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2015 Ford Mustang

All-New Ford Mustang Offers High Performance with Sleek New Design and Innovative Tech

2015 Ford Mustang
Loaded with innovative technologies and delivering high levels of performance and style, the all-new Mustang is the next chapter in the life of one of the world's most iconic cars.

'Ford Mustang inspires passion like no other car,' said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. 'The visceral look, sound and performance of Mustang resonates with people, even if they've never driven one. Mustang is definitely more than just a car – it is the heart and soul of Ford.'

Mustang's impact goes well beyond the 9 million-plus cars sold in its 50 years of continuous production. It has made thousands of appearances in film, television, music and video games, and is the world's most-liked vehicle on Facebook. For the first time ever, Ford will bring Mustang to customers in key parts of Europe and Asia.

The Mustang experience

The way Mustang looks, drives and sounds is key to the visceral experience that makes drivers just want to get in the driver's seat and hit the road. The Mustang is the first car to offer four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines that each produce at least 300 horsepower. With more powertrain options to choose from, there is a Mustang to fit any lifestyle. The 3.7-liter V6 and upgraded 5.0-liter V8 are joined by an all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine that brings state-of-the-art technology to Mustang.

The Mustang's EcoBoost engine uses direct injection, variable cam timing and turbocharging to deliver plenty of usable performance across a broad RPM range. A unique intake manifold and turbocharger housing enable it to deliver the performance Mustang drivers expect with 310 horsepower* and 320 lb.-ft. of torque.*

'This EcoBoost engine delivers where a Mustang driver expects it to, with a broad, flat torque curve that pours out when you stand on it for easy passing or hustling down a twisty road,' said Dave Pericak, Ford Mustang chief engineer.

Mustang GT continues with the latest edition of the throaty 5.0-liter V8, now featuring an upgraded valvetrain and cylinder heads that help boost output to 435 horsepower* and 400 lb.-ft. of torque*. A new intake manifold features charge motion control valves to partially close off port flow at lower engine speeds. This increases the air charge tumble and swirl for improved air-fuel mixing resulting in improved efficiency and idle stability.

With 300 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque on tap from the standard 3.7-liter V6, even the most accessible Mustang delivers the performance customers expect. Drivers will appreciate smoother shifts from the updated manual gearbox, while a reworked automatic transmission features new steering wheel-mounted shift paddles for drivers who want the choice between convenience and control.

All-new shape, yet unmistakably Mustang
The clean-sheet design of both Mustang fastback and convertible evokes the essential character of the brand, retaining key design elements – including the long sculpted hood and short rear deck – with contemporary execution.

Several key design features define the all-new Mustang, including:
•A lower, wider stance with a reduction in roof height, and wider rear fenders and track
•The return of Mustang fastback with a sleeker profile enabled by more steeply sloped windshield and rear glass
•Three-dimensional, tri-bar taillamps with sequential turn signals
•Contemporary execution of the signature shark-bite front fascia and trapezoidal grille

The information and controls an active driver needs are all readily accessible in the aviation-inspired cockpit, which is executed with the highest degree of craftsmanship ever found in a Mustang. Large, clear instrumentation puts vehicle information right in front of the driver in the roomier cabin, while improved ergonomics and tactile switches and knobs provide better control. The added width and a new rear suspension contribute to improved shoulder and hip room for rear-seat passengers, and a more usefully shaped trunk can accommodate two golf bags.

Slipping through the air
Design and performance are two of the essential attributes that have made Mustang appeal to millions of fans for five decades. Performance can be improved by increasing the output of the powerplant or reducing the amount of work it has to do. The sleeker shape helps it slip through the air with less effort.

Each of Mustang's three available engines gets a unique grille that allows in only as much air as that specific powerplant needs. Active grille shutters will help make the Mustang powered by the new 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine even more fuel efficient by further reducing drag at higher speeds when extra cooling capacity is not needed. The shutters can completely close off the grille, sending air over and around the car instead of through the engine compartment.

