2015 Ford Mustang to get IRS? Spy shots say maybe!

Given the fact the 50th Anniversary of the Ford Mustang is upcoming, everyone is eyed-wide, checking to see what the next rendition of the Mustang is going to look like and what’s going to be underhood as well as underneath. From what appears to be a recent test mule for the 2015 Mustang, spy shots are indicating one major change is a possibility it will have independent rear suspension (IRS). The Mustang has been a solid, straight-axle car forever and seeing this test mule out on the prowl with new underpinnings is quite intriguing, indeed.

Speculation hints that this is definitely a multilink setup that is comprised of aluminum control arms, aluminum knuckles, and an adjustable toe link–the photos obtained don’t offer any detail on the forward links, unfortunately. So, if this is what we will get in the 2015 Mustang model, then there will likely be mixed results…one side will decry the Mustang is betraying its proven track heritage, with the converse stance applauding the fact the Ford Mustang is actually moving forward in time. The problem with evolution, however, is someone has to foot the cost. IRS isn’t free, and let’s be honest, the current platform isn’t exactly lightweight. Maybe an entire platform redesign will help support the new underwear the Mustang will don? Too early to tell, so we just have to guess like the rest.

10 thoughts on “2015 Ford Mustang to get IRS? Spy shots say maybe!

  1. xxxx says:

    I hope this is only an option. Part of what has made the Mustang affordable and drag-worthy was the solid axle, not to mention the cost comparison. It’s a bit upseeting when a loaded Mustang costs nearly as much as Vette.

    • racer24crm says:

      When the mustang was designed for 2005 the solid rear option only saved a measly $500 off the car. This is according to motortrend research. When there are cars out there with IRS posting 0-60 times in the low 3s and high 2s I think its safe to say that we don’t need live rear axles for drag racing anymore. As for the price of a fully loaded mustang, that is why they are called “options”, you know, as in it is optional to have them. You don’t need to make the car expensive. Its time for the mustang to evolve and move on, if ford holds on to the old ideals and technologies like all you old school racers want then it will die in both performance and sales numbers, then disappear altogether.

      • xxxx says:

        Cars posting 0-60 times in the 3 or sub 3 second range with IRS’s are going to cost over $70k, or a lot more. And if an IRS was so great for traction and durability at drag strips, you wouldn’t see so many solid axle rears at the strips today. You’re putting a lot of faith into FMC if you think they’ve come up with an IRS capable of repetitive drag launches and the durability of the current 8.8”.

        I’m not easily impressed by newer technologies added to a car model just because they are theoretically superior. It’s very tricky to get an IRS right in the handling and traction department (ex. ’99 to ’04 Cobra and new Camaro). A writer at Autoblog stated it best when they said in their pony car shoot-out that they would rather have the greatest live-axle in the world (Mustang) as opposed to a mediocre IRS (Camaro).

        I’m also not opposed to new technologies that are added to the Mustang, as long as they don’t price the car beyond its market. Any car company can add upgrades along with a hike in base price, but good ones can do it with minimal impact to the price. Instead of bowing down to all of the BMW and Toyota loving car magazines by adding an IRS, FMC should be focused on lightening up the car, further evolving the current suspension which seems to work quite well as-is, and stop increasing the base price every year.

  2. Xxxxx is right says:

    Its also upsetting when Ford has to design OUR 2015 Mustang to “meet Europe’s safety standards”.

    BULLS***! HOW ABOUT YOU DESIGN THE F.O.R.D. MUSTANG TO O.U.R. SAFETY STANDARDS AND IF EUROPE OR THE ENTIRE WORLD WANTS THE 2015 MUSTANG, THEY CAN COME HERE, BUY ONE, AND DEPORT IT BACK TO WHEREVER THEY CAME FROM!

    If the 2015 Mustang ends up betraying the Mustang community’s hopes and expectations, and ends up looking “not like a Mustang should”…

    …WE’LL HAVE EUROPE TO THANK FOR THAT.

    • racer24crm says:

      Its really hard to justify spending money on R&D, factory retooling, advertising, and manufacturing costs when a car is only sold in one market and isn’t really that big of a mover. If you want the mustang to survive it needs to be made global to increase sales. Its time for a change and the mustang needs to join the rest of the auto world in the 21st century. So, in the end, you either get a new “world” mustang, or you stick to the old fashioned mustangs that will see sales slow, performance fall behind, and eventually be discontinued. I’d rather have a new fancy mustang then no mustang at all.

      • svtpilot says:

        Slow sales? Ford just solid 10,000 Mustangs in May. Sales are increasing not decreasing.
        As far as the ‘performance fall behind” The solid rear Boss 302 equals or betters the “benchmark’ BMW M3 in every performance category and the solid rear GT500 is flirting with super car level performance.
        Having said that I have no problem with IRS i thought it should have been an option on the sn197. I have no problem with the Mustang evolving , it doesn’t have to be retro but the Fox Mustangs certainly weren’t but they were great cars in their day. But it has to be a Mustang not a rebadged Honda Accord Coupe.

  3. barney says:

    the irs could be sourced from the Aussie falcon as they have been running irs since 1998.with fords global 1 car thing they keep talking about,i would say that ford usa has been keeping a close eye on what ford australia is doing with its rear wheel drive platform.ford usa has probably had a lot of input to it as well.
    http://www.fpv.com.au is the performance arm of ford in australia.

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  5. GT500 says:

    To me its all fine and dandy if its IRS or not. But for me it MUST meet AMERICAN saffty standards and the price MUST NOT be jacked up, and it MUST NOT end up llike all other mucle cars or sports cars, because if it does i can gurentee it will lose alot of money. I am part of one of americas largest mustang supporter organizations, and a very large 87% of us agree that all data and personal beliefs point to large money losses, and alot less busness. FORD, specificaly mustang should be smart enough to Know this.

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