Aluminum

[B-52 Jetman]

I was just thinking. Why Ford didn't go with an aluminum body like they did with the F-150? The weight savings would have been quite substantial and definite performance gain. So, now we have Mustang that's more powerful than the previous model but heavier...so there's really no gain. It's already got a lot of "wow" factor, that would have been something else to add to the list!

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[cj428]

that will be gen 7.

 

[Nanashii]

They had particular price targets in sight when designing the car. At that time, aluminum would not have allowed them to hit those targets.

 

[Youngmustang]

Ford sells a lot more f150's than mustang's so they can soak up some of the cost it takes to make a aluminum car.

 

[Todd15Fastback]

So, now we have Mustang that's more powerful than the previous model but heavier...so there's really no gain.

That is not true. The new Mustang is much faster on a road course than the previous generation. Not everything speed/performance related ties back to quarter mile or acceleration times.


Remember, the F150 is the money maker for Ford. A very high volume vehicle where those new features (aluminum body) and associated costs can be spread among a much larger vehicle population. These will trickle down to the other models in the next few years.

 

[B-52 Jetman]

That is not true. The new Mustang is much faster on a road course than the previous generation. Not everything speed/performance related ties back to quarter mile or acceleration times.


Remember, the F150 is the money maker for Ford. A very high volume vehicle where those new features (aluminum body) and associated costs can be spread among a much larger vehicle population. These will trickle down to the other models in the next few years.

True...wasn't thinking a long that fact, I'm a 1/4 mile guy.

 

[B-52 Jetman]

that will be gen 7.

Yeah, you're probably right on that!

 

[Todd15Fastback]

True...wasn't thinking a long that fact, I'm a 1/4 mile guy.

I am, too. Well both actually :cheers:

 

[Hack]

I was just thinking. Why Ford didn't go with an aluminum body like they did with the F-150? The weight savings would have been quite substantial and definite performance gain. So, now we have Mustang that's more powerful than the previous model but heavier...so there's really no gain. It's already got a lot of "wow" factor, that would have been something else to add to the list!

Cost.

 

[BeauxXL1200]

Aren't the new Mustangs partially aluminum? I tried sticking a magnet to my hood and front fenders and no would do.

 

[x_man586]

I believe everything will be aluminum within the next 25 years.

 

[Waylap1]

I believe everything will be aluminum within the next 25 years.

And electric.

 

[Jason Richardson]

It will be all aluminum before long. The CAFE standards start raising 1 mpg every single year from now for the next decade. So they already have a full incremental roll out plan. Thats going to include aluminum increasing, 8 to 10 speeds for the auto, and eventually an end to GT sales. Its just a matter of when. Each of those things will add the 1 mpg increase they need for each model year so they will include them one by one.

 

[Qwkynuf]

Also, keep in mind that the F150 is a body-on-frame design, which means that much of the strength of the unit comes from the steel frame underlying that aluminum body.

The Mustang is "unibody". I have to believe that that there is a pretty significant engineering cost associated with meeting all of the safety standards and reliability requirements with an all new material.

I am sure that it's coming, but it isn't likely to be part of this generation - though you may start to see additional panels along the way.

 

[SStormtrooPer]

Also, keep in mind that the F150 is a body-on-frame design, which means that much of the strength of the unit comes from the steel frame underlying that aluminum body.

The Mustang is "unibody". I have to believe that that there is a pretty significant engineering cost associated with meeting all of the safety standards and reliability requirements with an all new material.

I am sure that it's coming, but it isn't likely to be part of this generation - though you may start to see additional panels along the way.

Actually very little of the strength of the car comes from the body panels -- it is all built into the bones. An aluminum bodied Mustang would still have a steel unit-body -- at least with this chassis.

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