Ford Mustang 2015 News

Ford may have unveiled the new Mustang in both coupe and convertible forms, but they're still keeping some information back for the car's official debut at Detroit motor show in January.And one of those details relates to a 'secret feature' that will be a first from a car company, according the Mustang's chief engineer Dave Pericak. "(The car has) a lot of new features and technology and I even have some that I’m not ready to tell you about, but we don’t forget how to play to the kid inside of us," Pericak told Fox News. "We’ve got another feature coming that will be an OEM first."Plenty of possibilities come to mind for this 'secret' feature, but Motor Authority is suggesting one that could make it a winner with the enthusiast fan base would be a system to help drivers execute the perfect burnout, in the same way as launch control systems help drivers get off the line perfectly.For now, we already know the Mustang has a host of new features -- detailed in the stories in our dedicated hub. We'll have to wait until Detroit to see what the secret goodie is.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

Meet the new four Mustang. That’s not a misprint: Ford’s new hero car will be available with four-cylinder or V8 power when it arrives in Australian showrooms by the end of 2015, priced from about $45,000.The sixth-generation Mustang has been unveiled simultaneously at five global events overnight  in the US, China, Spain and Sydney, where months earlier Ford surprised fans by flying global CEO Alan Mulally to Australia to announce in person that the Mustang was heading Down Under.Ford air-freighted a silver four-cylinder Mustang convertible to Sydney for the unveiling at Australian Technology Park at Redfern, attended by a few hundreds VIP guests, dealers and the media. The Mustang is due to arrive in Ford showrooms in the months before the last ever Falcon rolls off the Broadmeadows production line, ending what will be more than 90 years of Ford’s manufacturing history in Australia.But Ford insists the Mustang is not intended to fill the void left by the iconic Falcon GT, which bows out at the end of 2014. “The Mustang is not intended to replace Falcon, it’s bringing the Mustang back to Australia,” says Raj Nair, the Ford group vice president, global product development.Watch the desktop version of Carsguide's Mustang convertible unveiling video here.Watch the desktop version of the 2015 Ford Mustang official video here. Check out our 2015 Ford Mustang mega gallery here.The new Mustang, whose design pays homage to the iconic 1968 version, will be the first to be built in right-hand drive on a Ford production line. The Mustangs sold in Australia in the 1960s and early 2000s were built at Flat Rock Michigan in left-hand-drive and then converted locally.After declaring for almost half a century that it was too expensive to engineer a right-hand-drive Mustang -- especially given that left-hand-drive new cars can be legally registered in other key right-hand-drive markets, the UK and Japan -- Ford is boldly going global with the new model. “The Mustang is the heart and soul of the company and part of American culture,” says Nair. “Of all our models, it’s top of the list for brand perception and recognition.”Also watch: the 2015 Ford Mustang exterior design video here.The company claims the Mustang is the world’s most “liked” car on Facebook, with more than 5.5 million fans at last count. The Mustang has also appeared in more than 3000 movies, including James Bond’s Goldfinger (1964), Steve McQueen’s Bullitt (1968), and Gone in 60 Seconds (2000).The new model is the most advanced Mustang ever made.  