Carving up the curves

2015 Ford MustangWhen life throws drivers a curve, the all-new Mustang sets new handling benchmarks for the brand, delivering world-class dynamics and ride quality.

Mustang features all-new front and rear suspension systems. At the front, a new perimeter subframe helps to stiffen the structure while reducing mass, providing a better foundation for more predictable wheel control that benefits handling, steering and ride.

The new double-ball-joint front MacPherson strut system also enables the use of larger, more powerful brakes. The 2015 Mustang has the most capable brake lineup ever offered on a Mustang.

At the rear is an all-new integral-link independent rear suspension. The geometry, springs, dampers and bushings all have been specifically modified and tuned for this high-performance application. New aluminum rear knuckles help reduce unsprung mass for improved ride and handling.

Smarter than your average pony
The all-new Mustang features a significant amount of innovative technologies providing drivers with enhanced information, control and connectivity when they want it. From Intelligent Access with push-button start to SYNC® and MyKey® in every Mustang built, plus standard Track Apps™, MyColor® gauges and a new Shaker Pro Audio System, drivers will be able to customize their time behind the wheel.

The feeling of freedom and confidence Mustang instills in its drivers is amplified when they can take control of how the car behaves. On a twisty back road or a weekend track day, the driver can tap the toggle switches on the console to quickly adjust steering effort, engine response, and transmission and electronic stability control settings using the available Selectable Drive Modes to create the perfect Mustang at any time.

The advanced new Ford-developed stability control system is tuned to maximize Mustang's dynamic capabilities. When the time comes to turn up the wick at the track, Mustang GT includes standard launch control on manual-transmission models that enables drivers to achieve smooth, consistent starts every time.

When it's time to back off and relax for the drive home, available advanced driver-assist features including Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control can help ease the load, while SYNC AppLink™ lets drivers control their smartphone apps to listen to their favorite form of entertainment.

Debuting on the 2015 Mustang are enhancements to the SYNC® 911 Assist® feature. The enhancements will provide the ability to deliver information such as the maximum change in velocity during impact, indication of crash type (front, side, rear or rollover), safety belt usage as detected by the vehicle, awareness of whether multiple impacts occurred and whether airbags were deployed.

More airbags, more high-strength steel

2015 Ford Mustang
An all-new inflatable airbag restraint design provides the front seat passenger with knee airbag protection while significantly reducing system size and weight, enabling a roomier interior for more comfort. This new airbag is part of a standard comprehensive safety system that includes a more robust package of sensors, safety belt anchor pretensioners, improved exterior lighting and double the total number of airbags on the fastback Mustang.

50 years of Mustang

April 17, 2014, marked the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the original Ford Mustang and each 2015 model celebrates the milestone with a badge on the instrument panel that includes the galloping pony logo and the words 'Mustang – Since 1964.' Mustang will continue to be built in the Únited States at Flat Rock Assembly Plant.
'From day one, we knew if we were going to build a new Mustang, we had to do it right,' said Pericak. 'We built a new Mustang from the ground up that is quicker, better-looking, more refined and more efficient, without losing any of the raw appeal that people have associated with Mustang for half a century.'

*Úsing 93-octane fuel

Taking the All-New Ford Mustang From Sketch to Production
•The design of the 2015 Mustang is all-new yet unmistakably Mustang
•Once a design was selected, exterior and interior designers worked to perfect the lines throughout the all-new Mustang, resulting in the car first revealed in December, 2013

For a car designer, the chance to reimagine an icon like Ford Mustang is always exciting. Doing this for the famous Ford performance car's 50th anniversary, is the opportunity of a lifetime.

By mid-2009, with the substantially updated fifth-generation Ford Mustang in production, Ford designers, engineers and marketers turned their collective attention to what would come next: the design that would mark more than five decades of continuous Mustang development and production.

