2015 Mustang Weight Gain

[StangFX]

It's good its on the table but I'm afraid most of us have bought in 100% to the idea that the S550 was to be slimmer and lighter that it will still be a gut punch. Glad we are discussing it tho.... everywhere else I look, everyone seems oblivious to this possibility.

If it turns out to be untrue, I will breathe a sigh of relief and time to break out the pitchforks addle: ;)

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[Dub347sbf]

Wow. I really can't think of a good reason a smaller car could come out heavier and I would be ok with it, especially with camaro losing weight and gaining power. IRS weighs some, yes. I really hope it loses or at the most stays where it is. If 16 camaro comes out 460 hp and weighs 3500 it would be ass whip city all over the place for mustangs.

 

[JGillis]

Yes it would.

We still have yet to see the rear so that's a big unknown but what we have seen just looks a little lower maybe offset by somewhat wider. Same basic size to me.

 

[Overboost]

I continue to be amazed at the "experts" who know more about the Camaro, despite being further away from production. There has been ZERO confirmed info on the G6 Camaro, other than production moving from Oshawa to Lansing Grand River.

 

[Oblivion/2]

Of course nothing solid is known yet, but the difference is that we already know for a fact that Camaro will be on the Alpha platform and GM already has vehicles built on it. You can extrapolate from that some pretty good bets even if some of the online chatter has been overly optimistic (IMO). Weight loss is an absolute given.

So yes, in some ways we do know more about the 6th gen Camaro than we do the S550, even if it is further away from production.

 

[Dub347sbf]

I continue to be amazed at the "experts" who know more about the Camaro, despite being further away from production. There has been ZERO confirmed info on the G6 Camaro, other than production moving from Oshawa to Lansing Grand River.

Hope you aren't referring to my post, given that big "if" right in front of my statement. The rumors are weight loss and possibly the 460 HP motor. IF that is true and IF the s550 gains weight and not a major increase in power ( plus the smaller displacement gives it a low end torque disadvantage) then it would be a nightmare. All hypothetical consideing we, I, don't know much still. I'm saying if. Like I said a moderate increase in power with a 100-200 pound weight loss would keep the mustang competitive with the "if" scenario I put down. So cross your fingers.

Edit: and yeah the weigh loss figures again could be wrong on the 16 maro, hell it could even gain weight. Just playing with hypothetical stuff, I really think ford is gonna have to at the very least not gain weight to stay competitive

 

[Overboost]

Of course nothing solid is known yet, but the difference is that we already know for a fact that Camaro will be on the Alpha platform and GM already has vehicles built on it. You can extrapolate from that some pretty good bets even if some of the online chatter has been overly optimistic (IMO). Weight loss is an absolute given.

So yes, in some ways we do know more about the 6th gen Camaro than we do the S550, even if it is further away from production.

Where did you see "facts" that Camaro is going to Alpha? That's exactly the kind of assumptions I'm referring to.

 

[Oblivion/2]

You're right, too strongly worded. Nothing is confirmed until GM says so. Along those lines, we could also debate whether it will be RWD... but I'll take my chances that it will be both RWD and built on the Alpha platform.

Either way, I'm thinking Ford needed to have overshot this one and planned for a 6g Mustang that may have to compete with a much lighter Camaro. Playing it safe and banking on these rumors being false is too risky.

 

[SStormtrooPer]

That's exactly the kind of assumptions I'm referring to.

Some "assumptions" are safer than others. To dismiss all of the chatter, discussions, disclosure by consulting firms, etc. on Alpha since 2010 when it was already said thats where Camaro would go would be kind of silly. GM has been open about the bloat and the mass of the Camaro since day 1, and there has been nothing to indicate it is NOT moving to Alpha.

Ford has been so secretive, and kept details under wraps so well that we know nothing other than what the front of the car looks like covered in flat black wrap. We have a bunch of "my buddy said this" and "my buddy said that", we have nothing close to concrete information on the platform, the drivetrain, the size. Nothing.

