Photo: Ford
While you’re waiting for your European-spec 2015 Mustang to be arrive (deliveries start in the first quarter of next year), Ford engineers are working overtime to complete the final tweaks. Among others, the Old Continent buyers apparently require improved ride comfort.
The Blue Oval has a bit of a challenge on its hands at the moment, since making the low-speed ride better is simple, but doing so while maintaining the handling precision is not exactly an easy task.
“As soon as we play with the low speed damping we risk harming the car’s handling,” Global Engineering Chief, Raj Nair, told autocar. “Even so, we’re about to begin testing and there are some things we can do.”
The US-spec 2015 Mustang has shown pleasing handling and high-speed stability characteristics, so now that a benchmark has been set, we’re eager to see how Ford engineers will work around the problem.
Europeans won’t get the V6, so we’ll only talk about the EcoBoost and the GT. The four-cylinder turbocharged entry model delivers 310 hp on 93-octange gas in the US, while the European one is down 1 pony to 309 - that 314 PS. Sitting at 434 Nm (320 lb-ft), the torque is untouched by the trip over the Atlantic.
As for the five-liter V8-powered GT model, this suffered a more serious drop, going from 435 hp and 542 Nm (400 lb-ft) to 413 hp (418 PS) and 524 Nm (386 lb-ft).
Like we said, the suspension job is all a financial matter. Ford hasn’t announced the pricing for the European Mustang yet, so perhaps this will bring a bit of a bump over the usual take, which sees the same model being more expensive in Europe.
“As soon as we play with the low speed damping we risk harming the car’s handling,” Global Engineering Chief, Raj Nair, told autocar. “Even so, we’re about to begin testing and there are some things we can do.”
The US-spec 2015 Mustang has shown pleasing handling and high-speed stability characteristics, so now that a benchmark has been set, we’re eager to see how Ford engineers will work around the problem.
The engine outputs are also different for Europe
If Ford decides to invest enough and pull the suspension trick, the Euro-spec ‘Stang will be the better one - many might see the matter this way, but we mustn't forget about the power disadvantage on the Old Continent.Europeans won’t get the V6, so we’ll only talk about the EcoBoost and the GT. The four-cylinder turbocharged entry model delivers 310 hp on 93-octange gas in the US, while the European one is down 1 pony to 309 - that 314 PS. Sitting at 434 Nm (320 lb-ft), the torque is untouched by the trip over the Atlantic.
As for the five-liter V8-powered GT model, this suffered a more serious drop, going from 435 hp and 542 Nm (400 lb-ft) to 413 hp (418 PS) and 524 Nm (386 lb-ft).
Like we said, the suspension job is all a financial matter. Ford hasn’t announced the pricing for the European Mustang yet, so perhaps this will bring a bit of a bump over the usual take, which sees the same model being more expensive in Europe.
Google News