'To the people inside Ford, Mustang is considered the heart and soul of the company,' said Moray Callum, Ford vice president of global design. 'We spent a lot of time amongst the team and with customers discussing the history of Mustang and what it meant to people and concluded that we needed to move forward with a modern design that retained the essence of the brand.'

2015 Ford MustangAs Ford's performance leader, the basic parameters of Mustang were obvious: rear-wheel drive combined with the sound and performance of a V8 engine to create the visceral experience that Mustang drivers expect.

Part of the appeal of Mustang over the years has been the way it combines style, performance and everyday usability thanks to its four-seat cabin and sizable trunk. These attributes had to be part of the new design. With these basic parameters, Ford designers established a footprint to work with roughly the same as the fifth generation model.

From a design stand point, the challenge was how to design a car that was contemporary, but unmistakably Mustang. The goal was to create a Mustang with a bold, aggressive face, with chiseled detailing on the body and a more athletic stance on its tires.

The process kicks off

2015 Ford Mustang
A typical new car program kicks off with a design brief that lays out the needs and wants for the upcoming vehicle. However, with 50 years of continuous development and production, every designer knew what to sketch and how a Mustang needs to look.

Several hundred sketches were submitted in early 2010 incorporating many of the primary Mustang DNA cues to varying degrees. The long hood/short deck, bold grille, shark-front nose, fastback profile, side hockey stick contour and rear tri-bar taillamps were reinterpreted in dozens of different ways.

Similarly, sketches of the interior featured the distinctive symmetrical instrument panel with a double brow design and large analog gauges.

'There are a few key elements that make Mustang a Mustang. As designers, we need to edit those cues deciding which ones to retain, how to interpret them in a modern way and how to combine them to create a car that is immediately identifiable as Mustang,' added Callum. 'Looking at all of the different Mustangs over the past five decades, those cues have appeared in some years and not in others, but the end result was still a Mustang.'

Perhaps the most prominent of those cues that did not make the final cut was the scoop, or 'hockey stick' profile, on the flanks of the car. Many of the early proposals included some form of this visual feature, but ultimately it was not included in the final production model.

Throughout 2011, hundreds of initial sketches were narrowed down to a handful of proposals that would be transformed into an initial batch of clay models for evaluation in three dimensions. After further development, three themes went into the final selection phase in early 2012.

The 2015 Mustang theme is selected

By the summer of 2012-as with all previous generations- the main Dearborn, Michigan, studio took the lead on developing the Mustang into a production car.
Designers, clay sculptors and digital modelers spent countless hours refining the lines and surfaces that create the three dimensional body side and the powerful hunches as well as the long-sculpted hood with a forward leaning nose that give the 2015 Mustang its unique look and personality.

Details such as the shape and size of the grille and headlamps were refined and the rear track was widened by 70 millimeters, giving the new car an even more aggressive stance.

The elimination of the front and rear bumper shelves and the use of unified side glass with the B-pillar hidden behind the rear quarter windows contribute to the new Mustang's more contemporary shape.

On the interior, the team paid close attention to the relationships of the various elements, and designed them in a way to achieve optimum fit and finish. The final theme was inspired by the wing of an airplane, with the double brow carved out of the wing. All the gauges, registers, toggle switches and other design elements are placed into the wing. Everything is where it needs to be for usability, just like the cockpit of an airplane. The toggle switches are a highlight of the modern center stack.

The designers have also taken advantage of modern lighting technology at both ends of the car. Indirect LEDs illuminate the blade style tri-bar taillamps with a uniform glow. LEDs are also used for the three gills mounted inboard of the high-intensity discharge headlamps, recalling the gills molded into the headlamp buckets of the original 1965 Mustang.

Along the way, the shape of the new Mustang underwent twice as much aerodynamic testing as any previous generation.

The convertible

The convertible is clearly part of the same product family as the fastback and yet much of the bodywork is actually unique to the open-top car. Subtle but important differences in the shape of the rear bodywork give the convertible a cohesive shape of its own.

From the raised and straightened muscle line on the rear haunches to the recontoured trunklid, the new Mustang convertible has a more linear quality whether the top is up or down, giving the car its own distinct presence on the road.

