Well here it is, guys, the new 2015 S550 Ford Mustang.
It's finally my turn to get behind the wheel.
Now I think it's safe to say that this has been one of the most closely watched and carefully
scrutinized cars of all time.
In the early renderings and spy photos, the Internet rumors and speculation, all of course
leading up to the massive global unveiling.
That's right.
For the first time ever, millions of people worldwide will be able to enjoy what over
nine million Americans have been enjoying for the last 50 years.
That's right, this thing is going global and now it's my turn to give you guys a closer
look at the new Ford Mustang.
The new styling, the new independent rear suspension, those quarter-mile times and dyno
numbers.
All to answer, "Is this the best Mustang of all time?"
One of the most polarizing topics with the new 2015 Ford Mustang is without a doubt the
styling.
By now we've all heard the exhausting comparisons to a two-door Ford Fusion or other car brands
and the argument that the 2015 Mustang just does not look like a Mustang.
Let's take a closer look to some of the exterior lines and you can judge for yourself.
Up front, the car is very much a Ford Mustang, from the trademark, shark-bite grill, reminiscent
of the '60s and early '70s Mustangs but also some of the S197 Mustangs.
Another part up front here that is undeniably Mustang is the daytime LED running lights,
which do pay homage to the headlight gills found on the first Mustang.
I will say that is a little odd not seeing the signature GT Mustang fog lights in the
grill for the first time in 10 years but on the flip side, those functional hood vents
are back for 2015, albeit in a totally different location.
Moving to the side of the car, you will notice more Ford Mustang DNA.
The sides of the sheet metal have been sunken in, which is something that has been passed
on from generation to generation.
The A-pillar has actually been pulled back with this car to accentuate the longer hood
line, which in the minds and the eyes of the Ford designers, gave the car a more powerful
look.
Now that more powerful look does get helped out thanks to the wider shoulders, which are
new for 2015.
Without a doubt, one of the biggest changes to the exterior styling is the return of the
fastback roof line for the first time in decades.
Finishing in the rear of the car here, you will notice the iconic tri-bar tail-lamps
are in place, along with the sequential taillights.
Now the '13 and '14 taillights, in my opinion, might go down as one of the best ever on a
Mustang.
While the '15 taillights are beautiful in all their three-dimensional glory, they are
going to be graded on a very tough scale.
Noticing the sleek deckwood panel here, it is devoid of that big gas cap for the first
time in 10 years on our GT, and the love-it-or-hate-it, color-matched rear valance, which will definitely
have some help in the aftermarket.
While the exterior styling might be hit-or-miss for some Ford Mustang fans, it's really hard
not to consider the newly-redesigned interior a complete home run.
Now as you may or may not know, the name Mustang was originally inspired not by a horse, but
rather a legendary World War II fighter plane, the P51 Mustang.
It's really no coincidence that this car has a very cockpit- or aircraft-inspired feel
from the toggle switches, to the big, round, analog gauges and even the ground-speed indicator
on the speedometer.
Now I will say that the interior has a very nice touch of refinement.
Everything that looks to be metal, is, and it's really a night-and-day difference from
the SI97.
Over 20 new pieces of tech have found their way into the interior here of the 2015.
Of course, old favorites like the productivity screen and track hatch are back, which are
now standard on the GT by the way, but there are some new things worth mentioning.
I think the biggest of which is the selectable driving modes.
On the modes here, you can select between "Normal," "Sport Plus," "Track," and "Snow
and Wet" mode.
Now by selecting these different modes, it's going to alter three different areas of your
car's parameters: your stability control, your steering feel, and your engine parameters.
Another new feature here at the 2015 is the launch control, which was previously only
available on the '13 and '14 Shelby GT500, and of course, this lets you dial in your
optimal leave settings or launch settings giving it your best launch.
Perhaps one of my favorite parts of the new tech here at the 2015, which is standard on
all GTs, is the line lock.
This just makes big, smokey burnouts that much easier.
Finally here with all 2015 Mustangs, they are all now keyless.
You receive this key fob, automatic remote start, which is a nice touch and all cars
do include remote and intelligent access, meaning you can leave this fob in your pocket,
lock and unlock your car, and even start the car with a push of a button, now standard
on all Mustangs.
Finally, last but not least, for all my Mustang fans, I know you will appreciate this, the
cup holders have finally been moved over to the side enough, where you can rest your arm
on the console comfortably and still shift gears.
All right, the 5.0L Coyote motor is back for 2015 and it's better than ever.
Now power output is up to 435 horsepower, 400 pound feet of torque at the crank, up
15 and 10 respectively from last year.
This made for 382 horsepower and 359 pound feet of the torque at the rear wheels on our
DynoJet.
Now this motor borrows a ton from the previous generation, Boss 302, such as the forged connecting
rods, some of the valve train components and stiffer valve springs, with completely new
head castings, designed to flow much better with the bumpier camshafts.
Now in my opinion, this motor should be well more capable compared to the old motor as
far as total power output in the aftermarket.
Basically, this thing should be able to hold a little bit more boost, a little bit more
power, without coming apart.
Time will tell.
Both the 6R-80 automatic transmission and the NTA2 manual transmission are back into
the 2015 with some improvements.
Now the sometimes finicky NT82 has gotten some improvements, mainly the new clutch,
along with some new sink rows that Ford claims makes for a better shifting experience and
so far I would have to agree with them.
However, that being said, an aftermarket shifter should definitely be at the top of your mod
list, just to clean up some of the play found here with the stock shifter.
No big surprise there.
Let's get to the big story, right.
For the first time in 50 years, all models of the Ford Mustangs will come complete with
an independent rear suspension, a welcome change for many owners and enthusiasts.
Maybe not so much for the hardcore drag racers.
Now Ford's goal with this car was to make it handle lust as good, if not better, than
the outgoing previous Boss 302, and all tests they have done so far have shown that to be
the case.
Now again, first impression, this thing is much flatter.
Woo hoo!
Just handles much better than the previous stick-axle car by a long shot.
It's actually not even close.
As far as ride quality is concerned, well this thing again is refined all the way.
The rear suspension obviously handles bumps much better than a stick-axle car, especially
when going through turns or over uneven pavement.
Where a live rear axle would tend to pitch and get unsettled, this thing just handles
it and keeps on trucking.
Ford actually had to totally redesign the front suspension to keep up with the new rear.
In fact they have done so by doing a double ball joint front suspension, complete with
a total new subframe underneath there, which has made the way for some huge, huge brakes.
In fact, the biggest yet ever on a Mustang.
The performance packed GT, which I'm in right now is now sporting six pistons, fixed-caliper
Brembos, with 15-inch, vented rotors.
Now that's pretty darn impressive but consider the fact too that non-performance pack cars
now receive a solid brake upgrade in the form of a four-piston caliper and rather large
brakes.
With all that said, is the 2015 Mustang the best of all time?
Well in my opinion, "yes."
It's not even close.
Straight-line performance aside, this car outperforms the previous generation in just
about every way.
I mean, this car just drives much better, handles completely better than the S197, and
the power delivery is smooth and again, just more capable, and I'll use that word, "refined"
one more time because this thing has gotten a lot of refinement over the last year.
Lee Iaccoca once said that the Mustang will "mean more things to more people than any
other automobile on the road."
It never has that been more true than with the 2015 Mustang, with its 21st-century styling,
powerful yet diverse engine lineups, and now global availability, people worldwide will
be able to see what makes Mustang an automotive icon.
I'm Justin.
Thanks for watching.
For all things Mustang in 2015, keep it right here at americanmuscle.com.