2015 Mustang to gain 200-300 pounds?

[nester7929]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

Sure...its all rumors and such and maybe the car won't gain any weight, but as I mentioned above R&T have a separate source claiming weight gain, and now Jalopnik has gone and gotten info from their own source, who is once again, claiming a weight gain.

Yeah, but that Jalopnik source ended up being an ass pull, which is what my post was about. Haven't seen the R&T article.

I don't recall Ford ever saying it would be lighter (although I certainly wouldn't mind), but I think most people are assuming it will be heavier due to the IRS. I remember the SVT Cobra gaining a fair amount of weight from it.

[crysalis_01]

I'm wondering if all the confusion is coming from Ford cutting weight in the chassis, thusly "meeting their goals", but then gaining it back in all the content. Much like C7 did. Ford could be alluding to loses that they've met...in the chassis, but that's not the whole picture.


Nester, the ILIRS is nothing like the traditional IRS that's in the '99-'04 Cobras, or the current Camaro for that matter. The traditional systems have lot of additional structure that isn't present in the ILIRS design. So weight gain in comparison to the traditional system is much less.

[VADER SS L99]

Originally Posted by nester7929

Yeah, but that Jalopnik source ended up being an ass pull, which is what my post was about. Haven't seen the R&T article.

I don't recall Ford ever saying it would be lighter (although I certainly wouldn't mind), but I think most people are assuming it will be heavier due to the IRS. I remember the SVT Cobra gaining a fair amount of weight from it.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eF924X3c4Tw

Chief engineer says their target weight loss goal is 200lbs and within reach. Now no intelligent person should have thought that it was going to lose weight after seeing the new dimensions but if the car ends up 250lbs heavier after he said that I think it's a pretty big epic fail. Ford has gone on record saying weight was a concern and they were going to be aggressive in persuing ways to take weight out of the car. Now Ford isn't the only one who promises stuff like this and doesn't deliver (GM/C7) but anything over 150lbs is just a slap in the face. Rumor probably isn't true though as I have a hard time believing Ford would do that to themselves.

[Fenderaddict2]

Originally Posted by 1QwikZ28

How do you know the Camaro will be lighter?

My worry as well. The Mustang team set out to make this car lighter. We know there was then a midpoint design change to accommodate updated crash requirements (incorrectly reported as a failed crash test at the time), so I'm sure that added unexpected weight. Then there's the upgraded materials, increased content, IRS and larger dimensions. So at this point I'm guessing equal to outgoing car, or slightly over. Then the testing and some parts need to be beefed up. More gain. Then the worst off all, bean counters who need to offset costs incurred because of the above and you have yet more gain. I'm sure the numbers haven't been released yet because the required "diet" is probably an ongoing issue within Ford, how to address it both in engineering and the press. So, a fail perhaps, but based on the scenario above, one that could befall the Camaro. Of course GM has the advantage of following Ford, reading how this really does hurt then, if at all and how to prepare and adapt to avoid the same issue(s). This weight gain simply isn't good news for any fan of inexpensive American made performance vehicles.

[Bhobbs]

Originally Posted by Fenderaddict2

My worry as well. The Mustang team set out to make this car lighter. We know there was then a midpoint design change to accommodate updated crash requirements (incorrectly reported as a failed crash test at the time), so I'm sure that added unexpected weight. Then there's the upgraded materials, increased content, IRS and larger dimensions. So at this point I'm guessing equal to outgoing car, or slightly over. Then the testing and some parts need to be beefed up. More gain. Then the worst off all, bean counters who need to offset costs incurred because of the above and you have yet more gain. I'm sure the numbers haven't been released yet because the required "diet" is probably an ongoing issue within Ford, how to address it both in engineering and the press. So, a fail perhaps, but based on the scenario above, one that could befall the Camaro. Of course GM has the advantage of following Ford, reading how this really does hurt then, if at all and how to prepare and adapt to avoid the same issue(s). This weight gain simply isn't good news for any fan of inexpensive American made performance vehicles.

