thePill
Camaro5's Most Wanted
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2012
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- 6,561
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- Location
- Pittsburgh
- Vehicle(s)
- S550
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- #1
This could very well be the largest MSRP increase the Mustang has ever received Gen to Gen. Past generations usually increased almost $2000 and according to some non-published rumors and some published, this generation is a big step for the Mustang. We could possibly see a $4000-$5000 dollar increase. Now, could Ford only increase the MSRP this gen initially at about $2500 (still bringing it in cheaper than the 5th Gen Camaro)? At $33,000, a 2015 Mustang would be very attractive especially if it a step in the "sport" direction. Ford could increase the MSRP gradually over the next 7-10 years and the customer would gradually warm up to the increase. Still, starting at $35,000 doesn't sound real bad although, it will have an effect on every trim level.
First and foremost, I want to predict Ford trying to getting 10 years out of this chassis. It worked beautifully for the S197 and was a big money maker. Ford engineered the S197 to withstand a decade of sales, was viable enough to rekindle the class and remained very competitive in performance, motorsport and even sales. After the bailouts late 2008, the Mustang has been on an upward trend in sales... That's amazingly clever product flexibility. I assure you, even greater flexibility will be engineered into the S550. If we do see a 10 year S550, I expect the first refresh will be around 2018. This will even give Ford a sweet opportunity to offer the 2017 GT500 in original S550 sheet metal then spike interest again with an fresh 2018 as well as the GT500KR package (Your SVT/Drag Package)... Keep the product poppin'. The 2015-'16 GT350 will bring plenty of attention for the time being... Which brings me back to the MSRP.
2015 5.0 GT
Base MSRP: $32,998
429HP/401TQ
2015 5.0 GT-R
Base MSRP: $39,998
429HP/401TQ
4 Wheel Brembo Pack and Ford Racing's GT350 suspension bits
2015 GT350 (Boss replacement)
Base MSRP: $47,998
500-525HP (Not sure about the 600HP NA engine)
2015 GT350R (Laguna Seca replacement)
Base MSRP: $53,998
500-525HP
These MSRP's will gradually increase over the next 10 years and could possibly exceed the S197's $5000 increase from '05-'14. This means a big bad $59,998 base GT500 is on the way BUT... you gotta figure in the slight increases from '15 to '17 which should be around $1200 dollars. I don't even want to get into what the GT500 is going to consist of... I imagine the same impact the 2013 had times three. Should Ford increase the MSRP to $35,000 right off the bat, maybe they will freeze the MSRP until the next refresh... and that's what I want to talk about next.
The refresh... If it were my product and I needed 10 years out of it, I would have 4 designs on deck. This all depends on the sales of course but a great business plan would definitely call for it. The two things we have to keep in mind is bridging this Gen with the next. The 2024 Mustang will need to display cues that will carry over to the 60th anniversary.
We have the natural 3 year slump every product must endure, I mean every product... The Wii, iPhone, iMac, Camaro. It's natural... Scheduled refresh model years should be a nice 2018 and 2022 using 3 of the 4 designs. Don't forget to set aside your best S550 for the 2022-'24 while still selecting the best design to bridge the generations together. I also think we will see the GT500 released similar to what they did with the Boss. Releasing the first year in classic S550 and then changing over to a new 2018. I want to see a 2017 GT500 followed by a refreshed 2018 GT500 and a 2018 GT500KR. Ford also need to name the Brembo pack GT's by simply using Ford's "R" scheme. The "Mustang GT-R" was trademarked in 2004 and still is today... perfect in my opinion. This also carries over to the GT350 and the GT350R like the original. The GT500 will ditch the "R" and go with the "KR".
So, this is my wishlist not really concerning the product but the asking price. I see an issue with having a Eco4 and V6. If the V6 can start at $22,998 that would be outstanding!!! but highly unlikely... The base V6 cost will ultimately push the V8's higher still. Say maybe start at $23,998 (up from $22,500) and the Eco4 starting at $26,998.
Breakdown... (Using "6G" as the V6's new name and "ST" for the Eco4.
2014.5: (Already gone)
2015: Mustang 6G $23,998
Mustang ST $26,998
Mustang GT $32,998
Mustang GT350 $47,998
2016: Price increased an average $600 dollar across the lineup
Mustang GT-R and GT350R introduced at $39,998 and $53,998 (plus $600)
2017: Price increase +$600 average
GT500 introduced at $59,998 (plus $1200 annual base increase)
2018: Refresh! Another $600 increase
GT500KR introduced
Braking and Handling component upgrades trickle down
Engine output increased (DI maybe)
2019: +$600
Mustang ST replaces the Mustang 6G as base model
Mustang TT6 is released as part of the 55th Anniversary and the anniversary of the 1979 Turbo Cobra and first Turbo Mustang. (Turbo wars are on)
2020: +$600
Interior Refresh
2021: +$600 (at this point, a base GT cost about $36,000)
Special Edition Time!!!
