As promised, here are more technical details and images from this past week’s unveiling of the 2015 Ford Mustang.
We’ve got more facts and figures to share on the new Mustang, starting with the three available engines that have been announced so far. Without further ado, let’s dig right in.
The standard powerplant is a mildly updated version of the 3.7L V6 introduced in 2011. This modern unit boasts a four-valve DOHC layout and aluminum block and heads, but as yet does not employ direct injection. Ford is promising over 300 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque with the 2015 Mustang calibration.
The sole V8 announced so far is the familiar 5.0L Coyote unveiled for MY 2011. With revised cylinder heads and intake manifold for 2015, Ford is projecting at least 420 hp and over 390 lb.-ft. of torque. As shown in the cutaway above, the 32-valve V8 employs an independent phaser on each of the four camshafts, and at peak torque, the engine’s volumetric efficiency exceeds 110 percent.
Brand new in the Mustang is the 2.3L EcoBoost four. This trick little piece employs direct injection, variable valve timing, twin-scroll turbocharger, and an air/air intercooler to develop 305 hp and better than 300 lb.-ft. of torque. It’s not hard to guess that Ford will lead with this engine as it works to expand the Mustang’s market to Europe and Asia.
A six-speed manual transmission and limited slip differential are standard with all three engines. The optional six-speed automatic gearboxes for all three include steering column-mounted paddle shifters.
Known as the S550 platform in Ford corporate nomenclature, the latest Mustang sports McPherson strut front suspension with twin ball joints and tension arms. Four and six-cylinder cars get 12.6-inch front brake rotors while the V8 gets 13-in. units. An optional performance package will offer 15-in. rotors and Brembo six-piston calipers.
Of course, the big news underneath is the new independent rear suspension—the live axle is finally history. Ford calls this IRS package Integral Link, and it features beefy cast-aluminum lower control arms and uprights and a tubular antiroll bar. Available rear gears are 3.31, 3.55, and 3.73, and an available performance package includes a Torsen differential.
Wheel and tire combos start with standard 17 x 7.5-in. aluminum wheels with 235/50R rubber on the I4 and V6 models. The biggest tire/wheel package announced thus far features 19 x 9.0 wheels up front with 255/40R tires with 19 x 9.5. wheels and 275/40R tires out back.
We’ll have more specs and details, including prices, as they become available. The 2015 Mustang is scheduled to arrive in showrooms late in 2014. Meanwhile, here’s more eye candy.
the spot lights and turn signals need to be in the grille and the rear windows need to go down for a true hard top look and call me old but why cant there be any chrome on the outside of the car anymore?
the turbo 4 and the v6 sound like they both will make great drivers and great fuel economy
please tell me there is a shaker hood in the skunkworks
The horsepower numbers for those engines is impressive compared to what you had in the “muscle car” age. I hear that the big Shelby engines won’t fit in the car so I guess this is about the peak of the horsepower race, similar to 1971-1972. From here on out, we’re moving toward robotically-driven, community-owned transport pods. People want to surf the web and talk on the phone, who has the attention span for driving?
Now that I’ve seen the back end of this car from many more views, it’s growing on me. I still think the rear diffuser is twenty years behind the times though, and lbreaks up the design flow.
The Camaro suspension is a 10 year old design