The final production design of the all-new sixth-generation Ford Mustang was revealed to the world on December 5, 2013 and it will be available in ÚS dealerships this fall.

Horsepower Únleashed – Motivating the All-New Ford Mustang with Improved Power-to-Weight Ratios
•5.0-liter V8 headlines all-new Ford Mustang lineup with 435 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque and improved power-to-weight ratio
•New 2.3-liter EcoBoost® brings turbocharging and direct injection to Mustang with 310 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque – best-ever power density from a Ford engine
•Manual transmission provides smoother shifting than previous Mustangs; automatic transmission features steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and downshift rev-matching

The all-new 2015 Ford Mustang offers three great engines including a standard 300-horsepower V6, a brand-new 310-horsepower EcoBoost® or an upgraded 435-horsepower V8. Each powerplant is available with either a manual or automatic transmission that makes the pony car a great all-around performer – no matter how the equipment is mixed and matched to suit any individual driving style.

The fewer the pounds a car carries for every unit of horsepower generated by the engine, the quicker and nimbler it feels, making power-to-weight ratio a key measure of performance. A recent study by Autoblog of cars currently available in the Ú.S. market puts Mustang at the top of the charts in power-to-weight ratio for all three price categories a customer can specify.

Mustang extends its lead further for 2015 with the EcoBoost-powered fastback now carrying fewer than 11.4 pounds per horsepower; Mustang GT has as few as 8.52 pounds per horsepower.

Less is more, EcoBoost comes to Mustang

The addition of a new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine brings turbocharging to the Mustang powertrain lineup. This engine was designed specifically for Mustang, to meet the needs of drivers looking for outstanding performance and fuel efficiency.

The geometry of the EcoBoost intake manifold and turbocharger housing has been optimized to provide better breathing and higher output in Mustang. Producing 310 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine fits the bill for a true Mustang powerplant – with the highest power density yet from a Ford engine.

'This EcoBoost engine delivers the healthy output Mustang drivers expect, regardless of the car's speed,' said Scott Makowski, EcoBoost powertrain engineering manager. 'It delivers where a Mustang driver expects it to – with a broad, flat torque curve and great driveability under any conditions.'

The newest member of Ford's global EcoBoost engine family, the 2.3-liter continues to take advantage of state-of-the-art technologies including direct fuel injection, twin independent variable camshaft timing and turbocharging to produce big-engine power and torque with improved fuel efficiency.

The 2.3-liter EcoBoost is the first Ford engine to use a low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger that provides quicker boost response while enabling lower emissions and improved efficiency. The cylinder head features an integrated exhaust manifold that separates the inner and outer pairs of cylinders into each of the two inlet passages to the turbo.

Keeping the exhaust pulses separated from the next cylinder in the firing order virtually eliminates mixing losses and maximizes the pulse energy to the turbine wheel. The result is similar performance to a more complex twin-turbocharger configuration, meaning quicker turbine spin-up and torque delivery when the driver needs it for passing maneuvers.

The separated exhaust ports also enable the exhaust valves to stay open longer for reduced pumping losses that improve specific fuel consumption compared to a single-scroll turbocharger configuration.

With a compact mill generating nearly 135 horsepower per liter and more than 139 lb.-ft. of torque per liter – powering a performance car whose drivers are more inclined to use it – ensuring engine durability was critical. Enhancements to the Mustang EcoBoost engine to withstand the added stresses include:
•Forged-steel crankshaft
•Piston-cooling jets
•Steel piston ring carriers
•Premium bearing materials
•Úpgraded valve seat materials
•Forged-steel connecting rods
•High-pressure die-cast aluminum cylinder block with ladder-frame bearing caps
•Deep-sump, die-cast aluminum oil pan

The beating heart of a pony
No Ford Mustang engine lineup would be complete without a great V8 engine at its core. The 5.0-liter V8 powers into a new generation with a host of upgrades that help it breathe better, especially at higher engine speeds. Many of these changes are derived from lessons learned in developing the special-edition 2012 Mustang Boss 302.

