In an interview with Ford of Europe design chief, Martin Smith at the Geneva Auto Show, the Ford executive acknowledged the immense challenge in designing the 2015 Mustang, rumored to be on the new s550 platform.  Mr. Smith said that Ford has “a knife edge to walk” in designing a new Mustang that maintains the beloved Mustang identity while appealing to new customers in Europe and other parts of the world:

GENEVA — Ford Motor Co.’s product development team is facing its toughest challenge yet in developing a global design language: creating a Mustang that works outside North America.

The next Mustang, scheduled to arrive next year, is scheduled for sale in Europe and other parts of the world. For Ford of Europe design chief Martin Smith, that means Ford has “a knife edge to walk” in keeping the fabled pony car attractive to American loyalists while appealing to new buyers.

“That is a really interesting challenge,” Smith said in an interview at the Geneva auto show. “What will emerge from that whole process is one of the best sports cars in the world and one that is still affordable.”
“It won’t cost $1 million,” he added, in a reference to the several seven-figure models on display in Geneva.

The development process is moving the Mustang to Ford global design and engineering standards, while trying to maintain its identity as “a North American icon,” Smith said. The next-generation Ford Edge also will be sold in Europe.

Although a few Mustangs have been sold in Europe by private importers, Ford will sell the next generation through its dealer network as part of the “one Ford” push initiated by CEO Alan Mulally.
Ford also showed the five-seat Tourneo Connect, the next generation of the Transit Connect in the United States.

 

[Source: Dave Guilford of Auto News]

Just two days after Edmunds reported that the 2015 Ford Mustang would receive Ford’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine as an Europe-only option, Road & Track has just disputed this bit of info and, according to them, “confirmed” that the U.S. will in fact get the 2.3L turbo four. Further, don’t bet on it being the base engine, either:

“Bet on the base 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 sticking around as the lowest-cost entry point for Mustang buyers. That means the EcoBoost is likely to come in at over 300 horsepower, as it’s unlikely Ford could otherwise sell Americans on a less powerful four-banger as an “upgrade,” despite the attendant benefits related to fuel economy. The V8 will remain the range-topper in the GT, as well it should.”

The previous rumors of an European-only 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine by Edmunds was met with mixed reactions and debate. But, if this new rumor is true, all fans (or critics) of the next Mustang receiving the Ecoboost 4 cylinder turbo should be satisfied, as this means the 2015 Mustang will offer all powertrains – a V6, Ecoboost 4 cylinder, and a 8 cylinder.

But, we now have conflicting reports on this issue from two major sources, so time will tell which is actually true.

[Source: Road & Track]

For well over a year now, there have been rumors of a four-cylinder engine making its return to the 50th Anniversary of the Mustang.  Until now, it has been assumed that the four-cylinder would be offered in the United States.  Edmunds.com is now reporting, after speaking to Ford executives at the Geneva Auto Show, that the 2015 Ford Mustang is slated to get a fuel-efficient 2.3-liter four-cylinder, but only for European editions.  We certainly did not expect any news about the 2015 Mustang to come out of Geneva, but this is a welcome surprise!

Just the Facts:

• The 2015 Ford Mustang is slated to get a fuel-efficient 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, but only for European editions.
• The engine is based on the turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine featured in the 2013 Ford Focus ST.
• Engine output is likely to rise from 252 horsepower to 300 hp in 2.3-liter form, according to company insiders.

GENEVA — The 2015 Ford Mustang is slated to get a fuel-efficient 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, but only for European editions of the pony car, Edmunds learned at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show.

The four-cylinder engine is not expected to be offered to Mustang buyers in the U.S. The small four-cylinder engine will be offered to European buyers as a more economical, low-emissions alternative to the V8 engine in the Mustang, which is likely to be highly taxed in Europe. European buyers who feel that a Mustang should only have a V8 engine will be offered that as well.

The four-cylinder engine in the European Mustang is based on the turbocharged 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine featured in the 2013 Ford Focus ST.

Engine output is likely to rise from 252 horsepower to 300 hp in 2.3-liter form, according to company insiders. The 2013 Ford Focus ST achieves 23 mpg in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway, according to the automaker.

Ford announced that the Mustang would be sold in Europe last September as part of the company’s aggressive product acceleration in Europe.

“You only have to look at the incredible response to Mustang when it has appeared this summer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, in the U.K., and at the Le Mans Classic, in France, to get a sense of the excitement this American icon generates across Europe,” said Stephen Odell, Ford of Europe CEO, in a statement at the time.

“The Mustang is uniquely Ford and has a huge fan base here in Europe. Now those fans have something to look forward to and we look forward to providing more details in the near future.”

No word yet on Mustang pricing in Europe.