What do we know about the 2018?

[Twin Turbo]

I watched "A Faster Horse" again, today.

There's a great bit where Tom Barnes makes the sound of a V8 engine and states "you just know when it's a Mustang" :clap2:

It was interesting that this was interspersed with flashbacks to the early 90s when the Mustang nearly went FWD. They listened to the Ford faithful and normal service was resumed with the SN95 and the Probe took the FWD architecture.

I believe Mustang is in good hands with Team Mustang :ford:

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[Tony Alonso]

That's an odd thing to say when none of us know anything about what Ford understands. One thing they do understand is money. And one thing they have little control over is emission regulations. The regulations that will force them to change.

And the 4cil ecoboost has proven that it can be a success to deviate from the "heritage". And in the end the die hard enthusiasts are only a very small portion of the sales. The money is at the people that never owned a Mustang.

We only have our opinions here, and the fact is we do not know what Ford understands or what they will do. They will be dropping the V8 at some point, the question is when.

No, it really isn't odd when you look at how much Ford and the Mustang team does to interact with the customers, potential buyers and fans. One has to but look at their involvement with aftermarket, with events like Woodward Dream Cruise, the Ford Nationals at Carlisle and other similar events, with the Mustang Club of America, their participation and interaction with SEMA and companies building cars for SEMA to see how much value that they place on Mustang and the equity it has. Its absurd to say otherwise. While regulations will make things more difficult, cars like this can have a little leeway because of the higher MPG models in Ford's lineup. Mustang volume is just a fraction of the fleet that the regulations apply to as a whole.

And - they've been down the road of experiencing customer backlash when the car was (or was potentially becoming) turned into something that breaks the mold. You may not be aware of what Ford thinks about the Mustang, but to say that "none of us know anything about what Ford understands" is a bit off the mark. The people involved with the team that bring us the Mustang certain know what its worth, are passionate about it, and care about the product. And that enthusiasm filters down through the designers, the engineers, the suppliers, etc. Maybe you don't see that in the Netherlands, but its certainly the case here in Mustang's home market. I see it first hand.

Regarding the EcoBoost model, it doesn't really deviate from tradition in the grand scheme of things - Mustang has always had smaller, lesser motor options for base model and volume buyers, so what's the difference, what does that prove? That half to 2/3's of buyers (roughly speaking) don't "pony up" for the V8? That's not news, that's par for the course. But the model line was and is still defined as a V8 ponycar. It is still a model that's steeped in tradition and enthusiasm. I'd sooner believe that the day they pull the V8 from the Mustang is the day they pull the plug on the model as a whole. Its not likely to disappear anytime soon.

Double, come on over to the States to Detroit in August. I guarantee you will hear how much Ford management, engineers, designers, marketers, and others connected to the car understand it. I've had the good fortune to be at an event 2 years back when Bill Ford, Chairman of the Board, came out to talk with Mustang enthusiasts and look at their Mustangs which were all parked in front of the Ford World Headquarters. He knows what these cars mean, especially since he owns a number of them

For 2018, I hope we see an evolution of styling, and I expect a continued commitment to a V8-engined car for as long as market forces or government regulations don't strangle the feasibility of them because of cost or technical limits of the engine meeting those regulations.

The architecture of the 5.0L engine was supposedly designed to last a 10-year period, so since we first saw it in 2010, I think we have some good years left.

 

[Blue Horse]

I want some of what you guys are smoking !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[EcoSwag1990]

I hadn't heard about the 10yr projection for the coyote. I've read that it was setup so it could run direct injection but they went the cheaper route with PI. Do you think they would make that change before they retire the motor?

 

[Tony Alonso]

Do you think they would make that change before they retire the motor?

Not sure...as had been said before, Mustang benefits from what happens in the F150 line. That's where I look for clues to future changes.

 

[Double]

What I meant with " what Ford understands" is the investors, shareholders and the emissions. Which enthusiastic designers and engineers have zero influence over.

ofc losing the V8 might be a big hit to the community but it will happen and in the end I doubt it will change much. If you love the Mustang you love the Mustang. People might not like change but it won't be the end of the word.

 

[RNMAAS]

So, here is my free focus group advice on the V6 with an N=1.

Give us a V6 with the current options. Add the following as optional:
- Another interior color option
- Winter package with heated seats/mirrors
- Technology package with Sync 3 with the larger screen, upgraded stereo and homelink
- Navigation

Position it as the "cruiser" option.

 

[Twin Turbo]

Double, come on over to the States to Detroit in August. I guarantee you will hear how much Ford management, engineers, designers, marketers, and others connected to the car understand it. I've had the good fortune to be at an event 2 years back when Bill Ford, Chairman of the Board, came out to talk with Mustang enthusiasts and look at their Mustangs which were all parked in front of the Ford World Headquarters. He knows what these cars mean, especially since he owns a number of them

For 2018, I hope we see an evolution of styling, and I expect a continued commitment to a V8-engined car for as long as market forces or government regulations don't strangle the feasibility of them because of cost or technical limits of the engine meeting those regulations.