Getting air into the cylinders and exhaust out is key to generating more power and torque from any engine. That has been the focus in the development of this V8, which features:
•Larger intake valves
•Larger exhaust valves
•Revised intake camshafts
•Revised exhaust camshafts
•Stiffer valve springs ensure valves close completely at high rpm
•New cylinder head casting – revised ports provide straighter path to the valves for less restrictive intake and exhaust flow; combustion chamber modifications accommodate larger valves
•Sinter forged connecting rods are lighter and more durable for high-rpm operation
•Redesigned piston tops – deeper cutouts clear the new larger valves
•Rebalanced forged crankshaft to support higher-rpm operation

These upgrades have boosted output of the V8 to 435 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque.

A new intake manifold includes charge motion control valves to partially close off port flow at lower engine speeds. This increases the air charge tumble and swirl for improved air-fuel mixing, resulting in better fuel economy, improved idle stability and lower emissions.

The variable camshaft timing on the intake side now has a greater range of adjustment available thanks to mid-lock phasers. This enables better optimized control of the valve timing over a broader range of engine speeds and loads for improved fuel economy and emissions.

Shifting gears
More than most drivers, Mustang owners like to take control and shift for themselves. Whether they select a fully manual gearbox or the updated automatic transmission, the experience will be better than in any previous pony.

The manual has a new shift linkage design for easier engagement and improved precision. The shift lever is now positioned closer to the driver and away from the cupholders, creating a clear path for shifting.

Mustang blends outstanding all-around performance and everyday usability. Drivers who prefer to let the car handle the shifting during their daily work run, but who still want to take control when the roads get twisty, will appreciate the new steering wheel-mounted shift paddles with rev-matching downshifts – now standard with the SelectShift® six-speed automatic transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com)

The automatic also features a redesigned case with cast-in ribs that help make it stiffer and reduce weight. Internally, clutches are optimized and operating temperature increased to reduce friction. The output shaft is now supported by a ball bearing that enables a top speed of 155 mph for Mustang GT.

With a choice of powertrains to suit driving preferences and lifestyles, the new Mustang has cutting-edge technology under the hood to match its modern design. Yet regardless of engine choice, the car remains quintessentially Mustang.

More Aerodynamic Testing Helps the All-New Ford Mustang Slice Through the Air Efficiently and Stay Planted
•All-new Ford Mustang features a sleek, modern and muscular interpretation of the iconic pony car form that is more aerodynamically efficient
•Mustang is first Ford with front-wheel aero curtains that help guide airflow across the front wheels
•Careful shaping of Mustang's front and rear help to keep the car planted on the road for more confident handling and steering at higher speeds

The bold, muscular form of the all-new Ford Mustang reimagines the iconic sports car shape in a way that retains the character that fans expect from the brand while incorporating aerodynamic technology that improves fuel efficiency and performance.

'Even with the classic, forward-leaning shark-bite grille and a more aggressive stance for the new Mustang, the aerodynamics team has made it slice through the air better for increased fuel efficiency while also keeping it planted to the road at higher speeds,' said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. 'The best part is that they met the challenge of creating the sleekest Mustang yet without resorting to a characterless teardrop shape.'

Design and performance are two of the essential attributes that have made Mustang appeal to millions of fans for five decades. Performance can be improved by increasing the output of the powerplant or reducing the amount of work it has to do. The new Mustang is doing both with improved powertrains and a sleeker shape that slips through the air with less effort.

Aerodynamics plays an increasingly important role in overall vehicle performance as speed increases. The force required to slice through the air goes up exponentially with the speed, so twice the speed requires eight times the horsepower just to overcome drag. That means small changes can have a big impact on both performance and fuel efficiency.