The difference is Ford is going from an already lightweight chassis and adding IRS, updated crash requirements and increased rigidity. The Camaro is coming from a chassis designed for strength without as much regard to weight to a chassis designed specifically for high performance cars. It already had IRS, a relatively rigid chassis and one that was strengthened by adding mass. The Alpha should, or at least I would hope, have taken the lessons learned from Zeta and Zeta II so that it is both lighter and stronger.

[khell86]

Originally Posted by Bhobbs

The difference is Ford is going from an already lightweight chassis and adding IRS, updated crash requirements and increased rigidity. The Camaro is coming from a chassis designed for strength without as much regard to weight to a chassis designed specifically for high performance cars. It already had IRS, a relatively rigid chassis and one that was strengthened by adding mass. The Alpha should, or at least I would hope, have taken the lessons learned from Zeta and Zeta II so that it is both lighter and stronger.

You've got remember though that the current alpha platform doesnt have the same wheelbase as the camaro. Increasing the wheelbase will add weight.

[KMPrenger]

Originally Posted by khell86

You've got remember though that the current alpha platform doesnt have the same wheelbase as the camaro. Increasing the wheelbase will add weight.

ATS is within two inches of the same wheel base...so its close. You are right, in that if they add length, then weight will be added, but i have very HARD time believing that if they use Alpha, and even if they make the car with the same dimensions, that it will end up as heavy as Zeta.

Heck, the base CTS weighs a bit under 3,700 lbs, and its a bigger car than ATS. I'm pretty sure a CTS with all the goodies (but not the twin turbo V6) weighs between 3,800 to 3,900 lbs on Alpha. I can't see why GM would want to make Camaro on the same wheelbase as CTS, so surely the car would come in at a base weight of well under 3,700 lbs, which the current Camaro V6 does not do.

But if they go with ATS dimensions, i still think a 3,400 lb base weight (I'm talking base V6) is doable.

[scrming]

Originally Posted by nester7929

Nope.

http://jalopnik.com/mustang-may-weig...oro-1584907584

Tuner Didn't Actually Weigh '15 Mustang, Has No Idea If Gained Weight

The other day we reported on a rumor from Ford tuner Steeda, which said that the 2015 Ford Mustang would actually be gaining a few hundred pounds over the last generation, contrary to Ford's pronouncement of a weight loss. Now it turns out that rumor might have been full of crap.

On Saturday, Steeda put up a blog post, originally spotted by Mustang6G, heralding their development work on performance parts for the new Mustang, and implying that they actually had one of the new models in their possession. The post has since been changed, deleting this accompanying photo showing a team actually working on an example of the new Mustang:

It's unclear whether or not the post has been altered otherwise.

The post went on to definitively state that the Mustang had actually gained a whole bunch of weight, contrary to Ford's predictions, emphasis mine:

Our work is cut out for us because unbeknown to most Mustang aficionados (and not "officially" confirmed by Ford for obvious reasons), the 2015 Mustang ended up gaining 200-300 pounds in this remake – and with weight being the "enemy of performance", there are plenty of challenges needed to ensure that the 2015 iteration of America's favorite Pony Car isn't left at the starting line spinning its wheels against the competition.

That's a huge bombshell, because an extra 200-300 pounds can have a significant detrimental effect on performance, and would take the huge selling point that the Mustang is leaner than its Camaro and Challenger counterparts away.

But now that huge bombshell of a statement of fact looks like it could've just been based on a big stinking guess, instead. A user on the Mustang6G forums going by the handle of "Seth@Steeda" said that they hadn't actually, ya know, based that weight figure on anything real, but more just about what they think maybe, kinda, sorta, would happen.


In case that's a little hard to read, I've quoted it below:
Based on our experience working with IRS mustangs in the past we estimated what the weight addition will be. In addition current industry trends with new cars show additional weight being added for various new safety and comfort features.