While enthusiasts are in a lather about the Mustang finally adopting independent rear suspension and getting an onboard “track app” for weekend warriors, it will also gain creature comforts found in most luxury cars, such as radar cruise control, blind spot warning and a sensor key.The new Mustang is also available with a “Shaker”, but that’s the name of the premium sound system, not a modern version of the “shaker” hood ornament made famous by the Falcon GTHO from the 1970s. Ford has not said how many Mustangs it expects to sell in Australia, but sales of coupes and convertibles (a drop-top will eventually follow) typically fade after an initial burst in the first couple of years.Although not officially confirmed, Ford plans to introduce special editions -- including a high-powered supercharged V8 version -- later in the Mustang’s life to help maintain sales momentum. “The differences between us (Australian and the US) aren’t that big,” says Nair. “Australia has a very strong car culture and we think the Mustang is a great fit.”Also watch: the 2015 Ford Mustang ad here.Ford executives in Detroit told Carsguide during a special briefing earlier this year that the company’s headquarters had been “inundated” with letters and emails from Australian Ford fans “for years” demanding Mustang be built in right-hand-drive. Of the 400 Mustang car clubs globally, more than half of them are outside the US, including more than half a dozen in Australia.Fast facts:When the original Mustang was unveiled at the New York motor show in April 1964, Ford expected to sell 100,000 examples in the first 12 months. In fact, Ford sold more than 1 million Mustangs in the first 18 months. It took Chevrolet 40 years to reach the same milestone with the Corvette.More than 9 million Mustangs have been sold since 1964; Ford will celebrate the car’s 50th anniversary at the New York motor show 50 years to the day after the first one was unveiled.A four-cylinder Mustang may seem like sacrilege to Ford fans, but times and technology have changed. Ford’s latest four-cylinder turbo engine is more powerful than many V8s. It will also be much more fuel-efficient.The new Ford Mustang’s four-cylinder turbocharged engine is rumoured to be fitted to the next version of the Ford Focus RS hot hatch, due to be unveiled within the next 18 months.Ford made four-cylinder Mustangs from 1978 to 1993, including a turbocharged 2.3-litre version from 1984 to 1986. The plan was to sell 10,000 turbo four-cylinder Mustangs in the US per year, but Ford ended up cancelling the model after selling only 10,000 over two-and-a-half years.Ford Australia’s fast-car division converted a small number of Mustangs locally between 2001 and 2003. They were rushed in to compete with the modern Holden Monaro, but priced close to $90,000 fewer than 400 were sold.Racing legend Dick Johnson raced a Mustang in the 1985 and 1986 Australian touring car championships when Ford temporarily dropped the Falcon V8.Once the Falcon GT is axed in late 2014, Ford will revive the XR8 sedan (using the Falcon GT’s supercharged V8). It will be the company’s sole V8 offering in Australia until the Mustang arrives in late 2015.The flagship version of the current Ford Mustang on sale in the US, the Shelby 500 GT, is powered by a supercharged 5.8-litre V8, the world’s most powerful V8 road car (662hp or 493kW).Mustang four-cylinderPrice: From $45,000 (estimated)On sale: Late 2015Engine: 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinder (9.5:1)Fuel type: 91 RON regular unleadedPower: 227kW at 5500rpmTorque: 407Nm at 2500 to 4500rpmTransmission: Six-speed manual or six-speed automaticDriven wheels: RearTurning circle: 12.2 metresLength/Width/Height/Wheelbase: 4784/1916/1381/2720 mmBoot capacity: 383 litresFuel tank capacity: 59 litresBrakes: Four-piston calipers, 352 x 32mm vented discs (front), single piston “floating” iron caliper, 330 x 25mm vented discs (rear)Wheels: 19 x 9-inchTyres: 255/40R19Weight: Not yet released by FordFuel economy: Not yet released by Ford0 to 100km/h: Not yet released by FordMustang V8Price: From $55,000 (estimated)On sale: Late 2015Engine: 5.0-litre V8 (11.0:1)Fuel type: 98 RON premium unleadedPower: 313kW at 6500rpmTorque: 529Nm at 4250rpmTransmission: Six-speed manual or six-speed automaticDriven wheels: RearTurning circle: 12.2 metresLength/Width/Height/Wheelbase: 4784/1916/1381/2720 (mm)Boot capacity: 324 litresFuel tank capacity: 61 litresBrakes: Six-piston calipers, 380 x 25mm vented discs (front), single piston “floating” iron caliper, 330 x 25mm vented discs (rear)Wheels: 19 x 9-inch (front), 19 x 9.5-inch (rear)Tyres: 255/40R19 (front), 275/40R19 (rear)Weight: Not yet released by FordFuel economy: Not yet released by Ford0 to 100km/h: Not yet released by Ford

