A Closer Look at the 2015 Ford Mustang Chassis

The new 2015 Mustang S550 offers a number of brand new changes and upgrades in the area of chassis. First and foremost would be the first-ever independent rear suspension, garnering much attention for the new car. As opposed the one-piece control arm of previous models, the 2015 IRS features two locating links each connected to the spindle upright via a ball-joint.

The new setup offers an improved steering feel. This system has been seen in German makes and the Camaro for years. Additionally, since the mounting points have moved further away from the spindle, larger brakes can be fitted than on previous models.
The car comes fitted stock with a full Ford Racing Handling Pack and Ford Racing transmission cooling scoop.

As mentioned, the rear suspension has been the area of most focus, both from press and the car's developers. The independent rear suspension has multiple links to locate the uprights and keep them in place to prevent wheel hop under high power.
Aluminum lower arms were used to reduce un-sprung weight and a lower steel link improves toe control. Also used was a Ford Racing rear subframe with stiffer bushings, additionally available are Ford Racing half-shafts which are significantly strengthened for racing duty. A must for drag or track duty.

Like previous years, mufflers are in the back below the trunk followed by a Borla exhaust system. The classic side exit exhaust package is again offered by Ford Racing as an upgrade if you fancy a crackling exhaust tone. Off-the-lot the 2015 Mustang has much to offer in the chassis department, coupled with the availability a wide range of aftermarket upgrades from Ford Racing and other manufacturers helps to really push the car to the max of performance.

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2015 Ford Mustang: Huge Success in Q1 2015

In the world of autos, sometimes the key to increased market share can be as simple as a hot new model. Ford has proven this with great success with their latest Mustang generation, while their competitors see losses in sales.

Ford realized a 36.1% sales increase in March compared to 2014 with the help of the 2015 Mustang, selling a total of 12,663 units. For Q1 2015 sales are up a staggering 52.1% with 29,811 S550 units sold, based on reports from Autodata.

During this same period, the Mustang's Rival, Chevrolet Camaro has experienced a 30.9% decrease in sales in March to 29,811. The current Camaro has become an aging model, with a replacement due late in 2015. Prior to the 2015 Model, Camaro often topped the Mustang in monthly sales. The other competitor in this category, the Dodge Challenger also saw a large increase in sales up 25.2% in March at 5,956 units sold. Dodge has successfully generated new buzz around the Challenger with the introduction of a 707hp "Hellcat" powered version.

Ford credits the increase in sales to their intentional broadening of the car's appeal with the 2015 model. For the new model, Ford took a risk in alienating diehard fans by adding some mainstream improvements and changes to the car, which beforehand kept away many potential customers. These included improvements to ride quality, fuel economy and safety, as well as the introduction of independent rear suspension for the first time in the car's history. Ford claimed these as being "the biggest changes in the car's 50-year history."

"Mustang has historically been this blue-collar muscle car," says Ford's internal sales analyst, Erick Merkle. "With EcoBoost and traction control, they've expanded it."

In light of the many new improvements, analysts are not surprised at the new Mustangs launch success.

"With Mustang, there is so much aspiration for that vehicle," says Alexander Edwards, president of consultants Strategic Vision, "even among younger drivers or those getting in their first sports car."

The car's success in early 2015 is even more impressive given the fact that many other sports car models did not perform well during the same period compared to the previous year. Hyundai Veloster fell 14.5%, Mazda Miata dropped 29.2%, and Toyota-Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ, experienced a drop in sales of 39% and 42.2% respectively.

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Top Selling Mustang Colors Among International Markets

 “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.”

 -Henry Ford

Henry Ford's famous words regarding the original Model T. Years later, black remains the top color selection of a certain Ford for consumers, a car which may be even more iconic than the prestigious Model-T: the Ford Mustang.

For the 2015 model year, Ford has officially introduced the popular "pony car" to several global markets for the first time in the car's now 50-year history. The Mustang is now available in the China, Europe, and Africa regions. Ford has recently released the most popular colors in some of these areas after initial sales (see above). The foremost were red and black, both appearing in the top 3 for each market sample analyzed. The second favorite US color was "Magnetic Metallic" something akin to a gun metal gray, China liked the "Oxford White", and the European region favored "Deep Impact Blue".

What would be genuinely awesome, was if Ford were to make the Mustang available in the same color selections of past years. For example in the 1960s ('67 to be precise) the Mustang was available in a whopping 40 different colors. Talk about choices.
In the end, the entire world seems to agree that the Mustang looks fantastic in black. However, the next favorite colors? Red, White and Blue...

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A 2015 Ford Mustang In The World's Largest Ghost City

It is likely that you have already seen the video above, and while yes, the short film produced by Ford seems like a fun 2015 Mustang ad featuring Maryland Mustang formula drifting phenom, Vaughn Gittin, Jr.. However what you may not know is that the city featured in the short film, Ordos, Inner Mongolia in China is considered the largest modern ghost city in the world.

Originally to be built for over 1 million residents, the city of Ordos was intended to be a crowning jewel of Inner Mongolia. However, development snags, missed deadlines, funding issues, and more, drove investors to drop the project en masse which in turn, resulted in entire streets, even districts abandoned mid-construction, earning Ordos the title of "China's Ghost City".

With such a grand and unique setting, it is a wonder that Ford were one of the first to consider filming in the city. With it's looming towers, quasi-futuristic architecture, and vast expanses absent of human life, all set on a backdrop of the Mu Us Desert, Ordos seems the perfect setting for a District 9-esque, future dystopia film.

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Improve Your S550's Stance With Steeda Sport Lowering Springs

Improve the stance of your S550 with a set of Sport Lowering springs from Steeda.
Lowering springs can help to improve the look of your Mustang by lowering ride height (the sport Lowering Spring Kit lowers 1 inch on all sides), but will also increase performance by improving performance.
In this helpful video from the folks at CJ Pony Parts, see exactly how to install those bad boys yourself, start to finish, every step of the way!

Steeda develops their springs with a superior level of attention to detail. Using progressive CAD data and proprietary 3D modeling, Steeda springs are on a level like no other...

The 1" drop found by this kit will afford your car both improved aerodynamics and ride quality. This will mean increased steering response and sharper handling.

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CAR Magazine's BMW i8 vs Dodge SRT Hellcat vs Lamborghini Huracan vs 2015 Mustang GT

Available in The February 2015 issue of CAR magazine is "Days Of Thunder": a road trip across California and the Nevada desert, in four new sports cars for 2015
In the video above, see how the European BMW i8 and Lamborghini Huracan stood when pitted against two powerful new production cars from the US, the Dodge SRT Hellcat & 2015 Ford Mustang GT.
CAR's editor, Chris Chilton, serves as a guide, as viewers get to experience four staffer's adventures in four vastly unique sports cars amidst brilliant western scenery; Pacific Coast Highway along coastal California, Nevada deserts and arid Alpine hills.

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2015 Mustang Speed Dating

Ford had a bunch of guys meet a beautiful, professional stunt driver on, what they thought, was a blind date.

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