While this isn't good news for me, and others bred on a mix of European performance cars and American muscle, I have to
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| It just irks me that the SVT gang won't be stepping up handling to supreme levels by installing a truly modern suspension system in the top-market Mustang. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
One thing to remember is that Ford had originally planned for the 2005 Mustang to feature an IRS system, but switched to a live axle setup in order to save a reported $70 million USD in development costs, which allowed them to bring the V6 and GT models to market at aggressively low price points. Other reports state that Ford made its decision because early IRS-equipped prototypes only experienced marginally better torsional rigidity than the ancient Fox platform car.
But enough bellyaching, while I'm probably not alone in wanting an IRS setup,
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| Ford's SVT engineers have retuned and upgraded key components to make the stock Mustang chassis nimbler. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada) |
On the positive, Ford's SVT engineers have retuned and upgraded key components to make the stock Mustang chassis nimbler, including revised shocks, spring rates and new larger diameter stabilizer bars. Technically speaking, the Shelby Cobra GT500 gets a MacPherson strut independent front setup with "Reverse L" lower control arms, plus a solid-axle, three-link rear suspension featuring coil springs and a Panhard rod for "precise control of the rear axle." Interestingly, the Ford press materials make no mention of the previous SVT Cobra ever including an independent rear suspension. How strange, as it was highlighted so boldly when the outgoing car was introduced four years ago.