[EKaru]

Spied: Next-Gen 2015 Ford Mustang Prototype Goes For A Spin

Is this the next-gen 2015 Ford Mustang? Not in its complete, finished form, it isn’t – but our spy photographer believes this is an early test mule, designed to allow engineers to evaluate and validate the new Mustang’s mechanical bits before its bodywork is finalized.
How so? The bodywork is certainly one clue. Though it looks like a standard 2013 Mustang GT, the mile-wide panel gaps, missing roof channel fillers (and, our photographer suggests, wider roof seam channels, to boot), odd cover over the fuel filler, and mutilated rear diffuser all suggest this car’s skin is merely a temporary wrapper.
What’s beneath the surface? That remains a little more mystery. It’s widely believed the 2015 Ford Mustang will be the first to receive an independent rear suspension – something that was once planned for the current-generation car, but deemed too expensive by executives then in charge. Motor Trend suggests this new suspension setup may be an evolution of the so-called Control Blade trailing-arm setup employed on many cars across Ford’s global lineup, and perhaps most similar to that used in the rear-wheel-drive Falcon sold in Australia.
What’s underhood? The 5.0-liter badges may not be a ploy to throw us off, as we’ve heard the so-called Coyote V-8 will continue to serve in high-performance Mustangs going forward. There’s a chance that engine could receive direct fuel injection going forward, but the bigger news lies with smaller offerings. Reports and rumors regarding the future of the V-6 are conflicted: some say it’s dead in the water, while others suggest the present 3.7-liter V-6 will soldier on. Certainly, the 2015 Ford Mustang will be one of the first in decades to offer a four-cylinder offer. Either a 2.3- or a 2.5-liter turbocharged EcoBoost I-4 is expected to join the lineup, but its status is still unknown. Some say the turbo-four will function as a new base engine, while others suggest it will instead be an option, perhaps as part of a new SVO-like package.
What’s for certain is that the 2015 Ford Mustang’s exterior will turn a new page – not only for the model line itself, but for Ford altogether. In an interview with Automobile earlier this year, Hau Thai-Thang – Ford’s vice president of global product development — confirmed the next-generation Mustang will adopt Ford’s Kinetic 2.0 styling language, which was previewed with the Evos concept and used to shape the new 2013 Fusion sedan.
Does that mean it will ditch all its traditional retro-ish Mustang cues in favor of Ford’s latest look? Hardly. “We don’t think the two [looks] are mutually exclusive,” he said. Thai-Tang instead suggested the new Mustang’s new sheetmetal will “move the Mustang forward” while adopting Ford’s new “family look” – something the present car admittedly lacks.
Though details surrounding the 2015 Ford Mustang are still somewhat shrouded in secrecy, don’t expect that mystery to last all that much longer. The very first Mustang officially launched at the 1964 New York Auto Show, and it’s widely believed the new 2015 Mustang will be rolled out in front of press and public alike at the 2014 New York Auto Show – just in time to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

http://rumors.automobilemag.com/spie...#ixzz1x3chQ6rU

[M3_Dust]

I'm guessing that at this point they are just developing the direct injection for the Coyote. I read a very extensive article on the engine and when it was designed a few years ago they planned ahead for it to be future-proof and easily adopt features like DI (they said it is completely ready in it's current configuration and requires literally $50 in parts to go DI) and also forced induction but for that application they would use stronger forged internals than those already found inside the existing Coyote motor. The 5.0 is manufactured on Ford's modular assembly line and they plan to use it for at least 10+ years, you can count on some sort of smaller turbocharged engine making it's way into the lower-end Mustang in the next generation also.

The direction they take with the styling will be interesting to see, and IRS is pretty much a given. I also wonder how they will top the current Shelby GT500 or maybe they will just phase that model out? I don't think I would consider another Mustang for my next car, I'm really excited for the next M3, but we will have to see what Ford comes up with, they definitely have the potential for a real game-changer if they get all of the pieces of the puzzle right.

[440HPE46]

Originally Posted by M3_Dust

I'm guessing that at this point they are just developing the direct injection for the Coyote. I read a very extensive article on the engine and when it was designed a few years ago they planned ahead for it to be future-proof and easily adopt features like DI (they said it is completely ready in it's current configuration and requires literally $50 in parts to go DI) and also forced induction but for that application they would use stronger forged internals than those already found inside the existing Coyote motor. The 5.0 is manufactured on Ford's modular assembly line and they plan to use it for at least 10+ years, you can count on some sort of smaller turbocharged engine making it's way into the lower-end Mustang in the next generation also.

