Autoblog: Next Ford Mustang going global

argatoga

argatoga

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It was only a matter of time before Ford pushed the Mustang out of the American nest and into the global market. According to PopularHotRodding.com and Auto-Motor-Und-Sport.de, that time has come. The German site quotes Barb Samardzich, head of development for Ford Europe, as saying the next-generation Mustang is being designed to meet European Union pedestrian safety regulations, despite the fact that no formal decision has been made on whether or not buyers in the EU will be able to get their hands on the Pony.

Then there's Popular Hot Rodding, which has gathered news from far and wide into a lengthy composite of what the future may bring for the Mustang. Tucked among sourceless whispers of a hybrid drivetrain, an independent rear suspension and a whole new design language is the indication that the performance coupe is being prepped for sale in the UK, Australia and even Japan.

That's good news for buyers who have been forced to content themselves with grey-market imports until now. Popular Hot Rodding also indicates the new model may shave as much as 300 pounds to increase performance while maintaining today's power levels. How much of this is true? We'll find out when the 2015 Ford Mustang debuts in 2014.
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http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/12/next-ford-mustang-going-global/

No revelations here, but nice to hear more from Ford themselves.
 
Fox design revival? That could have massive potential or be disastrous. Anyway, we've been hearing this for a number of generations now. I think this will really be the day of IRS, hopefully with a sedan too.
 
It won't be the first time a Mustang left the factory with IRS, but it would be nice to have it standard on all models.
 
It's going to need those weight savings since the 6th gen Camaro will be ~3400lbs (based off the ATS' weight since they will share a platform).

Clue in an uninformed American: sooo where IS the Mustang sold in Europe? Or was it nowhere and import only?
 
It's sold as an import. Which makes it quite expensive due to the work needed to make it road legal there on top of shipping.
 
I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with it. It would be great if they could give it a chassis capable of being a true supercar. The GT500 is cool, but the stick axle disqualifies it from truly competing with stuff like the 911T, M3, Z06/ZR1, Viper, etc.
 
I'd rather have a cheap affordable sports car.
 
argatoga said:
I'd rather have a cheap affordable sports car.
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Me too, but if Ford is not going to build a new supercar and just keep putting more and more power in the Mustang, than it would be nice if the Mustang's chassis is better suited for it. I don't see why they couldn't have an eco-boost 4cylinder version with a steel chassis/body, all the way up to a supercharged 6.2 V8 with an aluminum chassis and carbon fiber body. Of course, then you'll run into an image problem, since few people would spend $100k for a car that shares a name/plateform with a $23k sports car.
 
Well, as they proved with this generation, it doesn't actually make financial sense to use a stick axle any more. Just bump the price $100 and give us the damn IRS already - if you must keep the stick axle, make it a no-cost option for the drag monsters to check off on the order sheet.
 
Or let the drag set buy an after market one.
 
That would work, too - put the stick axle in the Ford Racing catalog.
 
So when do we get it in RHD? :p
 
the next-generation Mustang is being designed to meet European Union pedestrian safety regulations
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Uh-oh.

A RHD Mustang doesn't sound too bad though. A Focus-based Capri coupe would make more sense for the UK mind.
 
I agree with Donington - a car looking for customers. ...

A Capri replacement does make more sense - so long as great value for money.
 
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I don't know why so many people want the Capri back, it was killed off because it wasn't practical or economical enough compared with the hot hatches of the day and I think that trend will only continue if they made a new model.
 
TomCat said:
but the stick axle disqualifies it from truly competing with stuff like the 911T, M3, Z06/ZR1, Viper, etc.
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Ah, so that's why the Mustang doesn't compete with some of those cars in Grand-Am... oh wait. I know you're talking about road cars, but my point is that the solid axle can go plenty fast, and it's 100% live-able. I think the bigger issue with the S197 chassis is that it is just too damn tall and top heavy.

I don't think they would ever go supercar with the Mustang nameplate though. If Ford ever made another car in the spirit of the GT40, and it competed with the Corvette (most importantly price), they would make an absolute killing. That's where my bet is if Ford ever goes 'super'.
 
TomCat said:
The GT500 is cool, but the stick axle disqualifies it from truly competing with stuff like the 911T, M3, Z06/ZR1, Viper, etc.
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You going to seriously make this argument saying one old technology (live axle) cannot compete with another old technology (leaf springs in the Vette) Right...
 
Great news, but even if the Mustang comes here I doubt it will be affordable to make sure it doesnt cut into FPV Falcon sales.
 
JCE said:
You going to seriously make this argument saying one old technology (live axle) cannot compete with another old technology (leaf springs in the Vette) Right...
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The ones used in the Corvette are far from a truck's springs.

Leafs2.jpg
 
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