'With the new Mustang, we spent about twice as much time running aerodynamic simulations and doing wind tunnel tests than the previous Mustang,' said Carl Widmann, aerodynamics engineering manager. 'Major advances in our computational fluid dynamics capability let us test the effect of design changes and give feedback to the studio in less than 48 hours so they had more opportunity to try out different styling ideas.'

Úsing air to manage airflow
It's not visually obvious, but rotating wheels are a major source of aerodynamic drag. However, enclosing the wheels in skirts to smooth the flow just doesn't look right, especially on a performance car like Mustang. Widmann and the aerodynamics team adopted a different approach for Mustang, giving it the first Ford application of wheel aero curtains.

Vertical slots in the outer edge of the front fascia channel air from the front of the car to openings in the wheel wells, directing it across the outer surface of the wheel and tire. The wall of high-speed air works much like a skirt to reduce drag while still leaving the beautifully designed alloy wheels fully exposed.

Managing temperatures
In addition to helping define the visual identity of a car like Mustang, the grille also has to provide an inlet for air that cools the engine. Allowing air to flow through the engine bay instead of directing it around the sides and over the top of the body increases drag. Each of Mustang's three available engines gets a unique grille that allows in only as much air as that powerplant needs.

Active grille shutters will help make Mustang powered by the new 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine even more fuel efficient by further reducing drag at higher speeds when extra cooling capacity is not needed. The shutters can completely close off the grille, sending air over and around the car instead of through the engine compartment. Even the ribs that make up the mesh in the grille have been carefully shaped to reduce air resistance and wind noise.

Keeping the car planted
With a top speed of 155 mph for the V8-powered Mustang GT, ensuring confident and precise handling is crucial. New Mustangs are equipped with splitters and air dams below the front fascia that help to minimize air under the car. Mustang GT also features a pair of vents in the hood that also contribute to keeping the front-end planted on the road.

'We worked closely with the vehicle dynamics engineers that are tuning the chassis to make sure our experimental results for lift correspond to what they feel on the car when driving at the track,' said Widmann. 'They provided us with some great feedback that we incorporated into our efforts in the tunnel, and the results are definitely noticeable when driving at high speeds.'

The overall air resistance is a combination of the frontal area and drag coefficient. Despite the wider rear haunches, the lower roofline contributes to a smaller frontal area. Along with a lower drag coefficient, the overall drag force of the new Mustang is slashed by an impressive 3 percent with better roadholding and less wind noise in the cabin. At highway speeds, three percent less drag will return about one percent better fuel efficiency.

Agile Ford Mustang Features All-New Suspension; Performance Pack Raises Bar for Handling and Braking
•2015 Ford Mustang features new, fully independent front and rear suspension mated with stronger and lighter platform for improved handling and ride quality through better wheel and body control
•Three new brake systems ensure new Mustang stops as well as it accelerates and turns
•Available performance packs for Mustang EcoBoost® fastback and convertible and Mustang GT fastback raise the bar for handling and braking performance on both the road and the track

With new fully independent front and rear suspension systems, the all-new sixth-generation Ford Mustang is expected to be the nimblest and most comfortable example of the breed to date. Mustang EcoBoost® and Mustang GT fastback customers can also add an available performance pack for maximum all-around capability, continuing 50 years of Mustang personalization.

'When we began development of the sixth-generation Mustang, we knew we had a challenge ahead of us to beat ever-increasing customer expectations, as well as new competitors in the marketplace,' said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. 'We added content where it mattered – including an independent rear suspension for better handling and ride, and bigger brakes for better, shorter and more consistent stops. We also doubled the number of airbags.

'Even with all of that extra hardware, smart engineering throughout every component of this car enabled us to achieve a base curb weight of 3,524 pounds for the new Mustang EcoBoost fastback – just six pounds more than the lightest 2014 Mustang V6, and still the best power-to-weight ratio of any car available in the Únited States for under $50,000.'

Building on a solid foundation
With an all-new platform and fully independent suspension, the 2015 Ford Mustang sets new handling benchmarks for the brand, achieving world-class performance in both dynamics and ride quality.

