Built between September 2004 and June 2014, the S197 Mustang is the fifth generation of the most popular vehicle nameplate assembled in the U. S. of A.. Prior to the 2016 Ford Mustang ordering books opening in May, Ford Performance and an amateur racer did a comparison between the S197 and S550.
As I’m sure you know as well, the main difference between the fifth and the sixth-gen ‘Stangs is the rear suspension setting. While the S197 only got a three-link live axle system with a Panhard Rod, Ford was extremely proud about the S550’s IRS system, developed from the 2013 Ford Fusion’s (2015 Ford Mondeo's) multi-link independent rear suspension.
Some may be poised to ask “why did Ford made the transition from solid axle to independent?” In this regard, comfort and handling were the most important arguments to get rid of the good ol’ live rear axle. Then again, with the Camaro and the Challenger around, the Mustang had to change to remain competitive.
I still remember when Ford introduced the S550 to great acclaim from the media. IRS this, IRS that, IRS everything, IRS enough boasting about! Initially I was thinking that the Blue Oval didn’t get that memo according to which European manufacturers got into the IRS game with swing axle setups.
In this regard, all pre-1969 VW Beetle models except for the 1968 Super Beetle with Automatic Stick Shift employ swing axles at the rear. Seriously, Ford, that whole S550 IRS commotion was too "in your face" when the current pony was presented to the world in December, 2013.
Nevertheless, how does the 2014 Ford Mustang GT (420 HP / 390 lb-ft) with its solid rear axle stacks up against the IRS-enhanced 2015 Ford Mustang GT (435 HP / 400 lb-ft)? Play the video below to find out.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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