We’ve been waiting for Ford to release official data on the 2015 Mustang. That wait was ended yesterday afternoon when Ford sent out a press outlining the details of the three Mustang models more in-depth, although no performance times were released.

As we had previously reported in rumors the car has gained some weight, although it’s not as much as some in the aftermarket ad previously surmised. Any weight gain is a disappointment to performance enthusiasts and while the all new mustang is loaded with tech and amenities we were hoping for a weight reduction like the new F-150 has undergone.

Officially the GT now has a curb weight of 3,705 pounds in manual trans trim, add another 24 pounds if a slushbox box is on your options list. This is a rise of 87 pounds for the manual trans equipped model and 54 pounds for the auto trans.

The V6 weighs in at 3,526 gaining only 30 pounds, while the auto version tips the scales just four pounds heavier than its stick shift brother. Even the EcoBoost model seems a bit portly, although turbo, plumbing and intercooler undoubtedly add to the weight of the car. That being said the EcoBoost tips the scale at 3,532 in manual trans trim and oddly 3,524 in auto trans form.

Power has climbed for the GT and fallen for the V6. The GT, now wearing revised heads and intake as well as having new cam phasers for more power and we’re sure better emissions has climbed 15 hp to 435 hp with torque bumping somewhat as well to 400 ft-lbs. We have to say we were hoping to see 450 out of the GT but we’ll make do.

EcoBoost models get 310 hp and 320 ft-lbs, while the V6 actually loses a few ponies dropping to 300 hp. We still wonder if Ford isn’t trying to phase out the V6, or if emissions standards are just so tight that it’s choking the 3.7.

Comparing To The Past

We’ve heard cries of heresy and sacrilege ever since rumors of a heavier Mustang were first reported. So we thought we’d take a look at Mustangs of the past when compared to the 2015, the results will probably surprise you as they did us, but the numbers don’t lie. Ford provided us data on the ’15 Mustang and then we went back through our archives and scoured the internet to find data regarding popular Mustangs of the past.

The 2015 EcoBoost has as power to weight ratio of 11.39 pounds per hp. The GT does much better at 8.52 pounds per hp or 8.52:1. Weight distribution is better on the 2015, with the EcoBoost featuring 52/48 front to rear distribution and the GT at 53/47. Not bad when you consider the weight distribution of Mustangs past.

Stacking It Up

With regard to the outgoing 2014 GT the ’15s weight to power ratio is better. We calculated out at 8.61:1 on the 2014 GT. Ford has repeatedly said the 2015 track pack’s yardstick is the ’12-’13 BOSS. The BOSS does feature a better weight to power ratio of 8.26:1, in fact with the only two Mustangs of the last 35 years to beat the ’15 are the BOSS and the GT500. We really can’t compare the GT500, but just so you know at 3,891 pounds and 662 hp, it comes in at only 5.88:1.

1999-2004

When the New Edge Mustang debuted in 1999 the performance improved GT packed 260 hp and weighed in at 3,237 pounds. This put it’s weight to power ratio at 12.45:1. The IRS suspension that debuted on the 1999 Cobra along with the heavier weight of the DOHC engine added another 197 pounds making the 1999 Cobra weigh in at 3,430. That car carried a staggering 17.41:1.

The much lauded 03-04 Terminator Cobras, which we are still huge fans of today was a portly Mustang with it’s IRS and cast iron block. The king of the old school snakes weighed in at 3,665 pounds. In spite of it’s 390 hp mill under the hood. The Termi still didn’t do as well as the 2015 GT in the weight to horsepower department ringing in 9.4:1.

Even the last Cobra R couldn’t match the ‘15s ratio. That car with it’s massive 5.4 DOHC engine still had to carry around 3,589 pounds. That brought the R’s weight to power ratio to 9.32:1.

The Foxes

We didn’t forget Fox body fans either. We’ve heard tons of those (even us) wishing we could see a Mustang with a lower curb weight, even 3,400 pounds would be a great improvement for the GT. We examined the top Fox the 1993 Cobra, which was the pinnacle of Fox performance. With 235 hp under the hood and a curb weight of 3,255 pounds the Cobra had to carry around a staggering 13.85 pounds for every horsepower it produced for a ratio of 13.85:1.

What of the ultra-limited 1993 Cobra R? We ran the numbers two ways for this car. Officially that the R model had 235 hp and weighed in at 3,089 pounds. That would give it a weight to power ratio of 13.14:1. Many of the reviewers and experienced drivers who have wheeled a real ’93 R have said it feels closer to 300 hp. Just working on that assumption even the R, at 300 hp would still carry around 10.3 pounds for every horsepower or a ratio of 10.3:1.

Even a Fox body LX weighing in somewhere around 3,160 pounds with 225 hp under the hood can’t catch the ’15. That car still had to carry 14 pounds for every pony under the hood giving it a ratio of 14:1.

We’ll be interested in driving the 2015 Mustang as it carries a host of new tech and features we’ll explore in later articles. Until then we invite you to comment with your thoughts below.