2015 Mustang Weight Gain: 300 Pound Handicap Caused By Independent Rear Suspension And More [REPORT]

The 2015 Mustang is set to arrive by fall 2014. According to reports, reservations are already accepted and the base 3.7 liter V6 Mustang price will start at just $24,425. Next, the turbocharged Mustang EcoBoost will start at $25,995. Finally, the V8-powered 2015 Mustang GT will start at $32,925. However, would you purchase a Mustang at all if I told you that the latest generation of the iconic coupe has gained a couple of extra pounds?

According to some reports, the 2015 Ford Mustang could be as much as 300 pounds heavier than its predecessor. In an era of automotive design that focuses on lightweight engineering, efficiency, and driving dynamics, the extra heft is an unfortunate surprise.

Road & Track has shed light on the weight gain, citing the more complex independent rear suspension and more rigid structure as the main culprit. According to Road & Track, the heaviest Mustang GT Premium tops out at about 250 pounds more than the outgoing 2014 model. While that's 50 pounds less than the initial estimate, it's still a lot! What's more, the 2015 Mustang EcoBoost and V6 Models are slated to be about 50-70 pounds heavier than the predecessor while the standard 2015 V8 will be about 170 pounds heavier than the 2014 model.

"The previous 5.0-liter GT had a power-to-weight ratio of 8.61 pounds per horse, as opposed to the Camaro's 9.17 and the Challenger SRT8 at 9.05," explained AutoWeek. "Gaining 250 pounds would put the 2015 Mustang's curb weight at about 3,868 pounds, which would worsen its power to weight to 9.21. It could go from feeling the quickest of the ponycars to feeling the slowest."

Share your thoughts on the new 2015 Mustang. Does the addition of independent rear suspension and a safer roof-crush standards justify the extra 250 pounds in the premium Mustang GT? Let us know in the comment section below!