Why is This Car so Heavy?

[DeluxeStang]

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

Agreed. I believe the best solution instead of trying to shed a ton of weight by using expensive materials like carbon fiber, is to just improve weight distribution. I've said before I'd like for mustang to become front-mid to improve handling, like what the c7 offers.

Considering the fact that the Ecoboost is apparently front-mid already, or very close to it, I don't see this as an insanely difficult task. Keep the size about the same, push the front wheels forward a few inches and reduce the front overhang. It would make the car look a lot better, and improve performance.

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[MaddNomad]

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.

You can always platform share but with the Mustang in mind first, and a sedan/hatchback could benefit from the chassis. So for example, say the “S750” is basically what the Alpha Platform is, then you have a platform for SUVs only, and all the trucks get their own thing etc.

I’ve just never seen a one size fits all approach to vehicles without big compromises. Before the GRGT was made, Toyota was working on a LCF with the same V8 TT hybrid unit. It was so bad dynamically (rode on a frankensteined LS executive chassis) they axed it all together and decided to create something bespoke with the idea of using the chassis later with other RWD coupes. Keep this in mind the GRGT is about the weight of a Dark Horse.

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

If it wasn't for having a fully aluminum space frame, it'd probably weigh a damn sight more than a Dark Horse. Same wheelbase and roughly the same overall length, but a few inches wider than the Ford. Looks like a very impressive car

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Modern cars are much stiffer than older cars. Some of that stiffness came with a weight penalty. For the comparison with the Camaro, the outgoing 2024 Camaro ZL1 was two tons of fun.

The handling and NVH of modern cars means that they weigh more.

Older cars flexed, a lot.

 

[Cz_Ziemniak]

Older cars flexed, a lot.

Anyone who's driven a pre-facelift SAAB 93 'vert knows this well. Must be one of the softest spongiest chassis ever.

I swear, with the top down going 55 on the highway, if you jabbed the wheel left or right and back to center quickly, you could feel the wavelength of the chassis flextravel down the length, hit the tail, and reverb back to the front wheels. It 100% wasn't the tires. Absolutely shocking.

They did next to nothing to stiffen the chassis to make up for the lack of a roof until the facelift a few years later

 

[GeekGT5.0]

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.

The dash, seats and interior are not without weight too. the coyote i believe is in the 400lbs range, the IRS is hefty. But the mustang was never ever designed to be a "light weight, made to corner" kind of car. it's literally in the name, Mustang GT, that GT part stands for Grand Touring.

Touring cars are a little heavier because they have creature comforts, Ford has brought it a long way, while i love fox bodies and newedges, the S550's and S650's in my book are some of the greatest GT cares ever built. If you ever use it for what it's made for.

The idea of a GT car is that you can do long road trips in it, 1000+ miles. Then when you get into the mountains in summer time, you have a car that can have some fun in them. Like that's the purpose of a GT car.

I think a lot of people have forgotten this, but the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger were all GT cars. It's kind of funny that there was a horsepower war. I have a saying, it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow.

Hit the twisties in a 5.0 GT and an Ecoboost GT. Telling you right now, while the 5.0 is loud and fun, the Ecoboost would be more of a thrill in the twisties. 280hp - 385hp is like sweet spot for a GT car to be "fun" in the mountains. I know that sounds odd, but you actually have more fun when it's not punch it, bam 90mph dang near instantly.

Go on your next road trip and run 87 octane and let the car detune a little, then do your twisties. It's more fun to be in the throttle longer.

ANYWAYS, just experience from my 30 years of mustang ownership. These mustangs are absolutely fantastic. everyone trying to make big power, it's absolutely worthless when you use the car for what it's designed for. 480hp is actually overkill for a GT car. I said what i said. my son in law has a GR86, he's got like 228hp-ish, and I promise you he's having a blast in the mountains every time we go. if that 225hp-ish number sounds familiar, it's because that was peak fox body performance. In many ways the 89-92 (mass air, 5.0s) mustangs were the most fun GT cars ever made.

Moral of the story is, get out there, do a road trip, really see what the Mustang GT was made for.

 

[robvas]

Modern cars are much stiffer than older cars. Some of that stiffness came with a weight penalty. For the comparison with the Camaro, the outgoing 2024 Camaro ZL1 was two tons of fun.

