing

it will be awesome when the interiors of these things are no longer shit too.

Here you go. Cross posting as needed.

@Big Boss"

2015 Ford Mustang Interior Spied, Shows Off New, Button-Equipped MyFord Touch System, Paddle Shifters

A few months shy of the 2015 Ford Mustang’s debut, we’ve pretty much got the whole picture. We’ve seen its front end styling, gathered some background on its powertrains and chassis, and even spotted the high-performance Shelby GT500 iteration testing on public roads. Now, we’ve snagged spy photos of the Mustang’s interior; besides showing us what the pony car’s soft and gooey insides will look like, the shots also give away what Ford’s oft-maligned MyFord Touch infotainment system looks like with functionality-enhancing buttons added to it.

We’ll start by addressing the Mustang’s cabin design, which appears to basically keep the outgoing car’s center console design and retro-look steering wheel. Well, the tiller’s overall look is vaguely retro, with a metal-like finish for the spokes that mimics the current Mustang’s wheel design, but it’s festooned with buttons for operating MyFord Touch. This is the first time the system is being offered in the Mustang, although it’s fairly likely the system will be optional, not standard. Happily, the Mustang’s version of MyFord Touch—which we expect will soon spread to other models—gets a big volume knob, as well as physical, redundant buttons to operate the audio and HVAC systems.

Currently, MyFord Touch typically is paired with finicky capacitive-touch controls for climate control and some audio functions; the rest of the system is controlled via the touch screen. While we’re certainly not against capacitive-touch controls, we are against switchgear that is slow to respond and frustrating to use. MyFord Touch has improved since it was first introduced, but we’re betting the addition of hard buttons will bring further progress.

Back on the topic of the Mustang, the interior spy photos further reveal that the car’s option list will include heated and cooled seats, stop-start functionality, automatic climate control, *and paddle shifters for the automatic transmission—seen here peeking out from behind the steering wheel’s spokes. We’ll find out all of the Mustang’s secrets when it’s revealed early next year, but until then stay tuned to this space—our spy photographers are a busy lot.

These new interior shots give us an inside look at the shape of these elements. Although similar to the current car, the 2015 Mustang‘s C-pillar window appears to be smaller and more integrated, similar to what we saw with the Ford Evos concept. The quarter window has a smooth upsweep at the bottom where it meets the sloping roofline.

[BigRon]

@LZ

Probably depends on when CAFE mileage restrictions change?

I assume this is why everyone is moving towards direct injection.

Yeah, but low volume models will still have crazy numbers. But you are right we will see a lot more DI and turbo type applications.

[articzap]

@BigRon

Yeah, but low volume models will still have crazy numbers. But you are right we will see a lot more DI and turbo type applications.

More cross-posting.

@txsupra11"

Front fascia to take cues from Evos concept

These new renders with the 2015 Ford Mustang are based on the most recent spy shots with the sixth-gen pony car.

Earlier this month our spies were able to snap a few pictures with a prototype of the Ford Mustang wearing slightly less camouflage at the front which revealed a portion of the design. These two renders are based on those images and indicate that Ford has used the Evos concept as a foundation for the new Mustang’s styling.

From what we know so far, the new generation will be about 400 lbs (181 kg) lighter than the outgoing model which means it will weigh around 3,100 lbs (1,406 kg). Powering the 2015 Mustang will be a 2.3-liter 4-cylinder EcoBoost (already confirmed for Europe), along with a rumored 5.0-liter V8. Reports are also indicating a V6 mill and a range-topping Shelby GT350 which will have more than 450 bhp (335 kW).

The all-new Ford Mustang is expected to be unveiled in January 2014 at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

Ford Cars, News and Reviews | Motor1.com

[bing]

@LZ

nah i had a GT convertible as a rental for a couple weeks and the whole experience was very average… thing was basically new, the stereo rattled, radio reception was junk, seats sucked… i cant even describe how a can be nice and also shit at the same time.