[censored] that! I could maybe grudgingly accept IRS, but I'd rather see the Mustang die off than see it become sort of GT-R/Evo X/WRX wanna-be. There are other cars that can fill those shoes. Until the time comes where the Mustang must nessecarily go upscale (due to inflation), I'd prefer to see it stick to the formula that has made it successful all these years, namely being an affordable sporty car that can be well optioned and has considerable aftermarket support.

 

I don't see what would be so bad about a better overall car. To me it just seems like many Mustang owners reject modern technology. Though they are not my cup of tea the Subaru WRX/STI and Mitsubishi EVO are both fairly affordable, well optioned fun to drive, user friendly cars like the Mustang!

I agree that a Mustang isn't the type of car to take on the Japanese rally twins (a hopped up Focus could do that) but at the same time what would be so bad with modern tech? Some of the greatest sports cars in history have pioneered with newer and better tech such as Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini and even the American Corvette!

Maybe it's just me but I feel that the car's current layout has reached most of it's limits........ I mean how much can you do to improve the the current Mustang if you don't mix it up with IRS, AWD or paddle shifters? Added power is always nice but if the car doesn't handle better than the previous cars whats really that different?

Don't get me wrong I love the straight line thrust of my 03' Cobra but I think the Mustang should evolve by becoming a better overall true sports car to compete with the competition that use the most modern tech!

 

The 2010/2011 will outhandle and accelerate the current model.
It doesn't need AWD, IRS (although nice) or paddle shifters

It'll help keep the price down

The competition may have those nice to haves, but you'll pay for it, don't kid yourself.

I'd expect the 2010+ to improve on what we have without loosing sight on the lineage before it.
Newer/improved engines, better improved SRA, newer/improved trannys, new/improved interiors.

New/Improved - not radically different.

 

The current car is nowhere near its limits, a switch to some respectible rubber alone would produce a very noticable improvement in handling

As an example the WRX comes fitted with a summer tire (225/45R17 Bridgestone Potenza RE070) where the Mustang comes fitted with an all-season tire (235/50R18 KDWS, and the 235/55R17 PZero Nero), if Ford switched to the F1 tire used on the Shelby or switched to the BFG KDW it would make a big difference in the handling and braking of the vehicle right there.

Then there are tweaks that could be made to the suspension and steering gear that would produce tangible improvements in handling,

Hell I'd love to see Ford drop the Mustang GT off at the Nurburgring for some chassis tuning, a visit there with some time spent dialing things in would produce some serious improvements in handling. Its very telling that GM spends the money and time to take thier cars out there to tune the suspension and it shows when something like the Cobalt SS has the jewels to hang with and beat the GT on a road course.

 

This message is currently running on AOL in light of the stock market situation lately,

Ford Motor Co.
Ford has a market cap of $13 billion against annual sales of $173 billion. If sales fall further, cuts won't make up the difference forever. The Ford family, which has de facto control of the company, will have to look at selling the car operations to a large Asian or European auto company. That would allow for a consolidation of production, marketing and R&D. Bottom line -- billions of dollars in annual savings.

 

just b/c the american markets are taking a punch right now doesnt mean ford is dying. their euro market is Booming as is their aussie markets. all this means is that corperate need to radjust the American market management, Fire and Hire. with the economy the way it is our exports will be bought more vs us buying more. this will allow us to more cheaper equipment and sell for more. jobs come here.

As far as newer tech goes i think Ford has a little surprise for us in the 2010 market. what to look for...same body maybe hips ???? look for a more upscale interior, a slap shifter would be a nice upgrade for the v6 guys, i think the V8 maybe old tech (straight shifter) with a new twist. i would look for more advanced VVT on a 5.0l platform, but i think the 5.0 will just be a stroked 4.6 (ALA 289/302) as to keep the parts somewhat interchangeable. I can't see ford spending money on suspension just yet. also i think the tranny will end up as a 6spd manual and a 6 spd auto with lower gearing. i dont think ford is ready to release a TT v6 quite yet, toyota will help them there. direct injection wont be seen for another cycle of bodies i dont think.

 

5.0 is based off of, but its a new block I'm pretty sure.
Not a stroked 4.6
The suspension will be tweaked, but I'd bet not all new.

And more than likely DI on the new engines in 010/011 V6s and V8s ..whenever they decide to use them or are ready.

 

so will the 5.0l and 4.6l after market swap over.... why would ford not just stroke the 4.6? would save them money, and add power. i would like to see them use a thicker block, and just stroke it. and is it going to remain a 3v or will they up it to 4v

 

IIRC the 4.6 in its current form would not be a good candidate for strokage.

5.0 4v from what I read

Sounds like they are learning what they can from the 4.6/5.4 mod motors and addressing the shortcomings.

It'll be a NICE engine

 

More new info is starting to surface about the Mustang's upcoming competition! Must of us know that the top dog SRT Challenger has 425hp but now Dodge was released info on the other two models.

The base model V6 Challenger puts out 250HP while the mid level R/T puts out a healthy 370HP!

Also at the most recent auto shows Bob Lutz was interviewed and gave a little more info about the upcoming Camaro. GM is considering a turbo 4 with 260HP in a base model, this is the same engine in the Solstice GXP/ Sky Redline. There is also a possibility of it's 306HP direct injection V6 serving as the mid level car. Lutz boasts how it will be a superior car in both performance and quality materials..but he also confirmed that the Camaro will be more expensive than the Mustang.........I'm thinkiing if he is already making this statement I'm willing to bet the Camaro is going to be much more expensive not just a little more like originally planned. His excuse is that it is a premium coupe......so is it going to be priced like the Challenger? I bet a base V8 is going to be over $30,000!