The FACT is the muscle car war is getting hotter than ever -- Camaro has had the sales lead since the 2010. Based on what GM did with the C7 Vette, chances are pretty good that the Gen6 Camaro will look damn good, and they have some designers now that can crank out some nice stuff. Ford should be treating S550 as if Chevy was pulling out all the stops, and a 450hp 3200lb Camaro already existed. Anything less would be unacceptable IMO.

 

[Overboost]

You're right, too strongly worded. Nothing is confirmed until GM says so. Along those lines, we could also debate whether it will be RWD... but I'll take my chances that it will be both RWD and built on the Alpha platform.

Either way, I'm thinking Ford needed to have overshot this one and planned for a 6g Mustang that may have to compete with a much lighter Camaro. Playing it safe and banking on these rumors being false is too risky.

That's true. They need to be class-leading, not trying to catch up. I think anyone would agree, the '10-14 really is the best of the bunch, but the 1LE, Z/28, and ZL1 are impressive pieces of hardware. If the Cuda rumors are true, we might (finally) see a three-horse race in the pony car war, and that's not a bad thing.

I do think the G6 Camaro is going to move to a lighter platform, but how much are they really going to save? They have to balance cost with performance, but one thing that hampers GM - the Corvette. They can't overstep the big bad halo car. Ford, on the other hand, has nothing to worry about, and can go as batshit crazy as they like. Chrysler can't step on Viper too much either.

 

[JackHoya]

It's got quite a ways before stepping on the toes of the new vette. A 3400-3500 lbs Camaro would be problem enough if it stays the same weight, and a total nightmare if the Mustang really puts on weight. Unless Ford plans to play the current Chevy game of bigger displacement and more power to make up for it, which is a mistake, it will be a looong 6th generation.

I will say I think there's enough riding on this car that I don't see Ford letting that happen. Not now. Not after all they've accomplished and proven within recent years. Not after being talked about in the same sentence as the M3 in performance.

 

[SStormtrooPer]

They have to balance cost with performance, but one thing that hampers GM - the Corvette. They can't overstep the big bad halo car. Ford, on the other hand, has nothing to worry about, and can go as batshit crazy as they like.

But will they go batshit crazy? "Can" and "will" are two very different things.

IMO, if Ford WAS going batshit crazy, we wouldn't be arguing about whether Mustang was gaining or losing 200 lbs., what our deal breakers would be, or whether S550 was on a platform that was worthy. We wouldn't give a crap what Chevy was doing with Camaro because it would be irrelevant.

But we are arguing about all of those things. And the sad truth is, as Mustang fans, we do need to worry about what Chevy is doing, how much it will weigh, and what will sway us to the competition.

Ford does have their own Corvette. The almighty dollar, and history has proven it almost always wins.

 

[Overboost]

But will they go batshit crazy? "Can" and "will" are two very different things.

IMO, if Ford WAS going batshit crazy, we wouldn't be arguing about whether Mustang was gaining or losing 200 lbs., what our deal breakers would be, or whether S550 was on a platform that was worthy. We wouldn't give a crap what Chevy was doing with Camaro because it would be irrelevant.

But we are arguing about all of those things. And the sad truth is, as Mustang fans, we do need to worry about what Chevy is doing, how much it will weigh, and what will sway us to the competition.

Ford does have their own Corvette. The almighty dollar, and history has proven it almost always wins.

I get the vibe that there's no pleasing you.

Personally, I wish it was losing weight, but if the performance meets or exceeds the 2012-13 Boss 302 and gets equal or better fuel economy than my current car, I'm not going to worry. I have my sights on the SVT car this time around, because it's going to be impressive.

 

[mitchell]

It is funny all the conflicting sources some of us seem to have.

A few things don't add up, even within my info admittedly. Weight gain for the regular S550s and significant weight loss for the SVT doesn't quite add up. That would be vette/camaro separation for the same car. Even if they wanted to, heavy use of carbon fiber and aluminum may not get you there.

Anyway I would say Ford has played this one well...

 

[SStormtrooPer]

I get the vibe that there's no pleasing you if Mustang gains weight.

Fixed it for you. And that is correct.

I get the vibe there is no pleasing you when someone doesn't just "deal with it".

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