What do we know about the 2018?

[Jack79]

Well i just read the autoblog have confirmed the 2017 F150 will get the 10 Speed Auto...

I'd have to imagine that this makes the 10 speed in the 2018 Mustang is more likely

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/05/03/2017-ford-f-150-powertrain-details/

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[e30og]

yea the 10 speed will trickle down into RWD applications shortly after I would imagine.

On a side note I was curious to see the 3.5TT updated for the F150 that brings torque up to 450lb-ft from 420. Although hp remains at 365, this has always been the case with the truck and the Raptor will share this engine but it will make more than the 6.2's 411. Not only that, but the motor gets BOTH port and DI for better fuel control.
http://blog.caranddriver.com/deep-d...win-turbo-v-6-totally-new-10-speed-automatic/

If there is another EB engine in the mustang, I would imagine it would probably also get the same tweaks this one gets:

"Starting in the new aluminum heads, roller-finger followers reduce friction of the four hollow camshafts, which save about a pound of weight each. The addition of a port fuel-injection system to the direct rails improves cold-start emissions and low-load consumption. When the DI isn’t needed, the camshaft-driven high-pressure fuel pump shuts down to reduce parasitic loss. New, lighter pistons with low-friction rings also minimize losses, and new turbochargers, which are the same size but feature steeper compressor blades, have efficiency-improving electronic waste gates, which are employed here for the first time in a turbocharged Ford engine."

 

[EJS2016]

For 2018:
I believe there will be a very mild front fascia restyle that perhaps "refines' the face of the Mustang with slimmer headlights, slightly modified grill opening/shape, plus new air intake and foglight designs.
Rear end untouched
New wheel designs
New dash with HUD
10 hp increase
10 speed automatic
Typical shuffling of option packages
2018 model year only 50th year Anniversary Bullitt edition with 15 hp increase over stock, upgraded PP type suspension and manual transmission only

2019:
Return of the Mach 1 for 50th year anniversary
Based on 2018 only Bullitt mechanicals
20 hp increase
Drag Pack type option
10 speed automatic / 3.73 rear combination, quad exhaust tips
Package specific wheels, interior upgrades and exterior graphics

2019 is also the 50th Anniversary of the Boss 302...who knows?

GT 500? Supercharged Coyote-based 5.2 with 10 speed automatic available

GT 350?
Limited year run to maintain exclusivity
Engine and suspension technology will trickle down to other Mustang models

S650?
Serious weight reduction.
V8s will be very exclusive and available only on the highest performance and most expensive models - 4.2 to 5.0L max displacement.
4 and 6 cylinder engines with EB technology with advanced automatics will be the dominant powertrain combinations.
Fuel economy will significantly improve.
There will be no more manual transmissions.

From my crystal ball...

 

[Bullitt]

For 2018:
I believe there will be a very mild front fascia restyle that perhaps "refines' the face of the Mustang with slimmer headlights, slightly modified grill opening/shape, plus new air intake and foglight designs.
Rear end untouched
New wheel designs
New dash with HUD
10 hp increase
10 speed automatic
Typical shuffling of option packages
2018 model year only 50th year Anniversary Bullitt edition with 15 hp increase over stock, upgraded PP type suspension and manual transmission only

2019:
Return of the Mach 1 for 50th year anniversary
Based on 2018 only Bullitt mechanicals
20 hp increase
Drag Pack type option
10 speed automatic / 3.73 rear combination, quad exhaust tips
Package specific wheels, interior upgrades and exterior graphics

2019 is also the 50th Anniversary of the Boss 302...who knows?

GT 500? Supercharged Coyote-based 5.2 with 10 speed automatic available

GT 350?
Limited year run to maintain exclusivity
Engine and suspension technology will trickle down to other Mustang models

S650?
Serious weight reduction.
V8s will be very exclusive and available only on the highest performance and most expensive models - 4.2 to 5.0L max displacement.
4 and 6 cylinder engines with EB technology with advanced automatics will be the dominant powertrain combinations.
Fuel economy will significantly improve.
There will be no more manual transmissions.

From my crystal ball...

Your breakdown seems very realistic for the most part, I hope you're right about most of it (especially the Bullitt haha). To add to your list, I'm betting the GT350 will be done after 2017 model year and GT500 will come out for the 2018 model year to replace it. This also fits with Topnotch saying the GT500 will come before the Mach 1. Everything seems to fit just right timing-wise. As for S650, I can see all the things you said happening except for the deletion of the manual, I think they'll continue to offer that as long as there's market demand for it, which is still very high and I'm guessing will continue to be for the next decade at least.

 

[Armen]

I guess I can see the GT350 ending production after the 2017MY... Just like the Boss 302 was a limited run. But the big 'but' there is that Ford invested big bucks into the 5.2 FPC motor and I can't see them just letting it just die after such a limited run.

 

[Bullitt]

I guess I can see the GT350 ending production after the 2017MY... Just like the Boss 302 was a limited run. But the big 'but' there is that Ford invested big bucks into the 5.2 FPC motor and I can't see them just letting it just die after such a limited run.

I think the 5.2 will live on in the GT500 but will switch to CPC and have forced induction. If not that, then I'm guessing a CPC version will end up in a Mach 1 or Boss 302 model, but I think they'll keep the FPC 5.2 in the GT350 only to keep it special.

 

[15wile]

Manual will go away soon. No reason to support a product with a rapidly-decreasing market share. Yes, yes, I know there are purists who will still want them, but when even the supercar manufacturers are ditching them, you know the writing is on the wall. There's a reason I got this car in manual form. I figure it's my chance to enjoy 'em before they're gone. Truth be told, though, I don't really mind a good DSG either.