This is not a misprint: Ford’s new muscle-car hero car will be available with four-cylinder or V8 power when it arrives in Australian showrooms by the end of 2015, priced from about $45,000.Photos of the sixth-generation Mustang have been released ahead of the official, simultaneous unveiling at five global events this evening (11.30pm AEST) in the US, China, Spain and Sydney, where months earlier Ford surprised fans by flying global CEO Alan Mulally to Australia to announce in person that the Mustang was heading Down Under.The Mustang is due to arrive in Ford showrooms in the months before the last ever Falcon rolls off the Broadmeadows production line, ending what will be more than 90 years of Ford’s manufacturing history in Australia.Watch the desktop version of the 2015 Ford Mustang video here. But Ford insists the Mustang is not intended to fill the void left by the iconic Falcon GT, which bows out at the end of 2014. “The Mustang is not intended to replace Falcon, it’s bringing the Mustang back to Australia,” says Raj Nair, the Ford group vice president, global product development.A four-cylinder Mustang may seem like sacrilege to Ford fans, but times have changed. With 227kW of power, Ford’s latest four-cylinder turbo engine has more grunt than many V8s. It will also be much more fuel-efficient.Ford built four-cylinder Mustangs from 1978 to 1993 but they were discontinued because the technology wasn’t as advanced then as it is today.The V8 version will likely be the most popular choice (Australia misses out on the US-only V6); the option of a four-cylinder engine is intended to broaden the Mustang’s appeal, especially in Europe as the Mustang goes global for the first time.Also watch: the 2015 Ford Mustang exterior design video here. The new Mustang, whose design pays homage to the iconic 1968 version, will be the first to be built in right-hand drive on a Ford production line. The Mustangs sold in Australia in the 1960s and early 2000s were built at Flat Rock Michigan in left-hand-drive and then converted locally.After declaring for almost half a century that it was too expensive to engineer a right-hand-drive Mustang -- especially given that left-hand-drive new cars can be legally registered in other key right-hand-drive markets, the UK and Japan -- Ford is boldly going global with the new model. “The Mustang is the heart and soul of the company and part of American culture,” says Nair. “Of all our models, it’s top of the list for brand perception and recognition.”The company claims the Mustang is the world’s most “liked” car on Facebook, with more than 5.5 million fans at last count. The Mustang has also appeared in more than 3000 movies, including James Bond’s Goldfinger (1964), Steve McQueen’s Bullitt (1968), and Gone in 60 Seconds (2000).The new model is the most advanced Mustang ever made. While enthusiasts are in a lather about the Mustang finally adopting independent rear suspension and getting an onboard “track app” for weekend warriors, it will also gain creature comforts found in most luxury cars, such as radar cruise control, blind spot warning and a sensor key.The new Mustang is also available with a “Shaker”, but that’s the name of the premium sound system, not a modern version of the “shaker” hood ornament made famous by the Australian Ford Falcon GTHO from the 1970s.Also watch: the 2015 Ford Mustang ad here. Ford has not said how many Mustangs it expects to sell in Australia, but sales of coupes and convertibles (a drop-top will eventually follow) typically fade after an initial burst in the first couple of years. Although not officially confirmed, Ford plans to introduce special editions -- including a high-powered supercharged V8 version -- later in the Mustang’s life to help maintain sales momentum. “The differences between us (Australian and the US) aren’t that big,” says Nair. “Australia has a very strong car culture and we think the Mustang is a great fit.”Ford executives in Detroit told News Corp Australia during a special briefing earlier this year that the company’s headquarters had been “inundated” with letters and emails from Australian Ford fans “for years” demanding Mustang be built in right-hand-drive. Of the 400 Mustang car clubs globally, more than half of them are outside the US, including more than half a dozen in Australia.Mustang four-cylinderPrice: From $45,000 (estimated)On sale: Late 2015Engine: 2.3-litre turbocharged four-cylinderPower: 227kW and 407NmTransmission: Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, rear-wheel-driveFuel economy: Not yet released by Ford0 to 100km/h: Not yet released by FordMustang V8Price: From $55,000 (estimated)On sale: Late 2015Engine: 5.0-litre V8Power: 313kW and 529NmTransmission: Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, rear-wheel-driveFuel economy: Not yet released by Ford0 to 100km/h: Not yet released by Ford  

