Why is This Car so Heavy?

[tlr3715]

I love my S650 but one thing I do notice every time I drive is how heavy it feels and I often find myself in my thoughts while I’m driving wondering why the car is as heavy as it is.

In context with my history of cars it seems unusually heavy. For example I owned quite a few Firebirds and Camaros throughout the years which are similar to a Mustang in that they are 2+2 steel frame 6 speed manual 2 door cars with a large V8 out front. With the older ones being about 3,400 lbs, a newer Camaro being about 3,700 lbs and the Mustang being about 100 lbs over that. It’s a big weight increase in vehicles in general over time even with them no longer coming with a 50+ lb spare anymore.

I hear a lot of people say it’s new safety and sensor standards but would like to understand what that means in a clearer way. Is it that the frames are built with more/thicker material than in years past? Do the sensors used in collision detection and automated cruise control weigh down the car? Is it the extra air bags? Do electronic braking, steering, and throttle systems weight more than the hydraulic systems they replace? The brakes have gotten bigger over time so I’m sure that’s a factor as well.

it’s probably a combination of many things getting more complex over time but am curious if anyone has insight into this weight increase phenomenon.

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[robvas]

There's a thread over on Mustang6G about what individual stuff weighs

Compared to the older car, things like wheels/brakes are bigger and those are heavier. The IRS is heavier than the old solid axle.

As far as Camaro vs Mustang, the Mustang is larger overall. And the LT1 engine is a little bit lighter than the Coyote.

 

[Sofa King]

They just keep putting more and more stuff on cars these days... the weight all adds up!

 

[Q6543]

My 2024 auto car was only 3700 stock, imagine the new chargers at 4800… sheesh
For a modern car they aren’t that heavy

Could just be the way the steering and stock springs make it feel that way, when I lowered my car with steeda springs and added rear cradle lockouts and locating dowels it drastically made is more aggressive handling = felt more nimble/lighter connected

 

[Snakebyte]

It's gotta be the iPads.

 

[Q6543]

I’m hoping for a 3rd in the next gen

 

[Upacurb]

It's gotta be the iPads.

And dont forget the extra air intake/ air filter .....I mean that had to add weight too!!


Joking aside...I think its the tuning in the steering/ suspension....I think they swung the refinement pendulum a little too far .......gives the impression of being heavier then it is

When I had my S550 PP1 it was amazing what some suspension and light wheels did to the feel of the car....would imagine the S650 would be no different......

 

[Alan Applegate]

Yes, more stuff equals more weight, but I'd sure like it a lot better if we could get rid of some of the overbearing firmware!

 

[MaddNomad]

And to think there are people who want the Mustang to move to a suv platform still. Lol

 

[DeluxeStang]

It's gotta be the iPads.

Easily a 500 lb addition.

 

[DeluxeStang]

And to think there are people who want the Mustang to move to a suv platform still. Lol

To be fair, I looked it up, a cd6 explorer on the low end weighs about 4,300 lbs, not much more than a GTD lol. Keep in mind that's a 7 seater crossover that's like a ft and a half taller than a mustang. Remove half the seats, and a ft and a half of height, and you'd probably be left with something that wasn't super far off the weight of the s650. Keep in mind certain versions of the explorer like the st kinda kick ass in some respects, they handle well for what they are, and can be fast as hell in a drag strip, especially modded.

So the bones wouldn't be terrible for a sport car chassis, especially considering how flexible modern platforms are. It's not really economically feasible for the mustang to get an all new modern platform without making the price insane, unless Ford shares that platform with other models to take advantage of economies of scale.

A rwd sporty unibody platform that underpinned the coupe, a sedan, a gas powered mach-e (because insiders have said the second gen will be gas powered) and the explorer wouldn't be a terrible idea. Engineers would actually get a budget, and might even be able to do things like convince Ford to switch to aluminum for body panels because they're saving so much money on not having to develop a one off platform.

