Should There Be a Trim Level Between GT and DH?

[Hack]

Plus the size differences between a 911 and the current Mustang platform have much to do with the engine/powertrain. As good as the Coyote motor is, it is not the most compact propulsion unit out there. The car was designed to accommodate this motor and that set the exterior sizing limits.

I agree the Coyote is large, but Ford didn't try hard to make the Mustang as small and light as possible. There's a lot of room in the engine compartment, inside the car, and the trunk is HUGE. They didn't even work hard to get the engine close to the ground for a better COG.

The 911 on the other hand has been sharpened to a knife's edge getting weight and size out of the car. It does have a 4 liter 6 cylinder with dual overhead cams in it. That engine is not much smaller than the Coyote. The latest generation has gotten larger, but it's still ~300 lbs lighter than the Mustang.

Just compare the size of the back seats and the 911 frunk vs. the Mustang trunk. Huge difference.

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[zstanny]

That’s because if they made the backseat any smaller in the mustang, it wouldn’t be usable, and a lot of ‘muricans would have to look elsewhere.

911 folks ain’t worried about getting kids in the back and Porsche knows that and like you said, refines the heck out of it.

I agree the Coyote is large, but Ford didn't try hard to make the Mustang as small and light as possible. There's a lot of room in the engine compartment, inside the car, and the trunk is HUGE. They didn't even work hard to get the engine close to the ground for a better COG.

The 911 on the other hand has been sharpened to a knife's edge getting weight and size out of the car. It does have a 4 liter 6 cylinder with dual overhead cams in it. That engine is not much smaller than the Coyote. The latest generation has gotten larger, but it's still ~300 lbs lighter than the Mustang.

Just compare the size of the back seats and the 911 frunk vs. the Mustang trunk. Huge difference.

 

[Hack]

That’s because if they made the backseat any smaller in the mustang, it wouldn’t be usable, and a lot of ‘muricans would have to look elsewhere.

911 folks ain’t worried about getting kids in the back and Porsche knows that and like you said, refines the heck out of it.

I've had large adults in the current Mustang back seat, and I'm tall. I wouldn't go on a long trip, but it's usable. I think for children or smaller people the seat could get ~1-2 inches smaller. And they could take a foot out of the trunk. And probably 6 inches to a foot out of the engine compartment. All that would add up to several hundred pounds saved and it would improve the car's performance a lot. And, being smaller, the car would actually cost less to manufacture.

 

[goodlettjr]

I read this and thought what most of you are stating GTT or GT2. But thinking back as I worked as a parts manager in a dealer with 10MM in inventory, the Mustang probably has the most trim packages / model options than any other Ford product.

Here is a list from 2015 to 2020 that covers 20 variations. Just think of door panels. They made a different door panel for most of these. Multiply those times the number of different colors and materials (avg. 4) and you have 80 different parts. Can’t tell you how often we would have to tell a body shop or retail customer that a part wasn’t available any longer. The red seatbelt will almost be immediately discontinued when they stop offering it in production. The remaining belts will got to the parts PDC and be sold down to zero. They will never order any more. You will have to get a different color and eventually they will only offer black. I would rather Ford have a good grouping of trim packages / model options and have better long-term support for our cars.

Ford Mustang GT
Ford Mustang GT 50 Year Limited Edition
Ford Mustang Shelby Super Snake
Ford Mustang GT/CS California Special
Ford Mustang Cobra Jet
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R
Ford Mustang Shelby Terlingua
Ford Mustang Shelby GT-H
Ford Mustang Shelby Super Snake
Ford Mustang Shadow Black Edition
Ford Mustang Blue Edition
Ford Mustang Bullitt
Ford Shelby GT
Ford Shelby GT-S
Ford Mustang 2.3L High Performance
Ford Mustang 55
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Ford Shelby GT350SE
Ford Shelby GT500SE

 

[Mike Pfeifer]

I’m pretty sure the DH is the in-between variant. We just haven’t seen the higher models yet.

 

[Q6543]

Reading all the people beg for the tremec… maybe it is a tremec problem and they don’t have the production capabilities for 10s of thousands of units per year?

 

[IceGamer]

I read this and thought what most of you are stating GTT or GT2. But thinking back as I worked as a parts manager in a dealer with 10MM in inventory, the Mustang probably has the most trim packages / model options than any other Ford product.

