S550 to '18-Refresh Component Compatibility

[Strokerswild]

I honestly don't think it will be a refresh that big. The 1999 although it had the same interior, all of the outside panels were new except the roof. Also, by the 1999 refresh, the SN95 was 5 years old. The S550 is only 3 years old. My take is that the refresh is going to be more like the '12 to '13 and of course the 10 speed auto and maybe just maybe a modest increase in HP. Remember that the Mustang is outselling the new Camaro by a wide margin, so Ford is in no rush to make big changes for the 2018.

This.

Minor front and rear styling refresh, with a trickle of refinements inside and out, plus a modest power bump and the 10-speed will likely be about it. No need for major changes this soon on the platform.

Some folks are wildly optimistic....

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[wireeater]

New front/rear bumpers
15-20hp/10-15TQ bump
Minor interior fresh/extra features (hopefully a digital speedo...)
Front head lamp change/rear tail light change

I doubt much will change that would actually make current parts incompatible. If anything, it will most likely just be exterior cosmetic pieces.

 

[Petroleum Jesus]

I think it will mainly be power and some interior upgrades like the B&O stereo and some styling they'll rip from the gt350 just like the 13 did. It doesn't make sense for them to do a complete refresh on a brand new chassis and then do another new one in another 2-3 years.

What makes sense can not be summed up with a simple idea. Usually, many ideas are thrown out and initial feasibility studies are hashed out using raw analytics (cost projection models). Then bunch of engineers, designers, procurement specialists, bean counters, and management argue about the cost-effect factors. When everyone is tired of arguing, decisions are made to move forward with a minority of changes and a majority are dropped.

Those fluid concepts that survived are then developed into more defined concepts. More studies are done, then more arguing, then more decisions. This process repeats several more times and the changes that survive move closer to fruition until the company runs out of time and is forced to make final decisions that satisfy no one.

Then all of the involved parties cry for a week, sober up, and work to make the best of what they got. Every detail gets massaged until more deadlines come and 90% of the final package is set. The car is revealed. The remaining 10% hash out naturally as production changes are implemented at the plant level.

Then everyone acts like the final product was their vision all along and play hunky-dorry for the press. The car is produced. People buy it. The end.

 

[F0J]

Ford has a winning formula. I'm not sure how they could do much better in the $30,000 pony car market. I'd upgrade to a 2018 if it came with better cooling, a bump in NA power, and the option of a true (bushings, dampening, etc.) track package.

Though I do think they could develop an S550 that competes with Caymans and Corvettes. They have the parts to do it. Multimatic has had success with the chassis and they'll have to recoup the R&D costs for all the tech in the GT350R-C.

Out of curiosity, where do you think there's "weak aftermarket support" in the S550?

 

[Petroleum Jesus]

Ford has a winning formula. I'm not sure how they could do much better in the $30,000 pony car market. I'd upgrade to a 2018 if it came with better cooling, a bump in NA power, and the option of a true (bushings, dampening, etc.) track package.

Though I do think they could develop an S550 that competes with Caymans and Corvettes. They have the parts to do it. Multimatic has had success with the chassis and they'll have to recoup the R&D costs for all the tech in the GT350R-C.

Out of curiosity, where do you think there's "weak aftermarket support" in the S550?

Functional Aerodynamics and road racing components in general.

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