Also Hyundai unveiled it's genesis coupe. It is a RWD, V8 with about 300HP that is expected to sell for well under $30,000. Though it is an import I feel this car can be considered a competitor to the stang because of it's stats and price point so in the next couple years we will have several choices in this market segment.

anyways since this thread is supposed to be about upcoming competition this is the most recent news on the subject.......

 

As we've discussed many times here on Stangnet, going to a larger bore improves airflow by a greater percentage than the increase in bore. So by going to a larger bore the new engine will deliver significantly more HP than a stroker with the same bore.

 

More expensive, YES.

Consumers Reports lists the V6 Challenger as starting @ $28K
So the R/T V8 will probably start at $34K

I just don't see how the V6 Challenger will make it Besides being heavy, the Challenger is physically HUGE while not delivering all that much useable space. So that clearly positions the V6 Challenger as a completely impractical vehicle desingned for posers.

The 250 HP Crapster V6 is an under acheiver. If Ford gets it's act together and puts a NA DI version of the D35 in the Mustang it will blow away the V6 Challenger in price & performance

 

This doesn't come as any surprise, being as the 04 GTO sold at $32k. MSRP. Therefore I really don't expect the new V-8 base Camaro to sell for any less than $ 34/35k. And that's just being generous IMO.

I can just imagine what a fully loaded version will cost. Perhaps as much as $ 37-39k

Or even worse yet. Imagine what the cost will be, once the greedy ADM's are tacked on.

So I don't even want to go there. As far as I'm concerned, the Mustang continues to offer the best overall value, hands down. Just as it always has !

 

Consumer reports already released pricing on the lesser Challengers? I'm surprised I couldn't gather any info on price. Though I feel it will price it's self out of the market i'm sure it will be one of those fully loaded cars. The Charger that it is based off of is pretty well equipped even in base trim. I think the V6 Chargers are a pretty penny too.

I think that if GM used the 306hp V6 from the Caddy it will not be the base model but would go head to head against the GT. I bet the V8 car would go head to head with the GT500 or slot just under it. This is pretty much what I expected all along. I feel this will be a better performing car but cost a bit more like the last gens did. If I recall correctly a Z28 was priced closer to the Cobra than it was to the GT.

I'm guessing that the Camaro lineup will consist of a 260hp turbo 4, 306hp V6, a 400hp V8 and then a top dog 505hp LS7 will top off the range. Either way the Mustang should be the sales leader even if they arnt the fastest. My hope is that Ford makes the next SVT car much lighter to handle the next SS Camaro!

 

Let's say that even if GM uses the 306 HP V-6 from the Caddy. I really don't see how it could match up head to head with the Mustang GT. As we already know, the Camaro is going to end up a much larger, and heavier car over the Mustang. In which the weight from such a larger car, will end up putting more strain upon a smaller displaced V-6 despite it's 306 HP rating. IMO I think of it as more of trying to pull an over sized barge. lol.

In addition. it's also been rumored that the base V-8 will be from the 365HP G8, and not the 400HP LS-2 that was in the 04 GTO.

Although it's my guess, will see the 400HP LS-2 listed as an option, followed by the 505HP LS-7 as the top dog.


We also already know that the 2011 Mustang GT. will be getting the modular 5.0 GDI V-8 good for 400HP.


All in all, we can pretty much rest assure that Ford, and the Mustang will compete very well, along side the Challenger, and upcoming Camaro.

 

Yeah, I get the feeling that MT will have to put the base 2011'Stang against the Z28 to get their desired result.

 

I agree with the above comments, I really do. The V6 will help lighten the curb weight a bit though and though I feel that the Mustang will be right where they need to be in terms of power and 1/4 mile times I feel if it keeps the IRS that the Camaro is going to be the better track/handling car and possibly even the Challenger.

Either way I'm getting really excited about the next gen Mustang and hope to see some real photos of it without camo!

 

In the Apriil 08 Car issue they have a brief mention of the SRT8 Challenger and say that the a V6 model is coming in 09 and will start around $28K. I also guess that it will be pretty will equipped.

 

Wow thats a lot of cake for a V6! I'm sure Dodge is gonna have to offer some serious rebates to move those things! I'd rather have a GT or even the new Hyundai Genesis for that kinda money! Either way this looks good for the Mustang.....now maybe we can get a real sunroof option like the Challenger.

 

Although given the Camaro with IRS, may provide better overall handling over the 2010 Mustang. It will more than likely be only by a small margin, in which I'm sure there will be improvements over the current 3 link SRA setup.


I also believe that part of the reason, as to why the Camaro will be more expensive, is due from providing an IRS.

But then again, from the statement that Bob Lutz confirmed. The Camaro is going to be marketed as premium coupe anyhow, which IMO not only interprets as being more expensive, but also more upscale, and refined over the Mustang as well.

So it appears as though GM, is going to market the Camaro towards customers who are looking for a more refined and upscaled alternative to the Mustang.


While on the other hand. Ford continues to market the Mustang towards it's customers who want more of an overall practical, and affordable alternative.

At any rate, It's a win/win situation for both Ford, and the Mustang.