I think our manual-only GT350 was the stick's swansong. And what a great sendoff it was.

 

[Bullitt]

Manual will go away soon. No reason to support a product with a rapidly-decreasing market share. Yes, yes, I know there are purists who will still want them, but when even the supercar manufacturers are ditching them, you know the writing is on the wall. There's a reason I got this car in manual form. I figure it's my chance to enjoy 'em before they're gone. Truth be told, though, I don't really mind a good DSG either.

I think our manual-only GT350 was the stick's swansong. And what a great sendoff it was.

Well if you look at people like Porsche, they are now realizing that some people prefer the manual experience over the absolute fastest straight-line performance. This is why the Cayman GT4 was manual only and Porsche is going to go back to offering a manual in the next GT3. The supercars all got rid of manuals because they're slower and those cars are constantly chasing the bragging rights to be the fastest straight-line performers in every way. The Mustang will get the fast shifting 10-speed automatic for 2018 for the drag racers but I think the manual will still be offered because the Mustang doesn't have the same mission as a supercar. It's an old-school style recipe for fun, RWD, V8 in an affordable package. The rest of the car market does have a dwindling interest in manuals, but companies (like Porsche and Aston Martin) are listening to the enthusiasts and keeping them around for the purists. I'm not sure of the sales breakdown for the Mustang but it seems like there's still a large amount of manual purchases. Alienating that whole demographic by getting rid of a popular option would be foolish.

 

[tcman54]

Ok, so the new 2.7 will have 25hp more than the 2.4, but probably for another $1200 or so, is that worth it, hard to tell.

Terry

 

[EXP Jawa]

I think that the manual take-rate has been relatively high for Mustang, at least for the GT models. I don't have the exact numbers, but have the idea I read that it exceeded expectations. Assuming that's true, there's no reason to drop the manual option any time soon. That might change if they offer the PP with automatic in '18, I suppose. It is possible that the manual-only offering of the PP is forcing some folks to learn to drive a manual, just to get the "good stuff". But it probably isn't that many folks... Still, my crystal ball tells me that there will still be a DIY gearbox when S650 comes around.

 

[RNMAAS]

Ok, so the new 2.7 will have 25hp more than the 2.4, but probably for another $1200 or so, is that worth it, hard to tell.

Terry

What you will notice more than the hp is the torque. 380 ft lbs is approaching GT levels (400 ft lbs).

If it is optioned appropriately, it would be a nice step up from the EB 4.

 

[EJS2016]

Trust me, I get the whole manual transmission experience (first new car was a 5 speed '86 GT)

However, I think that the CAFE standards will dictate the business case for advanced automatics rather than consumer demand for a manual transmission.

The 2021 S650 scenario may be that automatics are standard and manuals are offered as a no charge option for the more economical base/entry level and mid-performance (GT) models.

The high-end / high-horsepower models (GT 500) could conceivably offer a manual as an extra cost option along with a potential added gas guzzler surcharge.

 

[CompO5.sl0w]

I'd expect major performance changes for 2018. The last time Ford did a major body AND engine change in the same MY was 2005.

Hopefully we'll see a new 5.0 with PI/DI with a better Performance Pack option. No more V6, and a 2.3 PI/DI EcoBoost with the RS HP Rating. Oh, and 10 speed auto.

 

[dddd]

I'd expect major performance changes for 2018. The last time Ford did a major body AND engine change in the same MY was 2005.

Hopefully we'll see a new 5.0 with PI/DI with a better Performance Pack option. No more V6, and a 2.3 PI/DI EcoBoost with the RS HP Rating. Oh, and 10 speed auto.

This is what I'm expecting also, and for the same reasons that you have suggested

 

[15wile]

Well if you look at people like Porsche, they are now realizing that some people prefer the manual experience over the absolute fastest straight-line performance. This is why the Cayman GT4 was manual only and Porsche is going to go back to offering a manual in the next GT3. The supercars all got rid of manuals because they're slower and those cars are constantly chasing the bragging rights to be the fastest straight-line performers in every way. The Mustang will get the fast shifting 10-speed automatic for 2018 for the drag racers but I think the manual will still be offered because the Mustang doesn't have the same mission as a supercar. It's an old-school style recipe for fun, RWD, V8 in an affordable package. The rest of the car market does have a dwindling interest in manuals, but companies (like Porsche and Aston Martin) are listening to the enthusiasts and keeping them around for the purists. I'm not sure of the sales breakdown for the Mustang but it seems like there's still a large amount of manual purchases. Alienating that whole demographic by getting rid of a popular option would be foolish.

Not really foolish. Yes, there are manual purists -- still a good many of them. When I bought this car people were all "I'm so glad you got the manual, that's a real muscle car!" Of course, I didn't give a f*ck, I got it for me, but whatever. The purists are a thing.

Here's the catch, though. Manual purists are a declining market. I mean how many in America even know how to drive stick? What, like 10%, tops? Mostly older folks, too. Add to that better straight line performance with these 8 and 10 speed autos, and performance at the track (with DSGs and other manual-shift trickery) starting to edge it out too... no, the writing is on the wall for the stick, my friend. It retains a certain cool nostalgia value for some people, and for others it's just fun to drive (that'd be me). But those folks are vanishing.

I don't know exactly when the stick will die. Maybe it keeps going in 2018 and 2020 for a bit longer. Maybe not. But the time will come when it will die, and you'll have to go conversion to get one. In the meantime, though, I do agree with the other guy here who posted that we'll probably see autos become the standard option soon, with manual as the no-cost option. That will be when the phase out begins.

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