Here is a list from 2015 to 2020 that covers 20 variations. Just think of door panels. They made a different door panel for most of these. Multiply those times the number of different colors and materials (avg. 4) and you have 80 different parts. Can’t tell you how often we would have to tell a body shop or retail customer that a part wasn’t available any longer. The red seatbelt will almost be immediately discontinued when they stop offering it in production. The remaining belts will got to the parts PDC and be sold down to zero. They will never order any more. You will have to get a different color and eventually they will only offer black. I would rather Ford have a good grouping of trim packages / model options and have better long-term support for our cars.

Ford Mustang GT
Ford Mustang GT 50 Year Limited Edition
Ford Mustang Shelby Super Snake
Ford Mustang GT/CS California Special
Ford Mustang Cobra Jet
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R
Ford Mustang Shelby Terlingua
Ford Mustang Shelby GT-H
Ford Mustang Shelby Super Snake
Ford Mustang Shadow Black Edition
Ford Mustang Blue Edition
Ford Mustang Bullitt
Ford Shelby GT
Ford Shelby GT-S
Ford Mustang 2.3L High Performance
Ford Mustang 55
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
Ford Shelby GT350SE
Ford Shelby GT500SE

Most of the mentioned trims really are the same cars. Only difference is maybe a plate on the dash and or some stripes… GT, 50, 55, Black and Blue edition, CS Special are really nothing special at all. Literally the same car, slightly different spec that’s it. Nothing fancy that would require individual parts. A regular GT could’ve been speced like these cars…
Regarding the Shelbys… Most of them are individual tunes by external manufacturers. Ford is not responsible for Shelby America or other tunes…

The DH is the ‘in-between’ trim already. It offers a slightly tuned Coyote and some performance parts… It’s a Mach1/Bullitt with a different name. I’m curious if there will be another high performance version next to the GT500, which has already been ‘announced’ for 2025…. I doubt it though

 

[goodlettjr]

Most of the mentioned trims really are the same cars. Only difference is maybe a plate on the dash and or some stripes… GT, 50, 55, Black and Blue edition, CS Special are really nothing special at all. Literally the same car, slightly different spec that’s it. Nothing fancy that would require individual parts. A regular GT could’ve been speced like these cars…
Regarding the Shelbys… Most of them are individual tunes by external manufacturers. Ford is not responsible for Shelby America or other tunes…

The DH is the ‘in-between’ trim already. It offers a slightly tuned Coyote and some performance parts… It’s a Mach1/Bullitt with a different name. I’m curious if there will be another high performance version next to the GT500, which has already been ‘announced’ for 2025…. I doubt it though

Agree that they are really the same cars, but the tweak in a material, color, added colored piping, soft touch etc., makes for an entirely different door panel. I'm just giving a different view point about the support of vehicles when more models and trim differences are made.

 

[LETHAL]

You could still offer an in between without the DH's power bump.

That power bump is hardly earth shaking. To make up the 14hp from a active exhaust GT to DH is less than a tune away. And YES we will be able to tune these, regardless of what hoodoo some Ford engineer says about encryption non sense. A pair of K&N filters will be worth 2-5hp per norm.

 

[IPOGT]

DW?

Missed this one….DW=Dear Wife.

 

[Karguy]

I think Ford made a few big mistakes on the Mustang as in Design not going modern-retro as the design boss Anthony Lo just left...The Tremec should have been the default transmission for all GT's as also the additional oil coolers and the Dark Horse trim just called Track Package ! To differentiate the car more from the 5.0 and fill in the big hole in between the GTD (stupid name reminds me of the Golf Turbo Diesel ) they should bring a GT-R or better Boss 5.8 with a new block giving the Coyote more bore and much needed Torque also the F150 buyers who dont want the sucky sounding V6 Turbos but a V8 in their trucks...IMHO

 

[roadpilot]

I think Ford made a few big mistakes on the Mustang as in Design not going modern-retro as the design boss Anthony Lo just left...The Tremec should have been the default transmission for all GT's as also the additional oil coolers and the Dark Horse trim just called Track Package ! To differentiate the car more from the 5.0 and fill in the big hole in between the GTD (stupid name reminds me of the Golf Turbo Diesel ) they should bring a GT-R or better Boss 5.8 with a new block giving the Coyote more bore and much needed Torque also the F150 buyers who dont want the sucky sounding V6 Turbos but a V8 in their trucks...IMHO

Lick. Rinse. Repeat.

 

[RaceRedder]

Lick. Rinse. Repeat.

You do the same thing.

 

[Rocket Man]

yes, but he has a clue

 

[Karguy]

yes, but he has a clue

How so...LOL After 14 years of basically the same engine its about time to infuse some excitement as also this Coyote 5.8 would make a lot of F150 buyers happy who want V8 sound and some Torque but dont like the V6 turbo option....!

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