Is The New Mustang Heavier Than Expected?
The Mustang’s been the lightest of the available ponycars since the arrival of the Pinto-based Deuce forty years ago, but if a recent blog post by a Mustang tuner is any indication, that advantage might be disappearing.
Our work is cut out for us because unbeknown to most Mustang aficionados (and not “officially” confirmed by Ford for obvious reasons), the 2015 Mustang ended up gaining 200-300 pounds in this remake – and with weight being the “enemy of performance”, there are plenty of challenges needed to ensure that the 2015 iteration of America’s favorite Pony Car isn’t left at the starting line spinning its wheels against the competition.
That is where Steeda Autosports will make a big difference.
Uh-oh. Steeda goes on to state that they will be taking delivery of four 2015 Mustangs in the near future. Presumably they’ll put those Mustangs on a scale and see what’s actually happened, as will everyone else. In the meantime, expect thousands of anguished comments as the Internet’s most experienced forum warriors frantically estimate weight from JPEGs.
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On 'Autoline Detroit' the Camaro's chief engineer pointed out some of the reasons why the Camaro was heavier than the Mustang: namely, IRS and the wider tracks. Guess what? Ford added IRS and widened the tracks. But... this is still a rumor and Ford's not saying a thing.
Not gaining that few hundred pounds (i.e. aluminum) would have raised the base MSRP - which is very attractive for a car this capable.
This weight debate reminds me of a douchebag "customer" who was hanging around at the bicycle shop and making a nuisance of himself as I was having a wheel trued. He kept complaining that he wouldn't buy a bike until the shop had one in his size that was 100% titanium and carbon fiber..."to save weight, you know." Problem was, the bike size he needed would have to support a body weight of well over 300 pounds... Point is, many of us carry around excess weight on our "chassis." I'm also not convinced that there isn't as much as a 5% weight span between two identically-equipped vehicles rolling off of an assembly line.
I think for the first time in history, Ford and GM are adopting different strategies. The 2015 Mustang looks more mainstream now with European buyers in mind. I hate how it no longer looks like a pony car but more like a Fusion coupe. This does however make the Mustang more appealing to a larger buyer segment comprising the 3series coupe, A5, 350Z and FRS, not to mention better reception in Europe. Chevrolet OTH will keep the exterior almost the same (though built on the ATS Chassis). Given how popular the Camaro has been over the Mustang I wouldn't blame them. The segment will be interesting to watch over the next few years. Who will win? who will go bust? Will the traditional pony car styled Camaro prevail or will the softer mustang finally outsell the Camaro?