RLE55
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The 4300+ weight has to be a mistake
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A Mustang should never weight 2 tons.Not to bring other cars into this, but the ND Miata is roughly 200lbs heavier than the NA...
For those who aren't savvy on the generations...that's a 1990 model compared to a 2025.
That translates to a 10% weight increase with literally 60% more power...over THIRTY FIVE years. Impressive.
I don't think anyone expects the modern Mustang to be a lightweight, sub-3000lb car...but having a dedicated chassis and weighing two tons just ain't it...
It's a compound issue, too, right? When a vehicle gets more powerful, it requires beefed up cooling, suspension, brakes, drivetrain, etc...which all add even more weight. They're going to have to find a better balance or risk turning it into the Challenger...A Mustang should never weight 2 tons.
A mustang with all the performance goodies, forced induction, etc. should be around 3600 max.
The Gtd could have easily done that or lighter if they actually used a dedicated chassis. They didn’t. It’s a regular mustang. Suspension is mounted in the same locations.
Gonna take a new platform purpose built to be light and tight.
Only to a degree. Right?It's a compound issue, too, right? When a vehicle gets more powerful, it requires beefed up cooling, suspension, brakes, drivetrain, etc...which all add even more weight. They're going to have to find a better balance or risk turning it into the Challenger...
EDIT: Just to touch on your tire comment as well: many tests (including C&D's upcoming LL 2025) just do one-lap wonders. Glorified time attacks, basically. I'm never going to bad mouth these tests, because I find them entertaining as hell, but the difference between "qualifying" pace (1 lap) and race pace (even as little as 5 laps) is so overlooked when people compare "track" cars, it's not even funny.
The base car is around 3550 and doesn’t come with any meaningful carbon fiber. But this base car is well equipped.They may be able to knock a little weight off the next generation mustang, but the c8 weighs 3600lbs and is made of aluminum and carbon fiber and the base car is about $70k. The base mustang has to start in the low $30Ks so it's a bit restricted.
And there are no rear seats in the c8.
I think the upgrades next generation will be more in the footprint like a lower height etc.
You're not calling for a next gen Mustang but a $100k+ sportscar. A Mustang is a GT first and foremost. The Aston Martin is a great example. It can be modified to be a track tool but that's either on the customer or should be a special editions job. The average buyer isn't tracking their Mustang, hardly anyone does.The base car is around 3550 and doesn’t come with any meaningful carbon fiber. But this base car is well equipped.
The Camaro zl11le is 3837 lbs. That’s supercharged, additional cooling,upgraded suspension,etc.
A twin turbo car with 50-50 weight distribution can do better.
The mustang needs a new lighter, tighter platform.
I mean not really, technically the Camaro used a brand new chassis and didn’t increase in price all too much while having what some consider better things like transmission. They took the alpha platform designed to take on bmw for Cadillac.You're not calling for a next gen Mustang but a $100k+ sportscar. A Mustang is a GT first and foremost. The Aston Martin is a great example. It can be modified to be a track tool but that's either on the customer or should be a special editions job. The average buyer isn't tracking their Mustang, hardly anyone does.
Besides, if a future Mustang is as pricey as a Corvette, why not buy a Corvette instead?! If it's what you want the Mustang to be buy the original. Average Joe knows that the Corvette is an upmarket product. A similar priced Mustang would have to be better in almost everything in order to justify the lacking image. Look at a C8 compared to a 911. The 911 has the better and more rounded image so if the C8 would be priced similar most people would buy a 911.
Anyhow, the Mustang needs a new platform. In order to keep the costs down one cannot come up with a Mustang dedicated platform but Ford has to have more use for it. And again it's irrelevant if you build SUVs, CUVs or GT cars on it. A modern platform can handle multiple different cars.
I still think the car is cool, something special about a Mustang getting a power up and competing with the big boys.I'm going into the weeds with this one...BUT...
Let's look at GT3 class racing cars. The Mustang GT3 just took 1st and 3rd at Daytona a few weeks back. That car has to fit both the power and weight limits of GT3...which according to Wikipedia is between 500 - 600hp and 2640 - 2860lbs.
The Mustang GT3 has 550hp and weighs 2836lbs, again, according to Wiki. I'm not sure if those numbers are adjusted with BOP, etc...but hey, it's all the info I have right now. The power isn't important, but the weight is. Of note, the Porsche GT3 R also needs to fit that criteria. That car would likely be at the lower end of the spectrum for both power and weight (I can't find the exact stats) with a very close power/weight ratio. Now the interesting thing is the delta between the street car and the race car.
The Porsche GT3 road car is around 3,150lbs with the race car being NO LIGHTER than 2,640lbs. That's a difference of 510lbs give or take depending on trim/transmission. When buying a GT3 (let's not even talk about the crazy RS) road car, you are TRULY getting a race car for the road.
The Mustang GTD road car, IF ACCURATE, at 4300+ pounds is a whopping 1,500lbs heavier than the race car. That delta is absolutely bonkers. The supercharged engine definitely contributes to that increase, but good LORD...where the hell does everything else come from? Did they accidently build the car out of Tungsten? Keep in mind, we're not talking about a GT or DH here...this is a $300k+ bespoke monster for the lucky few.
When speculations for this car were released way back when, I originally thought it would follow the Porsche approach: lightweight, LEAN AND MEAN, but with a naturally aspirated V8 of 5.2 or 5.4L of displacement (I was clearly dead wrong, lol). Given the same delta vs the Porsche example above, that would be like having a GTD that weighs roughly 3,400lbs with 600hp of NA delight.
Anyway, it's not like I have any stock in any of this...I just find it quite interesting.
EDIT: To be clear, I'm actually somewhat OK with where the weights are for the GT and DH. I'd like them to be lighter, sure, but that would push their cost up even more, which already is a bit much...
To be fair, the Mustang currently is overpriced. It’s an old, heavy platform. Ford has been saving money left and right in these recycled cars. Making it lighter won’t automatically make it more expensive. It’s just a matter of ford caring. And clearly, well… you know.EDIT: To be clear, I'm actually somewhat OK with where the weights are for the GT and DH. I'd like them to be lighter, sure, but that would push their cost up even more, which already is a bit much...
Incorrect.You're not calling for a next gen Mustang but a $100k+ sportscar. A Mustang is a GT first and foremost. The Aston Martin is a great example. It can be modified to be a track tool but that's either on the customer or should be a special editions job. The average buyer isn't tracking their Mustang, hardly anyone does.
Besides, if a future Mustang is as pricey as a Corvette, why not buy a Corvette instead?! If it's what you want the Mustang to be buy the original. Average Joe knows that the Corvette is an upmarket product. A similar priced Mustang would have to be better in almost everything in order to justify the lacking image. Look at a C8 compared to a 911. The 911 has the better and more rounded image so if the C8 would be priced similar most people would buy a 911.
Anyhow, the Mustang needs a new platform. In order to keep the costs down one cannot come up with a Mustang dedicated platform but Ford has to have more use for it. And again it's irrelevant if you build SUVs, CUVs or GT cars on it. A modern platform can handle multiple different cars.