guionM

I wouldn't be so cocky about that. We're talking about a Mustang "Boss/Mach1" type of vehicle.

Although it might be a few thousand more than a Mustang GT, it will likely be right on par in price with a similar Camaro SS.

As mentioned, with the Bullitt's Ford Performance suspension and roughly 350 pounds less weight with only a 20 "advertized" horsepower deficit, it will indeed make any contest with a Camaro SS pretty intresting indeed.

I'm telling you guys.... you're making a big mistake thinking that the same mentality exists at Ford with Mustang today as existed in the '90s regarding performance.

Gripenfelter

Pretty much the same responses over at SVT Performance. They are stunned by the V6. They think their 2011 Mustang will stomp the V8 Camaro though.

Z28Wilson

I was always under the impression that the S197 derived its platform from the old Lincoln LS. Perhaps Camaro is much closer to Zeta than Mustang is to Lincoln, but the roots are similar.

With that said, I am anxious to see what the 2011 Mustang brings. 3400 pounds with 400 HP is a much more attractive package. Hate to say it, but really.....

boomer78

The only carryover was the floorpan. The rest is new or borrowed from various other designs or new engineering. It's its own platform at this time (D2C).

IIRC its going to weigh around what it weighs now, but have the 5.0 and 6 speed + other goodies. Sounds like they aren't playing games either.

I agree competition is good for all parties involved.

WRT the V6 Camaro. it's great for it to have 300/270
but at it's weight... the Mustang GT will have nothing to worry about.
(of course anything can happen at the track right)

christianjax

What concerns me most is when the world ends in 2012, Who will be winning? Chevy? or Ford?

skorpion317

Just as a side note, the DI V6 Cadillac CTS runs a 14.6@97 MPH.

It weighs 4032 lbs.

The V6 Camaro weighs 300 lbs. less. And it has the same engine and trans combo as the CTS.

Shellhead

The floorpan may be the only direct carryover, but there's still plenty of weight in that car that the engineers wish weren't there - much the same as the Camaro team I would guess.

As for this new, lighter Mustang, there have been rumblings that the "Huntsman" rwd platform has been canceled.

bossco

I can't really see the Mustang losing 100 pounds over the current car, especially since the 400hp 5.0 is supposed to be a DOHC piece evolved from the Mod motor and its going to feature an M6 trans. The DOHC heads and M6 are gonna add some heft to the car. I'd say at best the 5.0/M6 would be a mass neutral upgrade if not a tad bit heavier than the current 4.6/M5 car.

However color me surprised if they do pull off a 3400 lbs car with the 5.0/M6 powertrain.

Interesting, I really didn't care for the IRS, but that virtual pivot frontend seemed cool.

94Z28/03mach1

Might as well turn around and talk to a brick wall than try to reason with these people.Time will prove you right.

Fbodfather

perhaps -- but my question is this: HOW will they get the weight out?

Illustration: early on, the hood of the Camaro had a flutter at 70+ mph -- the fix? Additional structure -- that's called weight.

Many have heard me talk about the axle and brakes on the 4th gen -- WEIGHT...

Yes -- you can get the weight out -- but invariably there is a penalty.....and that's cost or quality......or elimination of features.......

94Z28/03mach1

seems like I heard that the IRS that did not make it into the '05 GT was lighter than the solid axle.Maybe thats where It will come from.

FAD1

Yeah, I mean if Ford can do it, so can GM. If GM could, I'm sure if they would make the camaro weigh about 3400lbs. , they would but again like Scott said, they would have sacrifice a lot. I still say I'm happy with the V6 weight and the its distribution.

99SilverSS

I certainly hope the 2011 Mustang comes out to be all it's currently billed as. I've got my doubts. The Camaro really offers quite a bit of content and some impressive options. Ford will probably need to respond as the current car is outclassed as a car by the new Camaro and in many aspects the Challenger too. They now have 2 cars in their class and don't want to give up any sales. V6 cars and the quality and content move sales not the V8 cars. So if Ford plans to match the Camaro with safety, airbags, crash rating and suspension capable of the Ring and and IRS for 3500-3600 lbs and keep its price point will be quite an acomplishment. With money an object at Ford as it is all all the domestic brands I can see some corners being cut.
The 5.0L 400hp engine is the easy part.

bossco

Lol, Ford could drop 70 pounds off the body by going back to the pre 07 chassis - there just wouldn't be any GT500s anymore

I cant see where they can really chop the weight? The suspension is dead nutz simple struts/sra. There are probalby only a few areas they could go to aluminum, ditto on the body and some spots in the interior.

I suppose they could go with a stronger and conversely thinner guage steel for the body but what does that do for cost?

bossco

Ehhh.... where did you hear an IRS would have made the Mustang lighter?