Why is the mustang getting heavier?

nmcgrawj

nmcgrawj

Club Member
Just looking to pick some of your brains that know more specific details. Im assuming its because of the never ending safety standards and adding more and more electronics/wiring/etc to the cars.

Can anyone give me some details to put up in another thread to shut some guys up? :handshake:
 
You have the answer already.

1. Crash/safety standards & customer requirements/wants
2. Added content (electronics, sound dampening materials, etc)

Some of this can be offset by stronger, lighter materials but the more exotic materials cost more. There's no voodoo going on and nobody is hiding some super secret powertrain that gets 100mpg and makes 500hp. Until the costs of these materials comes down to the point where they are closer to traditional steel, they will be used sparingly where needed.
 
Hell even the frame looks huge

38007260831_large.jpg
 
As long as it has the HP to get it's ass moving, I could care less about weight. I mean, I don't drag race for real, I might go to the track one or two times per summer, but I just enjoy crusing and spirited driving.
 
NHTSA and IIHS each have their own standards and tests. Some things are mandatory while other tests result in ratings based on how well they survive the tests. This is the "5-star" ratings that everybody wants.

As a real example, FMVSS 216 relates to roof crush. The current standard is that the roof structure needs to support 1.5 times the unloaded vehicle weight. That standard will be going up to 2.5 times vehicle weight. More strength will require better design (and maybe some out of the box thinking) but usually adds some weight when we need to use thicker steel to gain the strength. If cost were no object we could use insanely high strength steels, which in some places we do. However, typically as material strength goes up formability goes down, meaning that it's harder to form the parts.
 
there are alot of additions that you never see. such as thicker piller steel, multiple airbags in seats, pillers, dash and steering wheel, the sensors placed all around the body to operate them, the wiring to connect them. ABS sensors, ABS modules, ABS wiring
Larger wheels with larger brake rotors and calipers, wider tires with overall larger diameters
thicker glass that reduces road noise, rubber backing on carpet to reduce road noise, larger stereos with 10-12 speakers vs the old 4, with addition of subwoofers. then you get into the electonics underhood, such as larger catalytic converters, turbos, intercoolers, larger radiators, active handling modules, heated and cooled seats, etc. you can go on and on.

If you wanted to strip all that crap out, youd have yourself a 2011 cobra jet, which weighs like 700lbs less
 
cjmatt said:
there are alot of additions that you never see. such as thicker piller steel, multiple airbags in seats, pillers, dash and steering wheel, the sensors placed all around the body to operate them, the wiring to connect them. ABS sensors, ABS modules, ABS wiring
Larger wheels with larger brake rotors and calipers, wider tires with overall larger diameters
thicker glass that reduces road noise, rubber backing on carpet to reduce road noise, larger stereos with 10-12 speakers vs the old 4, with addition of subwoofers. then you get into the electonics underhood, such as larger catalytic converters, turbos, intercoolers, larger radiators, active handling modules, heated and cooled seats, etc. you can go on and on.

If you wanted to strip all that crap out, youd have yourself a 2011 cobra jet, which weighs like 700lbs less
Click to expand...


Thanks matt :handshake:
 
Scooter70 said:
You have the answer already.

1. Crash/safety standards & customer requirements/wants
2. Added content (electronics, sound dampening materials, etc)

Some of this can be offset by stronger, lighter materials but the more exotic materials cost more. There's no voodoo going on and nobody is hiding some super secret powertrain that gets 100mpg and makes 500hp. Until the costs of these materials comes down to the point where they are closer to traditional steel, they will be used sparingly where needed.
Click to expand...

cjmatt said:
there are alot of additions that you never see. such as thicker piller steel, multiple airbags in seats, pillers, dash and steering wheel, the sensors placed all around the body to operate them, the wiring to connect them. ABS sensors, ABS modules, ABS wiring
Larger wheels with larger brake rotors and calipers, wider tires with overall larger diameters
thicker glass that reduces road noise, rubber backing on carpet to reduce road noise, larger stereos with 10-12 speakers vs the old 4, with addition of subwoofers. then you get into the electonics underhood, such as larger catalytic converters, turbos, intercoolers, larger radiators, active handling modules, heated and cooled seats, etc. you can go on and on.

If you wanted to strip all that crap out, youd have yourself a 2011 cobra jet, which weighs like 700lbs less
Click to expand...

91trunk said:
Blame the government.
Click to expand...

1BADAIR said:
yep, all the NVH stuff everyone wants to make the car "quiet" can increase the curb weight alot
Click to expand...

dline said:
still not a pig like the camaro and challenger
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lab1702 said:
Remember, they also gotta make them hold up to fatter and fatter people... :roll:
Click to expand...

:nod:
 
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