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| Details such as this billet aluminum strut brace that stiffens the Mustang GT coupe's overall structure while acting as a mount for the full-size, 20-inch spare make this concept so spectacular. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Looking through the raked rear window of the coupe, incidentally sporting an identical interior to that in the convertible forward of the seats, brings to light a most exquisite piece of Shelby racing inspired brilliance, a solid aluminum strut support linking the rear shock towers, bisected by a knock-off style wheel lug holding the full-size 20-inch spare in place. We shouldn't expect this feature to carry forward in the next generation production Mustang due to the necessity of its 2+2 configuration.
Whether or not the GT concept's 20 x 8.5 inch front and 20 x 9.5 inch rear aluminum wheels on 245/40ZR20 front and 275/35ZR20 rear BF Goodrich g-force T/A tires will make it to production is yet to be announced either, but for now we can look on in awed reverence knowing that these beasts might even be capable of keeping the current generation Mustang's wild rear end in place. With control in mind its four 351 mm (13.8 in) Brembo disc brakes should be sufficiently sized to pull the pony car from full gallop to a mere trot in no time at all.
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| The Brembo brakes look sensational, especially with such glorious 20-inch alloys to frame them. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
As most initially expected for the next generation production Mustang, the concepts ride on a revised version of the current Thunderbird rear-wheel drive platform (DEW98), that itself was spawned from Lincoln LS/Jaguar S-Type architecture. That said rumor has it this chassis won't be used for the next Mustang after all. If a source inside Roush Engineering, one of Ford's racing development partners, is correct the Mustang GT concept's fully-independent 'DEW-lite' suspension will give way to a new 'hybrid' suspension based on upcoming C170 architecture, a platform that is being developed for the next generation Focus and Mazda Protegé. The source states that Roush has been testing the new C170 platform for its Mustang application.