What could have been

[50hhh]

Always wondered why ford made a random increase to 435 for 2015 and didn't just go with a better boss like intake for the 445. This car could have easily been 450 HP and ford picked the number and said oh well. random thoughts. Also we need wider wheels for PP like the boss had and the better tune. Why ford?

Sponsored

 

[kray]

i know that everyone bought their Mustang GT for different reasons. Some for the appeareance, some for the performance and handling, and others that want the car truly for everything that they can get out of it for the track and the drags. For this type of person every 5 HP and every pound means a lot and I can understand that. I have to ask you this question? Are you so concerned about that jump to 450 HP just to say you have it, but would never need or use it? Are you concerned that the boys in the GM camp have hit that mark this year and the Mustang now plays second fiddle? Surely Ford will bump the HP in the Mustang next year to "one up" the GM camp and the game goes back and forth every year. Next year the GM boys will be asking the same question to their manufacturer. I can only imagine that Ford picked that number knowing full well they have more in the Coyote but why put all of the cards out on the table year one! This back and forth horsepower war is what makes the game fun and I love to watch it. I love my Mustang for what it is. A part of history that no other manufacturer can duplicate. Does an extra 15 HP mean a lot to me? No. But I do respect the person that it does mean a lot to. Again, we all purchased for different reasons so I am just asking the questions no disrespect intended.

 

[paul123]

Always wondered why ford made a random increase to 435 for 2015 and didn't just go with a better boss like intake for the 445. This car could have easily been 450 HP and ford picked the number and said oh well. random thoughts. Also we need wider wheels for PP like the boss had and the better tune. Why ford?

are we really going to split hairs over 10-15 HP?

anything less than 50hp gains is off my radar

 

[Falconetti]

I would so love to be involved in the complexities that determine the outputs of cars, especially the performance lines that have the different varieties.

 

[GT Pony]

Ford planned on leaving room for improvements over the 6th generation. HP bump along the way is one of them.

 

[Falconetti]

are we really going to split hairs over 10-15 HP?

anything less than 50hp gains is off my radar

I was thinking about this, and as stated above yeah Ford probably said 435, ehh, good enough. For those that want 400+ hp this will be enough and its close enough to Camaro that it really shouldn't be a deal breaker, the style of car preference should win at these close margins, and then there are those that say 435 hp isn't enough, and I would venture to say they know, or at least it would cross my mind, it doesn't matter if we stick 707hp in there, it won't be enough for those guys... anyway, random thinking here.

 

[Falconetti]

Making those little changes can also give consumers the impulse to buy, because upgrade. So good planning and marketing strategy on their part.

 

[kn7671]

Camaro -vs- Mustang, think about this...

- 1964 /12 (1965) Mustang introduced and liked by the masses
- Camaro introduced in 1967, is faster than Mustang
- About 50% of the time since '67, Camaro has been faster in showroom form
- 50-years later, Mustang has outsold Camaro by a landslide
- Ford understands that Horsepower alone does not equal sales

There is always more power, but at the cost of what? At this point, the only thing that will truly improve power across the board is increased Compression Ratio and Direct Injection, both have their negative offsets.

Recall that Ford has to engineer around the customer and certain laws, here some things your average mass consumer doesn't want from their Mustang:
- average consumer doesn't want loud intake noise
- an engine without low-rpm torque
- an engine that has to be revved high to get performance
- engines that gets bad fuel economy
- engines that requires paying gas guzzler tax
- suspension that is too jarring
- tires that cost too much
- engines that require premium fuel

We could go on an on, but I think you get the point, the Mustang is a car for everyone wanting a sports car, not a race car. Anyone from your sister to your grandfather can drive a Mustang, while most of the latter steer far clear of Camaro's.

In other words, Ford understands one thing pretty good, build a car for everyone first, then offer limited edition models for those wanting something a little more honed or purpose built. This is the number one reason the Mustang outsells the Camaro and always has (total units over the lifetime).