'In order to develop precise and predictable handling characteristics, a car needs a solid platform where the suspension mounts don't move relative to one another,' said Tom Barnes, Mustang vehicle engineering manager. 'The structure of the new Mustang is much more resistant to twisting, with 28 percent more torsional stiffness for the fastback and a 15 percent improvement for the convertible.'

Despite being so much stronger, this is a very efficient horse, with a body-in-white that is actually lighter than the previous version. This was achieved through extensive use of advanced technologies and materials including hydroforming, laser welding and high-strength steels. Lightweight aluminum is used for the hood and front fenders to help reduce body mass and improve the weight balance.

Attention to detail throughout the design process yielded significant weight savings that helped to offset the increases from adding performance-enhancing features such as larger, more powerful brakes and independent rear suspension. The result is a vehicle that is more capable than before while remaining significantly lighter overall than key competitors.

The structure of the 2015 Mustang is also designed to meet new, more stringent crash safety standards. ( posted on conceptcarz.com) Some of the other components now made of aluminum include the rear suspension knuckles, rear axle housing on automatic transmission cars, rear control arms and rear brake calipers. Even parts made of steel and other materials such as the hollow rear stabilizer and the new seats have been intelligently designed to meet performance standards while keeping weight down.

'We added a lot of content to the new Mustang in order to hit our performance targets and meet today's customer expectations,' said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. 'With a base curb weight of 3,524 pounds for Mustang EcoBoost fastback, and increases ranging from six pounds to 87 pounds for V6 and GT fastbacks, Mustang is still substantially lighter than the competition.'

Mustang EcoBoost fastback has best-ever weight distribution for a Mustang, with 52 percent of its weight over the front axle and 48 percent to the rear, while Mustang GT has 53 percent of its mass on the front wheels. In combination with a lineup of new or upgraded powerplants, Mustang improves on its already leading power-to-weight ratios. Mustang EcoBoost carries fewer than 11.36 pounds per horsepower, while Mustang GT has as little as 8.52 pounds per horsepower.

With a stronger yet lighter structure to build on, the hardware was added to meet aggressive performance targets. Every new Mustang features an all-new integral-link independent rear suspension. The suspension architecture is based on a lower control arm, integral link, upper camber link and a toe link. The geometry, springs, dampers and bushings have all been specifically modified and tuned to deliver improved mechanical grip for this high-performance application.

The new suspension geometry of Mustang now generates twice as much anti-squat and anti-lift force for better pitch control to keep the body level under hard acceleration and braking. New aluminum alloy rear knuckles help reduce unsprung mass to enable the tires to follow the road for better ride and handling.

At the front, a new non-isolated perimeter subframe replaces several individual crossmembers to help stiffen the structure while reducing mass, contributing to a better foundation for more predictable wheel control that benefits handling, steering and ride quality.

The new double-ball-joint front MacPherson strut system enables the use of larger, more powerful brakes without resorting to excessive wheel offsets that would hurt steering feel. Like the rear, the front end contributes to improved pitch stability with additional anti-dive in the geometry.

The total system now does a much better job of keeping the four Mustang tires in contact with the road where they can contribute to improved dynamics while making cruising and daily commutes more comfortable.

This is expected to be the best-stopping Mustang yet. Three brake packages will be available:
•Mustang V6, Mustang EcoBoost: Two-piston, 43-millimeter floating calipers, 320- millimeter rotors, front; single-piston, 45-millimeter calipers, 320-millimeter rotors, rear
•Mustang EcoBoost performance pack, Mustang GT: Four-piston, 46-millimeter fixed calipers, 352-millimeter rotors, front; single-piston, 45-millimeter calipers, 330-millimeter rotors, rear
•Mustang GT performance pack: Six-piston, 36-millimeter Brembo™ calipers, 380-millimeter rotors, front; single-piston, 45-millimeter calipers, 330-millimeter rotors, rear

The standard brake package on Mustang GT is equivalent to the system used for the 2014 Mustang GT track package. The new GT performance package includes the same brake package found on the 662-horsepower 2014 Shelby GT500.