Another output increase (DI for sure if not already)
2022: Refresh and +$600
Complete lineup
ST4
TT6
GT/GT-R
GT350/GT350R
GT500/GT500KR
Special Edition
2023: +$600
Getting stale, more options ect, ect...
2024: The last hurrah and another $600 increase. At this point, a base GT cost almost $39,000... Now, you can understand why Ford is up-scaling the Mustang... By the end of the models life, it will be a $40,000 base V8.
The picture below screams $40,000 sports coupe.
First and foremost, I want to predict Ford trying to getting 10 years out of this chassis. It worked beautifully for the S197 and was a big money maker. Ford engineered the S197 to withstand a decade of sales, was viable enough to rekindle the class and remained very competitive in performance, motorsport and even sales. After the bailouts late 2008, the Mustang has been on an upward trend in sales... That's amazingly clever product flexibility. I assure you, even greater flexibility will be engineered into the S550. If we do see a 10 year S550, I expect the first refresh will be around 2018. This will even give Ford a sweet opportunity to offer the 2017 GT500 in original S550 sheet metal then spike interest again with an fresh 2018 as well as the GT500KR package (Your SVT/Drag Package)... Keep the product poppin'. The 2015-'16 GT350 will bring plenty of attention for the time being... Which brings me back to the MSRP.
2015 5.0 GT
Base MSRP: $32,998
429HP/401TQ
2015 5.0 GT-R
Base MSRP: $39,998
429HP/401TQ
4 Wheel Brembo Pack and Ford Racing's GT350 suspension bits
2015 GT350 (Boss replacement)
Base MSRP: $47,998
500-525HP (Not sure about the 600HP NA engine)
2015 GT350R (Laguna Seca replacement)
Base MSRP: $53,998
500-525HP
These MSRP's will gradually increase over the next 10 years and could possibly exceed the S197's $5000 increase from '05-'14. This means a big bad $59,998 base GT500 is on the way BUT... you gotta figure in the slight increases from '15 to '17 which should be around $1200 dollars. I don't even want to get into what the GT500 is going to consist of... I imagine the same impact the 2013 had times three. Should Ford increase the MSRP to $35,000 right off the bat, maybe they will freeze the MSRP until the next refresh... and that's what I want to talk about next.
The refresh... If it were my product and I needed 10 years out of it, I would have 4 designs on deck. This all depends on the sales of course but a great business plan would definitely call for it. The two things we have to keep in mind is bridging this Gen with the next. The 2024 Mustang will need to display cues that will carry over to the 60th anniversary.
We have the natural 3 year slump every product must endure, I mean every product... The Wii, iPhone, iMac, Camaro. It's natural... Scheduled refresh model years should be a nice 2018 and 2022 using 3 of the 4 designs. Don't forget to set aside your best S550 for the 2022-'24 while still selecting the best design to bridge the generations together. I also think we will see the GT500 released similar to what they did with the Boss. Releasing the first year in classic S550 and then changing over to a new 2018. I want to see a 2017 GT500 followed by a refreshed 2018 GT500 and a 2018 GT500KR. Ford also need to name the Brembo pack GT's by simply using Ford's "R" scheme. The "Mustang GT-R" was trademarked in 2004 and still is today... perfect in my opinion. This also carries over to the GT350 and the GT350R like the original. The GT500 will ditch the "R" and go with the "KR".
So, this is my wishlist not really concerning the product but the asking price. I see an issue with having a Eco4 and V6. If the V6 can start at $22,998 that would be outstanding!!! but highly unlikely... The base V6 cost will ultimately push the V8's higher still. Say maybe start at $23,998 (up from $22,500) and the Eco4 starting at $26,998.
Breakdown... (Using "6G" as the V6's new name and "ST" for the Eco4.
2014.5: (Already gone)
2015: Mustang 6G $23,998
Mustang ST $26,998
Mustang GT $32,998
Mustang GT350 $47,998
2016: Price increased an average $600 dollar across the lineup
Mustang GT-R and GT350R introduced at $39,998 and $53,998 (plus $600)
2017: Price increase +$600 average
GT500 introduced at $59,998 (plus $1200 annual base increase)
2018: Refresh! Another $600 increase
GT500KR introduced
Braking and Handling component upgrades trickle down
Engine output increased (DI maybe)
2019: +$600
Mustang ST replaces the Mustang 6G as base model
Mustang TT6 is released as part of the 55th Anniversary and the anniversary of the 1979 Turbo Cobra and first Turbo Mustang. (Turbo wars are on)
2020: +$600
Interior Refresh
2021: +$600 (at this point, a base GT cost about $36,000)
Special Edition Time!!!
Another output increase (DI for sure if not already)
2022: Refresh and +$600
Complete lineup
ST4
TT6
GT/GT-R
GT350/GT350R
GT500/GT500KR
Special Edition
2023: +$600
Getting stale, more options ect, ect...
2024: The last hurrah and another $600 increase. At this point, a base GT cost almost $39,000... Now, you can understand why Ford is up-scaling the Mustang... By the end of the models life, it will be a $40,000 base V8.
The picture below screams $40,000 sports coupe.
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