Nearly a 50% difference in weight (8.8~300 vs Cobra IRS =425 depending on components used) is hardly marketing BS.

No not at all. But development of one will only drive the base price of the car up. After all a Corvette is a true sports car. The Camaro and Mustang are both "Pony" cars. Ford is not going to develop a IRS specifically for the Mustang...you can bet the ranch on that.

I guess I missed the humor. I tend to still be sensitive about getting my *** handed to me by nearly every Camaro I ran into.

 

"No not at all. But development of one will only drive the base price of the car up. After all a Corvette is a true sports car. The Camaro and Mustang are both "Pony" cars. Ford is not going to develop a IRS specifically for the Mustang...you can bet the ranch on that."

I'm pretty sure that all the new muslce cars ( Camaro, GTO, Challenger) are going to have an IRS. I think if the rest of the competition is going to Ford will likly have to follow suit. Development costs could have more value if Ford does in fact launch full line platform sharing. If Ford makes an IRS for the Mustang and also uses it in a future full size RWD sedan for Ford/Lincoln/Mercury and maybe even a new Cougar or Thunderbird or Lincoln halo car then the combined effort may make a business case for the IRS.

 

Believe it or not, ford's driving dynamics engineers are the best in the world.

the goal is not only to out handle any competitor, but to do so while delivering a better ride and comfort.

I want the mustang to be tidy-er reduce the length by 8 inches, but give it a wider, meaner stance.

the GT would bepowered by an upgraded

4.6 V8 with 340hp

V6 would be a 3.5 Duratec with 270hp.

both would be mated to a 6 speed manual or automated manua transmissions. with paddle shifter and cool "FORD POWER" push to start button.

The mustang needs GPS, dual zone climate control
Human Machine Interface (HMI)
Interactive Vehicle Dynamics Control (IVDC) with Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD)
Hill Launch Assist

The mustang based on a global architecture should be able to nintegrate these option with ease and offer what the wannabes can't.
CAn You just here BRAIN from Pinky & The Brain sying YES here !

 

Phil, I don't know if your aware of this or not..But the current S-197 chassis, was originally designed to house an IRS..However, thanks to the bean counters..they decided to scrap it, in favor of the SRA, at the last moment..In order to cut budget costs..

There are rumors however, that an IRS may make it's way..into the upcoming re-designed 2010..Mustang

 

I think it may wait till the all new mustang, rather than the reskin/refresh of 2010.
Things were changed on the 2005 that would not allow the IRS to be just a smple swap.

I think we'll still see a beefed up SRA in the 2010,
and maybe the IRS in the 'all new' hunter platformed stang 2012+

There was a rumour a while back too that the Camaro was considering a SRA as well to keep weight and price down. (but this was a while back and it was an internet rumour, not sure how credible it is/was)

 

Those are exactly the high end features that I'd love to see in a Mercury or Lincoln branded Mustang.

I think the Mustang should stay, for lack of a better term, low tech.... because that will mean low price.

Let a more expensive brand have the techno gadgets. (Check out the "bring back the cougar" threads)

 

You guys also forgot radio controls on the steering wheel! Whats the deal with that? a $15000 Focus can have it but not the Mustang??? One of my first cars a 91' Dodge Stealth had radio controls on the wheel! Whats the deal Ford!

 

About the IRS, my understanding is Ford AU already has a control blade IRS that can be easily configured for the Stang. It is a little heavy and pricer, maybe $300 and 30 pounds?

 

Thanks for clearing that up, Boomer

 

The CB was rumoured long before we saw the 2005 in production form.
Unsure if this was the actual IRS that was said to be in the 2005 prior to the order to remove it for an SRA.

The 2005 IRS was ripped out and the SRA put in, last minute and under a time crunch. Modifications were made to the rear seat area that doesn't allow a direct fit.

 

maybe its just me not liking change to much, but i wouldn't want radio controls or any controls on the mustang sterring wheel.

 

I thought that way until I tried a car with controls on the wheel, then I fell in love. Not having to take your hands off the wheel = awesome. And its a good safety feature.

 

I had it on my GTP and my wifes cx7 has them. I use them but its not somthing i want on a mustang.

could be that my right hand is always on the shifter that i don't feel odd having that hand off the wheel.

 

I would hardly call the last Cobra's regurgatated MN-12 IRS a proper design. A good IRS design would perform better, be much stronger and not have that sort of weight penalty.

 

There were rumors that the 1st-gen Pony was supposed to get an IRS too - but, even back then, the beancounters killed it. IIRC, there was a one-off 9" center section (diff.) meant for that application.
Seriously, the Mustang is WAY overdue for a more modern rear suspension.

 

The Mustang does need at least an IRS option...to keep costs down, Ford could keep the live axle rear as standard an offer the IRS for those willing to pay for it. Having said that though, Ford cannot offer a band-aid solution for the IRS...it has to built to withstand high HP and Torque without all the wheel hop issues in prior versions.

 

Just as the beancounters, even back then.. also killed off their one-off designed, electronic stability control...Guess you overlooked that rumor

 

Can you provide a better example used in a Mustang?

 

Too much time. It's like predicting the election.

 

What he means is that the IRS on the 99-04 Cobras was built around a car that was never meant to have it. The platform dates back to the late 70s Fairmont (78'?) So what Ford did was build an IRS to bolt into the same location that was originaly intended for a solid rear. The whole design of the IRS was built to fix into a very outdated platform unlike the 05' which is considered very modern. I feel an IRS in the current generation would be much easier to do but would likley still have some compromises. Perhaps in the next gen the car will be built with IRS in mind from the start of design to the finish.