2015 Ford Mustang

Exterior and Interior

2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302

The 2015 Mustang will be getting redesigned for its new generation, as most cars do, but Ford would be ridiculous if they changed it up too much. Expect to see the same long hood/short deck combination, as well as the sharp upper and lower quarter panels of the current model to carry on to the next. The major component of the redesign will come in a revised platform that will drop the car’s overall weight and length. The new, lighter and smaller Mustang will then be prepared to take on the 2015 Chevrolet Camaro that is also said to have dropped a few pounds.

The interior of the Ford Mustang hasn’t had many changes since its restyling in the third generation. Other than the seats getting made out of soybeans for the 2008 model, the Mustang’s interior has stayed the same. Will 2015 be the year of the interior? It’s highly doubtful, but we do expect more of Ford’s bountiful technologies to find their way into the new generation muscle car.

Engine

2011 Ford Mustang V6 Engine

As of right now, the engine lineup for the 2015 Mustang will not differ much from the current V6 and V8 configurations. Expect to see the 3.6L V6 producing 305 HP and 280 lb-ft of torque and the 5.0L V8 delivering 412 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, except that the V8 may be getting direct injection. Rumors have also been circulating about a new 2.3L to 2.5L engine with some sort of power boost for the base model. These engines will more than likely still be mated to the standard six-speed manual and available fuel efficient six speed automatic transmission.

The Ford Mustang GT500 will also be getting some engine changes to match wits with the new Camaro ZL1. Rumors are stating that Ford will be taking the 5.4L V8 up to 5.8L and that the updated engine could deliver more than 600 HP.

The Ford Mustang SVO may also be revived for the 2015 model year. With gas prices continually on the rise, an attendee of a talk over at Princeton asked Ford chairman, Bill Ford Jr. if the Ecoboost engine line would make its way to the Mustang. The answer was an easy yes, but no detailed information was given at the time. Since the EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine was first found on the Mustang SVO, it would be safe to say that it would be making a comeback of sorts. Expect the 2.0L Ecoboost turbocharged 4-cylinder to produce about 247 HP.

Handling and Stability

2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0

For the first time in ten years since Ford’s then-VP, Phil Marten, decided to switch to a live axle to cut down on costs, the Ford Mustang will be getting an independent rear suspension. This new suspension will be a one-off of sorts from Ford’s Control Blade suspension and will be similar to that of the Ford Falcon from Australia, marking the area in which Australia’s studios will come into play.

This switch to IRS may be cause for alarm for the drag racers of the world that rather enjoy the live axle, but a limited edition live axle model may come into play to put out that fire. We can see it now, 2015 Ford Mustang Drag Race Edition.

Handling may also be improved for the new generation Mustang with computer-controlled torque vectoring. This system be able to apply and hold torque where it is needed for more aggressive and controlled handling.

Pricing

The 2015 Ford Mustang is still a long ways away, with the debut scheduled for April 2014 at the New York Auto Show, exactly 50 years to the month of the original Mustang’s debut. Putting a price on a vehicle that won’t hit the market for another four years seems a bit premature.

Competition

As previously mentioned, when the 2015 Ford Mustang hits the scene, it will tackle its longtime rival, the Chevrolet Camaro. The Mustang/Camaro war has been a fiery one and, with both models shedding some weight for their new generations, we don’t expect that fire to be doused anytime soon.

2011 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500