When maximum performance is needed
'We already set a very high standard for Mustang driving dynamics with the 2012 Mustang Boss 302, and our goal was to go above and beyond that with the performance pack on this new car,' said Pericak. 'Mustang is all about performance and customization, and the available performance packs give our customers what they are looking for straight from the factory.'

The 2015 model is already the best-handling, best-braking standard Mustang ever right out of the box. Drivers looking to take their cars to even higher levels of capability can add a performance pack to Mustang EcoBoost fastback or convertible or Mustang GT fastback.

Both performance packs get:
•Retuned springs, bushings and monotube rear dampers
•Additional cooling capability for track-day durability
•Thicker rear sway bar
•K-brace connecting strut towers to bulkhead
•Únique tuning for ABS, electronic stability control and electric power-assisted steering
•Center gauge pack

The 2015 Mustang EcoBoost performance package also includes:
•Front brakes: Four-piston, 46-millimeter fixed aluminum calipers with 352-millimeter rotors
•Rear brakes: Single-piston, 45-millimeter floating iron calipers with 330-millimeter rotors
•Únique 19x9-inch alloy wheels painted Ebony Black with Pirelli 255/40R19 Y-speed-rated tires front and rear
•3.55:1 final drive ratio

The 2015 Mustang GT performance package includes:
•Front brakes: Brembo six-piston, 36-millimeter fixed aluminum calipers with 380-millimeter rotors
•Rear brakes: Single-piston, 45-millimeter floating iron calipers with 330-millimeter rotors
•Únique 19x9-inch Ebony Black painted alloy wheels with Pirelli 255/40R19 Y-speed-rated tires, front; 19x9.5-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli 275/40R19 Y-speed-rated tires, rear
•Strut tower brace
•3.73:1 final drive ratio with Torsen differential
•Únique front splitter to channel cooling air to the front brakes

'We set out to create an all-new Mustang that would go, handle and stop better than any previous Mustang, while also being a better all-around daily driver,' said Pericak.

The results speak for themselves – during track testing, the 2015 Mustang GT with performance package consistently beat the lap times of the 2012-2013 Mustang Boss 302.

Source - Ford

Related Reading : Ford Mustang History

The Mustang was introduced at the 1965 New York Worlds Fair, Mustang Mania instantly swept the country, and a new automotive market segment was created - the 22 or better known as the ponycar. Though its mechanical underpinnings descended from the Falcon, the Mustang was completely different. It was a compact, tight, clean package weighing in at a modest 2,550 pounds - a departure from the ever-enlarging....
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Related Reading : Ford Mustang History

The Ford Mustang first appeared in 1964 and was immediately popular for its style and its capabilities. The largest engine offering of the time was the 289 V-8 K-code small block engine which was sufficient but enthusiasts wanted and demanded more power. The base engine was a six-cylinder power plant. The body style configurations included coupe, convertible and fastback. In its first year of....
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Related Reading : Ford Mustang History

A pillar of American automotive lore, the Mustang is the vehicle the brought sporting dash and styling at a price that almost everyone could afford. Always extraordinarily attractive, the Mustang has been capturing the hearts of drivers for nearly 40 years. Introducing a whole new breed of automobile, the pony car, Ford wasnt content to stand on the sidelines while others jumped ahead. Rather than....
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SIDE-BY-SIDE 1965, 2015 MUSTANG DISPLAY SHOWCASES 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION AT NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME MUSEUM

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Ford and the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum will debut a permanent Mustang display that uniquely fuses 50 years of history by combining a 1965 Mustang and a 2015 model – both split lengthwise – with two functional driver compartments Mustan...
RICHARD PETTY AND RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS TO OFFER 2015 MUSTANG AT MECUM DALLAS AUCTION

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All-New Ford Mustang Offers High Performance with Sleek New Design and Innovative Tech

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