What's New for 2015

Introduction

The 2015 Ford Mustang marks the model's 50th anniversary. And what better way to celebrate an enduring symbol of American working-class muscle than to give it a turbocharged four-cylinder? After slightly too much feigned protest that its turbo-4 was intended only for Europe, Ford has confirmed that the next-gen Mustang will offer the new engine alongside the standard V6 and optional V8.

While Steve McQueen fans in Europe will clamor for a V8 option, Ford is betting that plenty of enthusiasts want Mustang style and authenticity without the V8's attendant tax and fuel bill. According to one Ford source, engineering a new four-cylinder for what will be a small-volume specialty car in Europe wouldn't make sense. To justify the engineering expense, the new engine would need buyers: American buyers, in fact.

Four-cylinders aren't new to the Mustang, and some applications have fared better than others. If any to date were to have meaningful success, the new 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder could be the one. Ford says it will generate more than 305 horsepower and more than 300 pound-feet of torque, with sources estimating peak power closer to 330 horses.

A slightly detuned version of the current 3.7-liter V6 (300 hp, 270 lb-ft of torque) will comprise the 2015 Mustang's base engine, while an improved 5.0-liter V8 will make more than the current V8's 420 hp and 390 lb-ft (Ford hasn't offered specs for the new V8 yet). All engines will be available with a new six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

A Performance Pack with larger brakes, shorter final gearing and summer tires will also be available for both EcoBoost and GT models.

Will this new Mustang finally get an independent rear suspension? Yes. Mustang die-hards, don't weep. With the excessive unsprung weight of the current live rear axle design and its attendant impact on ride quality and fuel efficiency, this was inevitable. Take solace in what Ford executives say is an all-new design, engineered specifically for the Mustang and not lifted from any existing Ford product. The new Mustang also has twice the anti-dive and twice the anti-squat characteristics of the old car, Ford says. A slightly revised front suspension is also said to improve steering precision and front traction.

Despite dramatic changes under the hood and body, the new Mustang won't grow, or shrink, in any appreciable way. Its wheelbase is identical and its overall length essentially unchanged from the outgoing car. It will, however, sit about 1.5 inches lower, while the overall width is up by an equal amount. The rear track has also expanded by 3 inches.

Nor is the Mustang expected to weigh much less. Aluminum fenders replace steel, but a steel-intensive underbody otherwise carries over. With additional features and newer technology, the Mustang could put on about 100 pounds.

Dramatic changes are also absent in the new car's styling. Tri-bar taillights, fastback shape and a sharklike nose carry over as cornerstone elements, while a lower roof, hood and deck lid trim the Mustang's proportions. The wider rear end also draws out the car's rear-wheel-drive performance aesthetic better than the slabbier sides of the current car. Improved materials, more elbow room and a smaller steering wheel that both tilts and -- finally -- telescopes, highlight an overhauled cabin experience.

Whether the thought of a turbo-4 Mustang excites or reviles you, get used to it. Look for the official auto show debut of the 2015 Ford Mustang at the Detroit show in January, with sales beginning next fall.