For those that want even more, Ford could do any number of things to the Mustang us enthusiast's want, but that group of customers can turn to the aftermarket or purchase those limited edition models.

 

[Twin Turbo]

There would have been certain MPG v HP targets to meet.........plus anything over 444hp might have upset some Boss 302 owners ;)

Also, I'm sure Ford will want to introduce incremental increases throughout the S550's lifecycle to keep it fresh. This will have been planned from the get-go, along with any other visual (bodywork/trim) updates.

 

[jkstang78]

Always wondered why ford made a random increase to 435 for 2015 and didn't just go with a better boss like intake for the 445. This car could have easily been 450 HP and ford picked the number and said oh well. random thoughts. Also we need wider wheels for PP like the boss had and the better tune. Why ford?

Hate to burst your bubble. But the Boss intake is not a better intake on the 15 and newer motors. Look at the link I posted of someone who swapped one out. The Boss intake is a bust. It's doesn't really out power (meaning that you can really feel it. You'll never notice 4 or 5 hp when you drive it. But you notice 10 or more HP) the stock intake until the last 400 rpms that both can be compared. The last 1000 intake is where the Boss really shines. But who the hell races in the last 1000 rpms. Most people messing around on the street or even track like road course and drag strip are in the mid RPM range and going through that to redline.

Look at the very last picture of the numbers and compare for yourself. Had to put a space in the link to get it to show up.
http:// www. svtperformance .com/2014/12/29/tech-2015-mustang-boss-intake-test/

There is one guy right now doing a GT350 intake swap in the 5.0 Engine section. This intake might be a better choice over the Boss. A lot of people are waiting to see what his results are.

 

[BallisticBurrito]

There would have been certain MPG v HP targets to meet.........plus anything over 444hp might have upset some Boss 302 owners ;)

Also, I'm sure Ford will want to introduce incremental increases throughout the S550's lifecycle to keep it fresh. This will have been planned from the get-go, along with any other visual (bodywork/trim) updates.

Not to mention the cost. Ford bean counters split hairs over half a cent cost per part. I'm not even kidding, an engineer had me try out some new parts for a vehicle because they found a supplier to make something for it for HALF A CENT LESS PER.

With the boss intake being significantly more material (and probably harder to install on the line) over the normal one, it's easy to see why it wasn't done.

 

[cyberbro]

The heck with the HP numbers, if you want to dwell I would want more TQ that's a lot more fun to use.

 

[Blue Horse]

Look at the NEW café standards for 2016 and beyond,and all the Eco Boost 4 & 6 Bangers being produced,and you really think Ford is going to UP the HP on the V8 Coyote,Think again.

 

[50hhh]

I just know how ford operates when it comes to performance targets. and its not about mustang vs Camaro at all. They remade the 5.0 for 2015 with lots of boss parts/upgrades and handcuffed it just to be sure they could sell the GT350 at 50+ more HP. Ford KNEW this car needed another 10-15 HP and put a weak tune on it on purpose. Sure the GT350 would outperform the GT even with 10hp more but they want the numbers difference on the brochure. If we want to talk about the Camaro GM has it biting the heals of their 80k vette and doesn't care. Id buy the mustang anyway every time, Its just a shame ford leaves so many cards on the table throughout EVERY generation of mustang. the 4.6 is a perfect example.

 

[speedfrk]

I continuously have to point out to people that what you feel in a car (or at the gym) is percentage. There is no way to feel 10-15HP on a 435HP 3800lb car- you need measurement equipment and hard numbers. In any kind of normal driving, you are never using more than 200HP. Now, adding 15HP to a 140HP Honda Civic is definitely "feelable" because it is a huge % increase. Likewise, you can gain the same "feel" by dropping weight. Power/weight ratio is as important as HP. But really, what you are feeling is torque, and lots of torque in the low-mid-range is what most people associate with HP. But 450 is a nice round number. 500 is a nicer rounder number ;)

Sponsored