Thoughts on a Car

[5PointOh]

It took a bit of staring at the lines on the car for me to decide if I liked it while I was at the CLE Auto show, but it's definitely grown on me.  I'm curious about the IRS setup, I've had fox bodies, sn197, and sn95 cars with the live axel, and drove a couple 03/04 Cobras with the irs.  Didn't really care to much for it in those cars, but that was more of an adapted IRS.

I think one thing to point out is this will be the first year the Mustang becomes a global car, and that plays into styling as well.  I worked in the engineering dept for Honda for 9 yrs, and while I worked in a durability and quality group I knew many of the designers, as for honda/acura products there was always a different styling goals based on the market the vehicle was going to be sold in. Global cars are PITA.

It will be interesting once all the details are released, I've read line lock will be in the track apps, the 2.3EB, 5.0, 3.7, and potential for the 3.5EB from SHO.  I'd love to see a 5.0Twin Turbo EB setup for a Mach 1 version but that's just me.

[-ammo-]

Ammo, I agree regarding the Shelby, we had a 2011 for a short time that I really was impressed with.  I think personally that they are going to do a Shelby or high performance model, in the 6 to 700 bhp range.  Why wouldn't they, they have sold pretty well, and it looks bad on them not having a competitor for the Z28, ZL1, etc from the Camaro line.

I do like the new body style of the 2015/16 Mustang, and I also really like the whole turbo 4 motor idea for the entry level models.  Even this engine will have far more HP/torque than the original 5.0l engine in the late 80's and early 90's models, pre 1993 and the subsequent modular 4.6's.  It'll be a neat car for the tuners, it should be fairly cheap for the base model with the turbo 4, and just wait until the mods start coming out for that one.  I predict it'll be the new "it" car for modders.  The 2.3 Ecoboost going into the entry level models will have a twin scroll turbo, so torque and HP should be on tap a lot lower in the RPM range, and is rumored to put out 300hp/300torque, which is amazing from such a small 4 cylinder motor for an American car - that is in the range of the best "Euro" high performance engines in the 2 liter range.  It also is going to get 35 mpg so they are saying, left stock.  Now THAT is quite a car for the price it's going to come in at.  Now imagine a little work done to that motor, it won't take much in terms of mods, programming, and perhaps higher boosting turbos to put that thing into the 4 or 450HP range, or in fact much higher.  Exciting times for drivers looking for a car to mod, a great alternative to buy American and have a very, very improvable car. 

I can see no reason from my foxhole why Ford wouldn't continue manufacturing a Shelby Mustang.  There is money in it, a following, and as you state, the competition.  Still, I think we would have heard something -  yes or no.  The fact that we haven't heard a distinct "no" encourages me.

[Skuzzy]

Ford is either hoping the Shelby will go away, or they are being very tight lipped about something they are up to.

[CAP1]

I can see no reason from my foxhole why Ford wouldn't continue manufacturing a Shelby Mustang.  There is money in it, a following, and as you state, the competition.  Still, I think we would have heard something -  yes or no.  The fact that we haven't heard a distinct "no" encourages me.

 there could be reliability issues with the irs when coupled with nearly 700hp?

[Arlo]

Ford is either hoping the Shelby will go away, or they are being very tight lipped about something they are up to.

(Raises hand)

Oh! Two! Number 2!

[-ammo-]

there could be reliability issues with the irs when coupled with nearly 700hp?

You got a point there!

Edit -  I read a rumor back in January that the super mustang would be a no frills "Boss" car extremely lightened down to the 3000 lb range with a highly tuned coyote engine.  Even so, it's still conjecture

[Stampf]

You got a point there!

And probably an accurate one.  Not that I've heard anything either but it's starting to feel like a DejaVu again with the way they are packing the horses in.  The kabash has to be coming soon.

[GScholz]

Note the two inch wide flattened area around the circumference of the wheel well. All cars have that now and for some reason it really irks me. Probably because all cars have it.

It is often added to sporty vehicles to allow for extending the fender more easily. Either by mounting a fender flare extension, or rolling out that flattened part.

[FLOOB]

So what's the Honda Prius' excuse for having them?

[Skuzzy]

Aside from any design cues, it does add more stiffness to the arc of the wheel well.  It might also be an aerodynamic aid, for some cars.

[ROC]

Posted by: FLOOB
Insert Quote
So what's the Honda Prius' excuse for having them?

 



Nope Nope Nope, still not a good enough reason  

[Skuzzy]

(Image removed from quote.)

Nope Nope Nope, still not a good enough reason  

Oh man.....I'll never get that image out of my head.

[GScholz]

So what's the Honda Prius' excuse for having them?

No idea. Didn't even know Honda made Priuses...

[Skuzzy]

No idea. Didn't even know Honda made Priuses...

Honda makes all the cars from Japan.  Everyone just changes the labels on them.

[GScholz]

Soichiro and Kiichiro must be spinning in their graves...