The direction they take with the styling will be interesting to see, and IRS is pretty much a given. I also wonder how they will top the current Shelby GT500 or maybe they will just phase that model out? I don't think I would consider another Mustang for my next car, I'm really excited for the next M3, but we will have to see what Ford comes up with, they definitely have the potential for a real game-changer if they get all of the pieces of the puzzle right.

Awesome info...I hope the next Gen keeps the current lines, but a restyling of the front with the new oval design wouldn't be a bad thing...

Hopefully they are able to do what Chevy did with the C6 Z06 in terms of it being recognized as one hell of a performance machine by every enthusiast, even the ones considering German saloons and sports cars...

[M3_Dust]

Originally Posted by 440HPE46

Awesome info...I hope the next Gen keeps the current lines, but a restyling of the front with the new oval design wouldn't be a bad thing...

Hopefully they are able to do what Chevy did with the C6 Z06 in terms of it being recognized as one hell of a performance machine by every enthusiast, even the ones considering German saloons and sports cars...

here is the article if you are interested, some pretty cool info in there, really an epic motor with some simple yet advanced tech, especially compared to what Ford had been using for the past half-century

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/tec...e/viewall.html

[Ben Z.]

Originally Posted by M3_Dust

here is the article if you are interested, some pretty cool info in there, really an epic motor with some simple yet advanced tech, especially compared to what Ford had been using for the past half-century

http://www.mustang50magazine.com/tec...e/viewall.html

What kind of power are they getting out of the Coyote without FI in the aftermarket?

[M3_Dust]

Originally Posted by Ben Z.

What kind of power are they getting out of the Coyote without FI in the aftermarket?

intake + software only = 400RWHP or better on pump fuel, that's about 470 at the crank lol, and guys have posted dynos and timeslips that confirm this

there are so many simple bolt-ons available, Boss intake manifold, long tube headers, O/R X pipe w/cat delete, full exhaust, if one is so inclined and wants to go all-out with a full N/A build, the 500HP threshold can definitely be breached with relative ease. I have only begun to research mods a little bit for the car because I don't really intend to do much to my car to gain more power, it's fast enough and has 60k mi of powertrain warranty as-is. The big gains can be had with ridiculously cheap superchargers, and there are a number of choices in the $5k range that yield 700 or more HP, but I just don't need that.

oh, also this engine can rev to 7800RPM all day with the right tune and the rev limiter removed, it cuts out at 7k on the GT, the Boss goes to 7400 stock, the racecars are run to 8400

[EKaru]

^ Great info Dust..

Here's C&D report (redundant stuff):
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/201...py-photos-news

[tenfifteen]

Am in Dust's camp on this one. I don't feel like the car needs more power, and I'm not willing to

The car's big deficiencies are obviously some of its interior materials, and the handling (which is no huge indictment… most cars could use a suspension upgrade). Anyway, I don't give a damn about the former, and I can address the latter easily. Just waiting on install.

[EKaru]

"MT - 2013 Ford Mustang GT High Gear - Designed by Women, Built by Women."

Ford has announced the winner of a contest to build the first-ever SEMA Mustang designed and built by women. The winning entry, dubbed the Mustang High Gear, was styled by Ford designer Jennifer Seely and picked through online voting over two other concepts.

Seely’s Mustang High Gear was inspired by jewelry, high-fashion, and architecture. Outside, the Mustang High Gear gets a subtle satin black paint job that’s accented by rose-gold satin chrome wheels, mirrors, and grille trim. Inside, the Mustang High Gear features leather seats wrapped in quilted suede, and metal trim replaced with more rose-gold satin chrome.

"High Gear" wins SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women contest - YouTube

"High Gear" wins SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women contest - YouTube

http://wot.motortrend.com/2013-ford-...en-215205.html

[Broham]

Originally Posted by Ben Z.

What kind of power are they getting out of the Coyote without FI in the aftermarket?

boss 302 can crank out 440whp with LTH, H or X pipe, intake and a tune. there are two sets of cams and FR500 intake manifold coming out from Ford Racing... i'd say 475+whp easy.