The GT500 with the beefy 6spd, a heavy ironblock S/c'd 5.4 and the bracing that the 2011 GT is said to be getting weighs in at 3,880-3,920lbs but the GT with an engine that is supposadly 200lbs lighter weighs 4,000lbs?? Even if you took the current GT500 and swapped the S/c'd 5.4 for the N/A 5.0, the car would weigh no more than 3,750lbs at most.

I'm 99.9% certain those estimates are way off. I don't see how the car can gain 300lbs when the biggest change (the engine) only nets a 30lb gain. At most, the new changes add 100lbs and bring the GT's weight to around 3,650lbs.

I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.

 

The 5.0 is only about 10 pounds heavier, the 4.6 3v was 420-440 pounds dressed depending on where you get the info.

IMO a fully loaded GT coupe will probably be 36xx pounds. My old 07 GT with 18" wheels and an M5 with all the bells and whistles (except nav since it was a very early 2007 car) weighed 3550 or so pounds.

--->edit for below<--- err, yeah just reiterating what Gold said :P

Hell even if the running gear additional bracing were ported over 100% to the GT, the difference between the coyote 5.0 and the 5.4 S/C mill is probably an easy 200 (maybe even 250) pounds due to the CI block, much larger DOHC heads and S/C hardware (including coolant, heat exchangers and circulating hardware).

 

If all you care about is the sound and nothing else, you can go buy a nice third gen or old 5.0 for $2500.

 

Well.as cars weigh more..they need more power. 400 HP in a Camaro today nets the same results as 300HP in a Camaro 10 years ago. The term I like to use is that cars are denser. In that they are not growing much in external dimensions, but they are gaining weight. The Camaro is a special case in that it is a sedan reengineered to be a sporty coupe..but in general most cars are gaining weight faster than they gain physical size.

Carmakers do not want heavy cars..as more weight = more material, which = more cost. Assuming most of the content in modern cars is untouchable..the only way to get weight down is downsize, or use exotic materials. If you look at the 10 best sellers, the majority is still trucks or SUV's..which tells me people are not looking for anything smaller. Exotic materials and added cost are out the question without regulation making the whole industry do something. So really as of right now, the answer is to make heavier cars, add bigger brakes, and more power so they don't seem as big.

The Camaro SS may weight 4000lbs..but it drives about 500lbs lighter IMO. I think anyone who does not agree is just looking to throw stones.

 

You know I really, really hope you are right.

But after glancing the numbers of what each new item weighs (can't share, but just the brakes and transmission alone are pretty hefty) there is a significant increase even if 3850 pounds does prove to be a bit high.

Just the numbers I've seen alone show at the minimum a 150 pound gain.


Again, those who really know me will know I really hope you are right.

However, the point still stands that the added horsepower and added capabilities have added quite a few pounds to the Ford Mustang GT.

I will admit, it's the GT's numbers I have had access to (not the V6), and between the Brembo brakes and the transmission alone, I think it's perfectly plausable that the numbers posted on the GT's weight (and by association, the V6) is within the boarders of reality.

Ford would have had to cut significant weight elsewhere (and I do mean significant!!) in order to keep close to the weight of the current GT.

This is the one area that I can assure you alot of people driving Camaro SSs will find out.

I will admit that it is possible that Ford is sandbagging the weights of the Mustang.

I will also admit that as far as I see, the Mustang GT's weight will be at the minimum 150 pounds due to the Brembos, the transmission, and the braces.

But I will also tell you that 412 horsepower number is LOWBALLED!!!

If Ford advertizes that 412 number (or even 415) don't believe them. The damn things were putting out significantly more than that months ago.


But despite the final numbers, or if Ford is throwing us all off in weight (I'll admit it's possible), the fact still stands that the Mustang GT is no longer that 3550 pound featherweight it currently is.

10 pounds is directly due to the engine. But a 6 speed manual with the new brakes is at the very minimum (even IF Ford is misleading us) pushing 3700 pounds.

That is directly tracable to making a car with higher capacity.

And even then, my point still stands:

The new Mustang GT will have roughly identical performance, and roughly identical weight as the face-peeling Terminator Cobras that were once limited in production and cost $32-35K back in 2003 & 2004, now available to anyone with $28,000 in today's money.

Keep in mind that at that price, these cars will be in the hands of high schoolers in a couple of years off the used car lot for 15 grand or less.

 

Guy, how could the hp numbers be low-balled? I thought all power/torque estimates were now independently verified?

 

I'm fine with less HP... As long as it still comes via a V8.

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong...but I believe that is optional..If they do have it verified they can say it is "SAE-certified".

 

Weights updated:

3603lbs manual coupe
3658lbs auto coupe
3720lbs manual vert
3779lbs auto vert

 

The 3rd gen was 200 lbs heavier than the Fox body. The 5th Gen is 200 lbs heavier than the '11 Mustang. The more things change...

(I preferred the 3rd gen back then, and today, I'll still take the Camaro).

 

That sounds right. Do you have a link?

That would put a manual coupe with Brembo's and perhaps wider wheels/tires (not sure of Track Pack will have them or if they will be optional) around 3650lbs. A solid 200+lbs. lighter than the Camaro, which is right around the weight difference estimate of the Camaro IRS vs. SRA so that makes sense.

Good job Ford. This is a car I would consider owning and that engine is just GORGEOUS!

 

That makes sense....

http://media.ford.com/images/10031/2...g_GT_Specs.pdf

I have to admit that it's been entertaining watching the reaction by some, on the previous inflated weights.

 

I have to admit, that is a good looking engine bay.

 

Are you saying that a Camaro SS M6 would weigh less than 3650 pounds and a V6 Camaro M6 would weigh less than 3550 pounds if it had a live axle?

 

I don't think 412Hp and 390 ft/lb is lowballed for the 5.0L. To me thats quite a bit of power from 302 ci. I think Ford did all they could to squeeze every last HP from the 5 point Oh. 11 to 1 compression and going electric for steering while making the GT join the premium fuel competitors says to me that they went all out. They don't have bragging rights to outright power vs. LS3 but they are spotting the GM mill by 1.2L of displacement and in the N/A world that is a lot.

IMO this is the best pound for pound and dollar for dollar V8 Mustang ever. Styling subjectivness aside Ford addressed the only two areas that the GT was lacking in, Power and 6-speeds. One could say the lack of IRS is a shortcoming but those people probably don't plan to drag race.