 

[MaddNomad]

To be fair, I looked it up, a cd6 explorer on the low end weighs about 4,300 lbs, not much more than a GTD lol. Keep in mind that's a 7 seater crossover that's like a ft and a half taller than a mustang. Remove half the seats, and a ft and a half of height, and you'd probably be left with something that wasn't super far off the weight of the s650. Keep in mind certain versions of the explorer like the st kinda kick ass in some respects, they handle well for what they are, and can be fast as hell in a drag strip, especially modded.

So the bones wouldn't be terrible for a sport car chassis, especially considering how flexible modern platforms are. It's not really economically feasible for the mustang to get an all new modern platform without making the price insane, unless Ford shares that platform with other models to take advantage of economies of scale.

A rwd sporty unibody platform that underpinned the coupe, a sedan, a gas powered mach-e (because insiders have said the second gen will be gas powered) and the explorer wouldn't be a terrible idea. Engineers would actually get a budget, and might even be able to do things like convince Ford to switch to aluminum for body panels because they're saving so much money on not having to develop a one off platform.

Too be realistic though, if you’re turning the Mustang into a premium product with variants taking on 911s, C8s etc you want to have a bespoke platform that isn’t compromised. S550/650 is a good start but dynamically putting it on a suv based one would compromise things. That’s why Toyota for example has 4 or more variants of TNGA platforms that underpin certain class of cars (sub compact, compact, mid size, executive, SUVs and trucks) even have a sports car one they haven’t quite used yet until the GRGT.

The new Charger is the only modern car I know of that’s riding on a suv platform, and it’s been the opposite of what people want in that car

 

[LouG]

1720- 1750kgs is not that heavy, about the same as an M2 which is physically smaller.
They could build it out of unobtanium, save 200kgs and most of us couldn't afford it.
It's power to weight ratio is pretty damn good, and people want all the mod cons in their cars now.
I certainly do

 

[roket]

it's an 11 model year old chassis architecture that had stuff patched on to be updated a couple years ago. the unibody is steel. here's some weight comparison points:
S550 Mustang GT: ~3500 lbs (steel unibody)
S650 Mustang GT: ~3800 lbs (steel unibody)
Lexus LC500: ~4300 lbs (steel + aluminum unibody)
Bentley Continental GT: ~5400 lbs (steel + aluminum unibody)
Chevrolet Camaro: ~3800 lbs (steel + aluminum unibody)
BMW M2 Competition: ~3600 lbs (steel + aluminum unibody)
Chevrolet Corvette: ~3600 lbs (aluminum space frame)
Aston Martin Vantage: ~3800 lbs (bonded aluminum)
Toyota Camry TRD: ~3600 lbs (steel unibody)

so the Mustang is pretty average in the world of modern performance coupes/sedans. i think the reason it's gotten to its current weight is not only the pure steel unibody, but also just a bunch of little things; stuff that only adds a couple pounds here and there, but together add a lot more. the constantly increasing amount of required standard safety features is partly to blame for weight, but definitely not the only cause.

my best guess to the main contributors to weight is the brakes (iron, and 15 inch on GTPP and DH), doors (steel, and rather large, with large windows), and wheels (cast aluminum alloy). if you swapped on carbon ceramic brakes, carbon fiber doors with fixed polycarbonate windows, and forged magnesium wheels, i bet you would drop like 250 lbs off

 

[DeluxeStang]

Too be realistic though, if you’re turning the Mustang into a premium product with variants taking on 911s, C8s etc you want to have a bespoke platform that isn’t compromised. S550/650 is a good start but dynamically putting it on a suv based one would compromise things. That’s why Toyota for example has 4 or more variants of TNGA platforms that underpin certain class of cars (sub compact, compact, mid size, executive, SUVs and trucks) even have a sports car one they haven’t quite used yet until the GRGT.

The new Charger is the only modern car I know of that’s riding on a suv platform, and it’s been the opposite of what people want in that car

But aren't a lot of enthusiasts mad about the mustang moving more upmarket? They want it to become more affordable again. You can't have a new platform, a niche product, and a low price unless that product is shared with other models to get volume on your side.

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