2015 Mustang - World Star (Part 6)

Brakes

Another double-ball-joint advantage is increased room to package larger brakes – a definite need on the ’15 as the stoppers range all the way up to 15-inch discs. In fact, Dave’s enthusiasm peaked when describing the brakes. “All this hardware combined with the booster improvements and the pedal-ratio improvements gives us a braking system that we have just never had on Mustang before. It is absolutely phenomenal and confidence inspiring. It is really, really exciting.”

Base 17-inch and 18-inch fitments wear 235 tires; 19-inch wheels get 255 tires; the 20-inch option comes with 265 rubber.

So far, only the basic specifications for the front brakes are known, but they do point to a quantum leap in braking performance, especially when factoring the gains from the flatter-reacting suspension.

Entry level in the V-6 and 2.3 Ecoboost models is a two-piston floating caliper atop a 12.5-inch rotor. All Mustang GTs and 2.3 Ecoboost with the Performance Pack sport 14-inch rotors under fixed four-piston calipers that Dave characterized as similar to but more capable than today’s Brembo package. He said the calipers are larger, stiffer, and generate more torque than to-day’s four-piston units, and the whispered word is this is actually the best performing brake package.

Of course, there’s more. Mustang GTs with the Performance Pack move to those pizza-pan, 15 inch rotors with fixed six-piston Brembo calipers. Again these calipers are larger, stiffer, and boast 15 percent more pad surface area than today’s Shelby GT500.

All Mustangs will be built at the usual Flat Rock, Michigan plant

Also mentioned, all Mustang calipers are aluminum, and the rear brakes have been increased in overall size and thermal capacity. Up front, the large brakes on the Performance Packages are cooled by under-car air diverters as well. These are similar to brake cooling ducts, but use fixed panels to scoop and flip air to the front brakes. There are no brake-cooling ducts in the front bodywork.

The tire manufacturers, compounds, and other details were not finalized at press time, but tire sizes were. Base 17-inch and 18-inch fitments wear 235 tires; 19-inch wheels get 255 tires; the 20-inch option comes with 265 rubber. All tire fitments are square – the same size at all four corners, except for the 5.0-liter Performance Package, which gets 275s at the rear on 19-inch rims.

When can you buy one?

Ford spokespeople were adamant Mustang will be sold world-wide unchanged from U.S. specification unless local regulations demand otherwise. The sequential taillights are banned in some countries, for example, rear foglamps can be required, and there will be right-hand-drive models (late availability).

Because Mustangs are a rare, premium sports car overseas, Ford can charge more for them there. Asked if this was a significant financial gain, and thus helpful in getting some of the high-specification hardware through the approval process, Ford said no.

Ultimately, even after our limited exposure to it, we are more sure about this new Mustang than any other in our 26 years of professional experience with the marque

While there may have once been a plan to offer the ’15 Mustang on the car’s exact on-sale 50th anniversary – April 17, 2014 – that is not the case. First deliveries are now planned for the last quarter of 2014, although orders could possibly be placed by the time you read this. Coupes will appear first, with the convertibles slightly delayed, perhaps two months.

All Mustangs will be built at the usual Flat Rock, Michigan plant. Expect fewer standalone options – Ford says that even with the additional engine, the ordering process will be less complex than with the current car.

Pricing, of course, will be the last ’15 fact released. We feared Ford would make the car so capable and urbane that it would migrate above its populist roots, a well-anticipated question by the Ford team. Dave’s response: “(We’re) not ready to share the price, but we are happy where we ended up.” Keeping the Mustang affordable was mentioned as a key goal by more than one team member.

Ultimately, even after our limited exposure to it, we are more sure about this new Mustang than any other in our 26 years of professional experience with the marque. Normally it takes us months to warm to a new design, but we’ve been excited by the ’15 from the instant they slid the sheet off it in the design studio courtyard – when we felt a bit guilty for having doubted if Ford knew their car well enough to “get it.”

Well, Ford definitely gets it. The personality looks spot-on with performance we didn’t dare dream of.

We can’t wait to bring it to you in all its variations.