What the Trunk Should Have Been (IMO)

[williamwally]

Just my thoughts on how the S550's trunk could be more usable/cool in a hatch, style: ala the new BMW 4 series "grand coupe"

Look at the trunk lines, you can't see the hatch line because it's along the edge of the glass, which would work perfectly on the '15's design IMO.

I think a trunk like this wouldn't take away anything from the '15 and add more versatility and be another cool feature/selling point.

open:

closed:

Motortrend has more good photos of the interior/exterior trunk action (that I can't seem to link the photos to this post):

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests..._4_series_gran_coupe_first_look/photo_22.html

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[Typhoon]

then it would be a hatchback.

 

[Grimace427]

I think Ford could build a model that features that design, but for the Mustang I think it would detract from the maximum possible structural rigidity, add weight, and add cost.

 

[Allerick]

I agree williamwally. I don't think it will really impact whether I get one or not, but I think that hatch would be really cool!

 

[williamwally]

I think Ford could build a model that features that design, but for the Mustang I think it would detract from the maximum possible structural rigidity, add weight, and add cost.

It would add cost that's for sure. I wonder if the weight penalty would be that much, but I guess it could be. I can't find the thread, but it was posted somewhere on this site or SVT forums that the mustang is already one of the most torsionally ridged cars around, so there might not be a huge compromise there.

Just a thought

 

[Grimace427]

It would add cost that's for sure. I wonder if the weight penalty would be that much, but I guess it could be. I can't find the thread, but it was posted somewhere on this site or SVT forums that the mustang is already one of the most torsionally ridged cars around, so there might not be a huge compromise there.

Just a thought

I think it would be cool, as long as the design is well sorted with compromises as minimal as possible. For the next generation Focus I think it would really shine especially in a coupe form because it would maximise the practicality while keeping the overall size the same.

 

[w3rkn]

Isn't the Lincoln version of the s550, going to be 5-door..?

 

[Fox9350]

We need a render of a 2015 with a hatch. Definitely miss the hatch.

 

[TampaBear67]

I was personally hoping the 2015 was going to be a Hatchback much like the Aston Martin Vantage. It Looks like a Coupe with Hatchback versatility. In reading the in depth interviews the designers did toy with the idea, but I think Engineering won out for a stiffer structure that a Coupe offers Over a Hatchback. Not to mention the Car they have in their Cross hairs as a Benchmark, the BMW 3/4 Series Coupe is not a Hatch.

 

[wproctor411]

It almost was an idea but not much else...
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/ford-says-2015-mustang-could-have-been-a-hatchback-76298.html

 

[Free Agent]

A setup like that has to severely impede the view out of your rearview mirror. Either go with a hatch or like Mustang does. This half and half looks like a jack of all trades and a master of none.

 

[williamwally]

A setup like that has to severely impede the view out of your rearview mirror. Either go with a hatch or like Mustang does. This half and half looks like a jack of all trades and a master of none.

It could be, looks that way on the BMW, but I'm not sure that's always the case. I haven't heard that the Audi A7 suffers from that problem.

 

[Stephen]

Ford knows how to do it - the Mondeo is like that - a hatch with sedan lines. Where do you think the be Fusion gets it cropped trunk roof line? I think they held off for three reasons: less rigidity from removing the support across the trunk (look at the be C-pillars as it is), cost, and their belief that there is not a big enough hatch market in the USA. Recall that they developed a focus sedan specifically for NA because they thought the hatch wouldn't sell enough. Same with the Fusion.

 

[tbonez3858]

The rear of this car "corrects" itself with a very small spoiler...the pic of the orange concept gt500 shows what a small split spoiler would look like and it looks great..

There are loads of aftermarket part companies working on it as we speak and there will be great options.

 

[S550Boss]

I would rather have seen a hatch for practical purposes. My Fox Mustangs were all hatches and I could easily fit take my race tires, tools, and camping gear to any track. Later Mustangs with a trunk made that very difficult and now with the S197 it's impossible. And it's not just the depth, it's also the dimensions of the opening. All tiny.
There is usually a loss of rigidity with a hatch... but not necessarily. A brace could be run under the floor (aka 370Z) to provide the necessary structure. And like the Z the hatch could be aluminum. What extra weight is gained is all in the rear - which is a good thing in the inherently nose-heavy V-8 Mustang.
But remember that the S550 is an evolution of the S197, *not* an all-new platform. The structure underneath is all but the same as the S197. So a hatch can't just be dropped in without adding considerable weight and complexity, as well as impacting the necessary convertible. A truly all-new platform would have cost considerably more money than sales justify.
Here's the current Z. Being designed from the start for an IRS (no "hump" for a live axle swinging around, and a much smaller driveshaft tunnel), it's floor is very low - so that allows the cross-brace. Look at how all of the rear structure is very carefully tied in together. This is another example of what makes the FM platform exceptional.

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