The horse has not only bolted, but is by now well down the track. Photos of the 2015 Ford Mustang leaked yesterday from Autoweek magazine just 36 hours ahead of the car's unveiling in a synchronised global debut in five countries around the world. And now Time magazine has gifted the internet with even clearer images showing the Mustang exterior and cabin, giving an even better look at the car we'll get here before the endo of 2015, to replace the Falcon as a hero for the local Ford line-up. The Autoweek spreads have text on the pages, but it's largely unreadable, except a small area that appears to confirm the coming Mustang is 90kg lighter than the current model. The engine line-up hasn't yet been confirmed but is expected to include a choice of V8, V6 and turbo four-cylinder units  -- although we won't know which of those we'll get in Australia until the official reveal on Thursday night. It's also too early to get confirmation of prices, although Ford is said to be aiming under the $50,000 level for the base model. Stay tuned for more details -- and possibly more leaks. And visit our dedicated Ford Mustang hub  for more information, background, fun Mustang ads from the past and the awesome Ford Mustang remote-controlled chase video. Watch the desktop version of the 2015 Ford Mustang video here.  This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott   _______________________________________  

Well, it almost made it. The first official photos of the new Ford Mustang have spread like wildfire on the internet overnight after a US magazine published them 48 hours before they were due to be released. Ford's global Mustang reveal -- a simultaneous unveiling in five countries including Australia, China, Spain and the US -- is now likely to lose its impact and the world's motoring press, many of whom were given early access to material, are debating whether or not to publish as well. News Corp Australia was among a group of media shown the new Mustang at a secret viewing at Ford's design headquarters in Detroit in October. For now, we've elected to hold final details until the embargo lifts at 4pm Thursday December 4 Sydney time, coinciding with the local event. But we can tell you what we've reported before we went into Ford's secret den. The new Ford Mustang will be available with four cylinder turbo or V8 power and is due on sale in Australia in late 2015, priced from about $45,000. It is the first right-hand-drive Mustang made on a Ford mass-production line. Mustangs sold in Australia in the 1960s and early 2000s were converted to right-hand-drive locally. Already the world's motoring press are asking if the new, sixth generation Mustang has the same design sizzle as the hugely successful model on sale in the US currently, whose design was inspired by the classic 1968 model. The new Mustang appears to have carried the 1968 theme, but with a more modern and sleek appearance. In this week's issue of Autoweek Magazine USA, which leaked the Mustang images early, the headline asks "Is It All You Hoped It Would Be?". Have your say in our comments section below, and visit our dedicated Ford Mustang hub for more information, background, fun Mustang ads from the past and the awesome Ford Mustang remote-controlled chase video. Watch the desktop version of the 2015 Ford Mustang video here.  This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling      

We're counting down to the unveiling of the Ford Mustang in Sydney late on the night of December 5 -- to coincide with simultaneous reveals in five other markets where it will be sold.Until then, we've got an animated overview showing the "Evolution of an Icon," and tracking the shape, styling engine, transmission and steering wheel through 50 years of the pony car. It doesn't show the 2015 one, of course, but we'll bring you all the information about that straight after the Australian unveiling.The engine line-up hasn't yet been confirmed but is expected to include a choice of V8, V6 and turbo four-cylinder units -- a four returning to the Mustang for the first time since its 1978-1993 run, which admittedly failed to find buyer favour in those years.The new car has been dieting, and is reported to tip the scales about 180kg lower than the current model, saving fuel and improving dynamics. It's also slightly smaller -- about 38cm shorter and 15cm narrower -- riding on a new platform that includes its first independent rear suspension.Ford is tipped to be aiming for an entry price to slip under the $50,000 mark when the Mustang arrives on sale before the end of 2015.Watch the desktop version of the Mustang evolution video here.Visit our dedicated Ford Mustang hubThis reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

The new Ford Mustang is just weeks away from a surprise unveiling in Australia -- two years before the iconic muscle car is due in local showrooms -- giving Ford fans hope after the doom and gloom

In August 1962 when Ford executives were reviewing the twelve styling proposals for what would become the Mustang they gave each a different name. One design really stood out. It was a white prototype designed under the guidance of Joe Oros, boss of the Ford styling studio.The actual shape had been penned by Gale Halderman and his proposal was called Cougar. The grille featured a stylised big-cat contained by a chrome surround. As time went on there was considerable debate about which direction the Cougar should face. Should it be left or should it be left or right? Various design models during 1962-1964 can be found with logos pointing in either direction.Meanwhile, Ford had prepared two concept cars for the auto show circuit which were called the Mustang I and Mustang II, and they used a galloping pony logo. The designer was Phil Clarke and he had the pony running to the left. But just as with the Cougar logos debate went on about which way the pony ought to face.As the deadline for releasing the new car drew closer some in Ford started to favour dropping the Cougar name, replacing it with "Mustang". They asked Ford's adverting agency to conduct research. The results were very clear. The name Mustang was top of the comparison list because, as agency personnel said, " it had the excitement of the wide open spaces and was American as all hell."So it was back to the design studio to create a new version of the pony for the grille of the production car. But should it go right or left? The right hand supporters claimed that was the way horses raced in the USA. The left facing folk stressed that it represented a horse galloping out into the wild west, corresponding to that direction on a typical map.Others suggested a compromise of a horse's head and as late as January 1963, a mere eight weeks from the start of actual production, they even mock ed up one on the grille of a pre-production car. However, Ford boss Lee Iacocca cut to the chase and made the decision in typical blunt fashion: "the Mustang is a wild horse, not a domesticated racer, it goes left". And so it has for 50 years.David Burrell is the editor of www.retroautos.com.au 

The Need for Speed film won't be released until March next year, but Ford is putting the movie's Mustang to work as a Nascar pace car. It will debut in the track role this weekend with Need for Speed actor Ramon Rodriguez at the helm.The custom pony car was created especially for the film -- but also gets a part in the latest Need for Speed Rivals video game -- and is fitted out with a wide-body kit, enlarged intakes and 22-inch alloy wheels. Under the bonnet is a supercharged V8 engine and while Ford hasn't revealed the outputs, they've said it's able to handle up to 670kW of power.Aerodynamics have been tweaked with low-profile mirrors and extended rocker panels, the redesigned splitter  improves high-speed handling, and the rear spoiler and diffuser cut drag and boost traction for sharp acceleration.With the next Mustang headed for Australia as a hero car for Ford after the Falcon exits -- officially in 2016 -- we could see something similar to this on the V8 Supercars circuit, but don't get your hopes up for this kit to hit the showroom floor any time soon.