It has independent rear suspension (vs Vietnamese Vegetable Peddler Oxcart rear suspension) for the first time, and actually looks pretty nice.

Yes, it probably weighs too much for many here, but it also is TORQUE-A-RA MONSTER, they improved the interior by leaps and bounds, and if the handling has been sharpened, it looks like it might have the capacity to take corners well, especially when shod in track pack attire:

 

nice one ford. it did well for a long time on the solid rear but its about time they switched it to independant

 

Much improved, the interior is still whack though and that is the most disappointing thing to me personally. But the exterior is great and the handling is supposed to be greatly improved (current gen is pretty dame good even with the SRA). And the addition of the turbo 2.3L 4 (310HP), the twin turbo V-6 (400HP), and bump in power on the 5.0L V-8 (500HP) is nice.

It is a good example of why the rotary is dead.

 

and they just showed the convertible in Australia

 

Looks pretty clean. I'm not a convertible fan but it looks nice.

 

Looks like a Suped up Ford Fusion in the front, the rear was pretty nice to begin with so i think they took a step back here, looks like its trying to take a poop. The interior is not half bad, im sure its much more plastic than what I see in the pics. if I was to guess, id say ill see about 2.5 million of these on the road real soon

 

From the side it looks like a 370Z to me. Unfortunately there will be no 3.5TT-V6, the 3.7 V6 will be the base engine with 305hp according to Motortrend, the 2.3T will have more power (not to mention lighter) and be an upgrade engine with the 5.0 having higher output than 420. Again all this from Motortrend.

Would have been great to have the 2.3T as the base with about 310hp, the 3.5TT as an updrade with about 380hp and the 5.0 the topline with about 450hp.

 

Yeah there is some conflicting info. I read that the 305HP NA V-6 will be replaced by the Taurus SHO engine, but not until the 2017 model year.

 

I really want to like it, but proportions on the exterior is bothering me. The front is so-so, but the rear just doesn't look right.

 

many are saying it is one of those cars you just have to see in person, that it just looks so much better in person. I will have to see but i do know there are a few cars like that, such as the new Vette.

 

lol, agreed. the nose and interior suck, but the rest of it looks great.

yeah the new vette looks much better in person than it does in pics, its very dramatic

 

I like it. Love the new headlights.

 

In another new car this year, "government regulations" were cited as reasons for weight gain. I hope the Rustang did loose 200 lbs, while complying with all current rules. That would be impressive.

Ford has had the best sounding domestic v8 for a while. Unfortunately,

-they don't have the drive to make a decent Ford GT halo anymore. A pony car makes a poor halo, even Dodge with their 4000 lb pony has a top end sportscar.
-they water down the Mustang product with excessive variants (7: 4 models and 3 convertibles), that look the same except for some tacky colored stripes

If they'd make a cheap coupe based on the Mustang, loosing rear seats and moving the engine back, stopping the Mustang at only 4 variants, finishing the lineup with the new coupe using their supercharged v8, it would be a different world.

 

How much money did the viper make last year and how much did the mustang make? How much money did your car company make?

Not that I wouldn't like a 2 seat sports car from every manufacturer. I just don't like you saying someone is doing it wrong when they are doing better than anyone else at that particular thing.

 

I think i like this one...

 

I personally think Ford hit this one out of the park.
I dig it.

 

The rear IRS will make or break the car for many people. The new Mustang needs to drive like a sports car to compete in the global market. In addition to the lack of IRS (other than special edition models), my two main gripes with the Mustangs over the years were the seating position and interior quality and looks.

 

Pardon my ignorance. You seem to know something or a lot about this.
I thought the appeal of live axle was for cost (replacement or whatever), reliability (putting power to pavement), lightness, and simplicity/durability for drag racing. Are those generally the only factors why someone would prefer live axle over IRS or is there something more? If the IRS version can surpass any of the previous models in ability, I think the means don't really matter, no?

The current Camaro seems to have done quite well considering the IRS introduction*. I think Ford had the benefit of GM experimenting first.

*I'm making the assumption that the current 5th gen is the first production Camaro with IRS, although I may be wrong.

 

Most modern (Corvette for example) IRS can handle plenty of HP. I also never really heard of the 04'-05' Cobra guys breaking stuff. An IRS kills a SRA in terms of weight. As for prices when you brake stuff, I have no clue which is more cost effective to repair.

 

It's 03-04 cobra and the 5 or so people I know that have/had one were all scared to launch because they didnt want to break something. Swapping rear suspensions with a GT to get rid of the IRS was on all their agendas.

 

The IRS is for handling.

Sure the fixed is better for power, but who cares?

IT's only good for drag racing.

Much larger market for a better handling road car than a drag car with a reliable rear end for 800hp

 

I bet it would take quite a bit of HP to start breaking half shafts. And at those power levels **** breaks and often it is driver error at the line in drag racing. But yeah for sure the SRA can handle more.

Nonsense. The current gen and Mustangs have no problem whooping on plenty of IRS equipped cars even in stock SRA configuration.

 

The IRS needs to work for the street, strip and road course. It will help the "image" of the Mustang especially for the global market.

 

this.
much improved on th interior, still not crazy about it but its a step in the right direction.

rear end might take a little getting used to.
oh, and this bad boy showed up to Cars & Coffee on Saturday.

 

Yeah IRS is definitely better for handling in the grand scheme of things. But to say that SRA is only good for drag racing is silly. Also people often say the IRS is lighter and it's not.