The architecture of the 5.0L engine was supposedly designed to last a 10-year period, so since we first saw it in 2010, I think we have some good years left.

Hey Tony

Detroit in August......are you referring to the Woodward festivities around the Dream Cruise? That is very much still on my bucket list and hope to do it in 2017. I was so gutted to have missed it last year when I came over for the Cobra Jet Show Down in Ohio....normally those events are back to back but, for the one year I made the trip, they were a couple of weeks apart :frusty:

As for the Coyote......I'm pretty confident it'll be the mainstay for the rest of the S550 timeline. I'm less confident from the '21MY onwards and whether it'll still feature in S650. I hope, at the very least, there's at least the option of a V8. Otherwise, there will be a rather less pleasant gathering outside Ford World HQ in August 2020 addle:

:ford:

 

[Swamp Yankee]

So... Lots of discussion of engines. Which is understandable. How about potential suspension upgrades for 2018. Does anyone imagine that the MagneRide setup will be an option for the GT? Or does it seem like that will that remain solely in the realm of the special editions? I haven't seen or read anything from Ford on the subject in the news, however it seems to me that it's a feature lots of folks would like and would be willing to pay for.

 

[TheDivaDanielle]

So, here is my free focus group advice on the V6 with an N=1.

Give us a V6 with the current options. Add the following as optional:
- Another interior color option
- Winter package with heated seats/mirrors
- Technology package with Sync 3 with the larger screen, upgraded stereo and homelink
- Navigation

Position it as the "cruiser" option.

yeah, totally not happening. v6 is going away quite soon. really only exists now for fleet/rentals anyway. US is the only market with the v6, i can't see it lasting until 2020

 

[Spartan]

V6 is gone in '18 almost a guarantee considering the '17 order sheet took a bunch of stuff off it.

You'll see the either 2.7 & 3.5 EB sooner or later in the Mustang...

What I'd love is a AWD option in the S650-60. I think that would bring a whole new slew of buyers into the fold.

 

[5pointOh]

V6 is gone in '18 almost a guarantee considering the '17 order sheet took a bunch of stuff off it.

You'll see the either 2.7 & 3.5 EB sooner or later in the Mustang...

What I'd love is a AWD option in the S650-60. I think that would bring a whole new slew of buyers into the fold.

from what I have seen underneath this car there is no room for AWD. Even if there was some way to make it work, it would probably be limited to the ecoboost due to packaging issues. I know FCA has done AWD on the Challenger as a concept and there is a pretty good chance that it makes it into production but even though the concept had the 5.7 I would be surprised if approved that it would get anything other than the 3.6. The Challenger is also much bigger than the Mustang so they had the extra room to work with.

 

[EXP Jawa]

Well, he said AWD on S650 - not S550. For all we know, that chassis may be evolved enough to allow it, especially if Ford decides to use the same basic platform for a RWD-based Lincoln or something. Since we know even less about S650 than we do about 2018MY S550, we can't rule anything out (even if it is unlikely)...

 

[K-Roll302]

Engine Options (Again)

Okay, I know I mention engines quite a bit when it comes to 2018. But I had a thought about it last night.

Looking at Camaro, we know it has a I4-V6-V8 lineup and Mustang currently has V6-I4-V8 lineup for 2017. As far as I'm concerned, the 3.7L is gone after this MY. But from a buyers standpoint and to align itself with Camaro, why not add a EBV6 in the middle to give Mustang the same basic engine lineup as Camaro? Completely disregarding tunes and aftermarket, keep the EB at its current power figures, and offer an optional EBV6 for a set price; just like the V6 is an optional extra on Camaro. That gives you two basic and standard Mustang models (GT350, GT500, and Mach 1 aside), the EB and GT, but three engine options. :shrug:

My other theory is Ford could pull a "1969" on us, so to speak, and make the Mach 1 what the GT is now, with performance bits and upgrades from the GT350, and make the GT an EBV6. But that's more of a stretch.

Anything new powertrain-wise is what's keeping me waiting for 2018.

 

[Spartan]

from what I have seen underneath this car there is no room for AWD. Even if there was some way to make it work, it would probably be limited to the ecoboost due to packaging issues. I know FCA has done AWD on the Challenger as a concept and there is a pretty good chance that it makes it into production but even though the concept had the 5.7 I would be surprised if approved that it would get anything other than the 3.6. The Challenger is also much bigger than the Mustang so they had the extra room to work with.

Oh I'm not saying the S550, I'm saying the next gen S650-660 or whatever they call it.

I mean look at Audis, they have Quattro in all their models even the sub compact A1.

I think it's honestly the next step for Ford in making the Mustang more global and a bigger seller, especially in Europe.

I took out an S3 this weekend for a spin and my lord on that car's handling/acceleration with Quattro. That S3 is a nice packaged car and honestly probably the sweet spot. I'd take it over an S4/S5.

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