So no, the Mustang did not definitely gain a whole fat guy in weight. Steeda just guessed that, and made that potentially damaging guess public, because why not. Nevermind that many vehicles are actually getting lighter than their predecessors, due in part to more advanced materials and manufacturing techniques.

(And those lighter vehicles including the F-150, which is some 700 pounds lighter than its predecessor, which is made by (*AHEM*) Ford. A company Steeda is very familiar with. So I'm not sure they should just be assuming that what goes in the past goes for the future as well.)

I called up Steeda to confirm their original claim, and to confirm whether or not "Seth@Steeda" actually worked for the company.

I'm still waiting on an official response.

As for the 2015 Mustang's actual weight, we still don't know. Ford hasn't released it, as part of their marketing strategy to slowly, painfully drip out information in an effort to lengthen the news cycle.

Nevertheless, I reached out to Ford to see if they could clear this mess up, and definitively say on which side of the coin the new Mustang would come down on.

They haven't responded yet, either.

And let me guess Steeda will just happen to have some lightweight replacement parts to sell you!

[camaro-dreamer]

The official Ford response is that weights have not been released.
http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/show...&postcount=828

[87GNX]

Originally Posted by camaro-dreamer

The official Ford response is that weights have not been released.
http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/show...&postcount=828

In other words we need to sell as many 14's as possible lol....Ford would have been bragging and grinning by now if this car was going to lose weight.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by 87GNX

Ford would have been bragging and grinning by now if this car was going to lose weight.

Like when they introduced the 2015 F-150 (which should go on sale sometime this fall) that is supposed to weigh 700 lbs less than the outgoing model?

[crysalis_01]

Do we have exact weights of the upcoming F-150 yet? Or just vague approximations of "700lb less"?

If not, then Mustang not in any different position as F-150 is; both will be available this fall, both have been said to possibly lose weight, and we as the buying public have no idea what that weight loss may...or may not, be.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by crysalis_01

Do we have exact weights of the upcoming F-150 yet? Or just vague approximations of "700lb less"?

If not, then Mustang not in any different position as F-150 is; both will be available this fall, both have been said to possibly lose weight, and we as the buying public have no idea what that weight loss may...or may not, be.

We don't have an exact weight, but Ford has been saying since January that the new truck will be 'up to 700 lbs lighter' (like in this press release). It would be pretty absurd to make such a claim, and then 10 or so months later when it finally goes on sale for it to be 70 lbs heavier. So it would be a pretty safe bet, in my opinion, that the new trucks are going to be substantially lighter than the ones they replace -otherwise there isn't much point in highlighting the efforts made to reduce its weight. It might be a few hundred pounds, it might be several hundred. But its probably not going to be roughly the same (or heavier).

On the other hand, I haven't seen Ford make a single statement regarding the weight of the new Mustang (heavier or lighter). If there were something worth bragging about, they probably would have done it by now. After all, a lightweight Mustang would be of far more interest to buyers than a lightweight pickup truck.

[khell86]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

We don't have an exact weight, but Ford has been saying since January that the new truck will be 'up to 700 lbs lighter' (like in this press release). It would be pretty absurd to make such a claim, and then 10 or so months later when it finally goes on sale for it to be 70 lbs heavier. So it would be a pretty safe bet, in my opinion, that the new trucks are going to be substantially lighter than the ones they replace -otherwise there isn't much point in highlighting the efforts made to reduce its weight. It might be a few hundred pounds, it might be several hundred. But its probably not going to be roughly the same (or heavier).

On the other hand, I haven't seen Ford make a single statement regarding the weight of the new Mustang (heavier or lighter). If there were something worth bragging about, they probably would have done it by now. After all, a lightweight Mustang would be of far more interest to buyers than a lightweight pickup truck.

I think its actually the opposite man. What seems to be a huge selling point right now for trucks is MPG. It was a huge point chevy made with their new line of engines. It's now a huge selling point for the Ram 1500 with its new diesel option. Not so much in regards to sports cars though. No one is out there buying the C7 because of its 28 mpg highway rating.