What It Is: A hacked-together 2015 Ford Mustang prototype based on the current car. (We've since spied the new Mustang in its new sheetmetal, its face revealed for all the world to see.) The next-gen Mustang is set to debut sometime in 2014 with the current model’s six- and eight-cylinder engines. An EcoBoost four-cylinder engine will be added to the lineup, as well.

Why It Matters: Like you don’t know. This is the original pony car, the affordable sporty car for the everyman; and any major revision to the Mustang is reason to sit up and take notice. The 2015 Mustang is shaping up to be a revolutionary iteration of the breed; it’s expected to shrink slightly in size, offer turbocharged power for the first time in almost three decades, and—prepare yourself—might finally ditch its solid rear axle for an independent setup.

Platform: We expect the next Mustang will sit on a heavily revised version of the outgoing car’s platform. The biggest change, of course, is headed for the pony car’s rear suspension. There’s a pretty good chance the current model’s archaic solid rear axle will go the way of the dodo. We’ve heard Ford has yet to make a final decision as to whether the new Mustang will get a solid or independent rear suspension, but that the independent rear is more likely given that all of the Mustang’s competitors have one. (The previous-gen car was tested with both types before Ford settled on keeping the stick axle.) The only factory Mustang to ever ride on an independent rear suspension was the SVT Cobra model produced between 1999 and 2004.

Which brings us to the car in these spy photos—it clearly has IRS. (Update: A new photo has been added below that gives a better look at the IRS setup on this prototype; an image of the current Mustang's solid rear axle also was added for comparison.) A suspension arm is visible in the rear shots, and the rear wheels have a healthy amount of camber. (Solid axles don’t have camber—the wheels are perpendicular to the plane of the axle.) We’ve learned most of the length reduction will come from the car’s rear overhang, and the width adjustment is visible on this test car’s ill-fitting roof panel. Both coupe and convertible body styles will again make production. Although the prototype car in these photos is wearing current-gen retro-look Mustang body panels, we expect that the 2015 car’s cosmetics will fall somewhere between that model and Ford’s recent Evos concept car.

View Photos 2015 Ford Mustang independent rear suspension CHRIS DOANE AUTOMOTIVE, KGP PHOTOGRAPHY, THE MANUFACTURER

View Photos 2013 Ford Mustang solid rear axle CHRIS DOANE AUTOMOTIVE, KGP PHOTOGRAPHY, THE MANUFACTURER

Powertrain: The Mustang’s 3.7-liter V-6 and 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 will return for 2015—possibly with the addition of direct injection—but will be joined by a turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. Ford already confirmed that an EcoBoost is headed for the Mustang, but didn’t specify when. We’re told it will arrive with the redesigned model—and not before—and that it likely will be Ford’s 2.0-liter mill.

So where would the EcoBoost four fit into the Mustang’s engine lineup? In Ford’s Edge and Explorer crossovers, the EcoBoost is a step-up engine that’s marketed for its fuel efficiency. The Mustang SVO model Ford peddled in the mid-1980s featured a turbocharged four, and it was considered the most premium and sport pony in the lineup. We doubt such a trim-level hierarchy would fly for the current Mustang; back then, the turbo four made power comparable to that of the “4.9” V-8 on offer. Today, we are blessed with Ford’s wonderful 5.0 V-8, which makes 420 hp in the Mustang GT. So, expect the four-cylinder to slot somewhere below the V-8, possibly as the base engine.

Competition: Chevrolet Camaro, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ.

Estimated Arrival Time and Price: The 2015 Mustang will debut sometime in 2014, although Ford may initially debut it as a 2014.5 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first 1964.5 model. Don’t be surprised if the Mustang gets a little more expensive; some increase in price is nearly guaranteed if the independent rear suspension makes it to production.

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