As Boomer states, this is all '13 on top with bits of '15 underneath.

Camo'd mules, one with almost production ready '15 bodywork wrapped in "bin bags" are not likely to be spotted until about 9 months prior to launch, so in about 12 months time, possibly a little sooner I'd guess.

 

It is interesting that this engineering mule isn't actually hacked up a bit more to fit the underlying new bits, as is often the case (some of these mules are real Frankensteins when it comes to looks). Still early in the game, but might indicate:

1. 2015 will be an evolution of the current chassis/platform, basically sharing the current major dimensions such as wheelbase, width, etc., even if ditching Fred Flintstone's rear suspension for one of this millennium. Thus, the current body fitting pretty much just fine on the mule chassis with but the merest of trimming and hacking. This could save a lot of engineering, development and tooling costs as the current platform, which apparently can fit the stillborn IRS design as is, is not at all a bad basis to start from given enough weight could be trimmed.

2. This is such an early mule, devoted just to suspension components only, that it is still using the outgoing platform and body to test just these limited bits, even if they will eventually be fitted to a brand new platform of different dimensions. The lack of major surgery might indicate against this, everything fitting just to well for this level of suspension/platform disparity.

3. New platform will, nonetheless, still retain the same basic dimensions of the current platform, being either a major, near-new platform like the eventual one was from its DEW roots, or simply clean sheet of paper. This might be likely because to significantly cut weight would be hard while still retaining much of the current heavy platform. Yet, the size of the current platform, while perhaps bigger than just a Mustang might require, would be big enough for sedan derivatives, hence retaining the same general current size (wheelbase, width, etc.).

My guess might be something between option One (basically an IRS update of the current platform) and Option Three (all new platform that happens to be the same general size as the old). It will be more than an IRS refresh of the current S197 but still retain a significant bit of it, particularly up front, and not be such an evolution as to be essentially all new as was the S197 over the DEW98, which retained only a few basic stampings in the end apparently.

The possible sighting of some new frame rails in the rear might indicate this, that the rear structure might be fully optimized for an IRS only rather than a heavier compromise to fit both a log axle and IRS, however cool that might be. But penny and pound considerations might have nixed that approach. U.S. drag racers are about the only real significant consumer group that actually like or even prefer a log axle and that rather small and esoteric group might simply not be enough buyers to justify that expense on what otherwise will be a more world-oriented platform.

Anyways, just my early musings, and no more than that.

 

You can so tell it has an IRS. Look at the center diff section, and the cups for the springs are identical to Fords IRS arms. Plus negative camber. New center hubs. I'll take this test mule.

 

still early, but everything i have read and heard about this "global platform" or "euro inspired" leads me to believe I am buying one of the last true american muscle cars

 

I feel like the car will just step up to a whole new level of awesome performance.

 

The last true muscle car has a backup camera, navigation, pony projector lights, HIDs, and a satellite radio??

The 2013 is a great car, but buying it because you think the new one won't be a "true muscle car" is a bit of self deception. Buy it because it's cheaper (especially after rebates) and available now.

 

 

Oh yeah that's def an IRS back there. Exciting!

 

 

http://rumors.automobilemag.com/spot...on-146451.html

 

Nice.

 

Well...that's pretty clear.

 

Nice find!

 

Finally

Ford you put there so your job is done....now ship it to Germany and let the engineers there tweak it.

 

Finally: 21st Century, meet Mustang. Mustang, meet 21st Century.

Now for you eagle-eyed folks, with that beneath shot of the rear axle/suspension area, does the rest of the frame/body look pretty much like (a development of) the current S197?

Or a basically new platform?



PS Note though, it does seem different from the stillborn IRS originally intended for the S197. Compare to the pics on http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/?p=11329

 

Oh Boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! That looks like some serious cast aluminium awesomeness right there! The rear overhang looks shorter in my view. Pic for comparison.



PS: that spy photographer must have some serious cajones to take that photo!

 

Fake

 

Well it the 2015 car is based on the existing platform AND they add and IRS, it's not going to get any lighter.

 

IRS would likely shave a bit of weight over the iron axle. And you drop a ton of unsprung weight.

 

Typically, while an IRS offers less unsprung weight, the overall unit tends to weight more than a comparable SRA.