The ZL1 was 3886 lb according to car and driver, the non-carbon fiber package GT500 is 4225lbs (with actual weights seeming to come in a little less than that)

 

[Neggytive]

the 87 Fox Body GT weight was about 3100 pounds, the current S650 is 3900+

There is no comparing the 87 to current production

The S650 is a very strong car with a lot of features and features add weight

I always wanted a Fox body Mustang, and although I ended up with a very nice Cougar as my company car which was a glorified Mustang as both were Fox based, after I had a few Mustangs come thru the shop it was obvious to me they were a car I didn't want to be in if it were in an accident.

Fun cars, especially with the 5 speeds and Ford's super low 1st gear to give it the illusion of power/speed, but they bent pretty easy, especially if hit in the front on a corner, that front end would swing (sway) if you looked at it the wrong way. Forward of the strut towers there was just not a lot of structure, the rails and aprons just hung out there in space held together by the core support.

The rear end was not much better.

The Camaro and Firebirds were IMHO much stronger cars.

But Ford's M.O. was always build as many different cars as we can off the cheapest car in the line up.

Ever work on the gauge cluster of a 64 mustang? The gauges are 6 volt units with resistors to step the voltage down... they were using meters from ancient cars rather than design and build new ones.

But in the current gen cars the interiors are much nicer, go sit in a Fox body mustang and take a good look at how cheap that interior was, Nicer stuff adds weight, and even though the Mustang uses a lot of aluminum panels, the structure is a lot heavier, thicker and the materials are denser. Boron and other UHSS's get a lot of use in the S650. And as others have mentioned bigger brakes, wheels, tires, etc etc etc come with added weight

 

[robvas]

Just park a newer Mustang next to a fox body and you can see how giant it is

10 inches longer, 7 inches wider, 3 inches taller...

The S550/S650 is about the same amount larger than the fox as the Dodge Charger is than the Mustang.

 

[MaddNomad]

The ZL1 was 3886 lb according to car and driver, the non-carbon fiber package GT500 is 4225lbs (with actual weights seeming to come in a little less than that)

That Alpha platform did wonders for them

 

[LouG]

The dash, seats and interior are not without weight too. the coyote i believe is in the 400lbs range, the IRS is hefty. But the mustang was never ever designed to be a "light weight, made to corner" kind of car. it's literally in the name, Mustang GT, that GT part stands for Grand Touring.

Touring cars are a little heavier because they have creature comforts, Ford has brought it a long way, while i love fox bodies and newedges, the S550's and S650's in my book are some of the greatest GT cares ever built. If you ever use it for what it's made for.

The idea of a GT car is that you can do long road trips in it, 1000+ miles. Then when you get into the mountains in summer time, you have a car that can have some fun in them. Like that's the purpose of a GT car.

I think a lot of people have forgotten this, but the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger were all GT cars. It's kind of funny that there was a horsepower war. I have a saying, it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow.

Hit the twisties in a 5.0 GT and an Ecoboost GT. Telling you right now, while the 5.0 is loud and fun, the Ecoboost would be more of a thrill in the twisties. 280hp - 385hp is like sweet spot for a GT car to be "fun" in the mountains. I know that sounds odd, but you actually have more fun when it's not punch it, bam 90mph dang near instantly.

Go on your next road trip and run 87 octane and let the car detune a little, then do your twisties. It's more fun to be in the throttle longer.

ANYWAYS, just experience from my 30 years of mustang ownership. These mustangs are absolutely fantastic. everyone trying to make big power, it's absolutely worthless when you use the car for what it's designed for. 480hp is actually overkill for a GT car. I said what i said. my son in law has a GR86, he's got like 228hp-ish, and I promise you he's having a blast in the mountains every time we go. if that 225hp-ish number sounds familiar, it's because that was peak fox body performance. In many ways the 89-92 (mass air, 5.0s) mustangs were the most fun GT cars ever made.

Moral of the story is, get out there, do a road trip, really see what the Mustang GT was made for.

Nailed it.
I have to say though, I had a GT86, the 2 litre early version. Nothing but a bike could stay with it through the ranges at our last town, but it was quite gutless for things like overtaking.
I do really appreciate the extra 286hp in the Ford.

 

[Gojiras breath]

I think the '26 charger gas engine is 4600 lbs. Mustang bordering around 4,000 lbs is light in comparison.

 

[robvas]

I think the '26 charger gas engine is 4600 lbs. Mustang bordering around 4,000 lbs is light in comparison.

 

[MegaMan]

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.

Don’t be rude to a Mustang, asking it why’s it’s so heavy. What is the Mustang asks you why you’re so heavy?! lol

 

[rustedrotors]

Wait a second here.......

ecoboost fastback with manual transmission.............. That a 2026 thing now.......

I bought this car because of geometry. Got the math of a performer. low wide, but not too long.

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