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SCT Performance 2015 Ford Mustang GT Makes 362rwhp, Runs a 12.86 Quarter Mile

We knew that we would be seeing some solid performance numbers for the 2015 Ford Mustang once it reached the hands of private owners and with one of those first private owners being the tuning super gurus at SCT Performance, we have some great stock drag strip numbers and very impressive stock horsepower numbers for the next gen pony car.

When the first batch of reviews of the 2015 Ford Mustang hit the internet last month, we were surprised to see that performance times on the quarter mile were comparable-to-slower than the outgoing models. We knew that the 2015 Mustang was heavier, but it still came as a surprise that some of these reported numbers were not better. However, we all knew that once 2015 Mustangs began reaching the hands of private owners, we would see much more respectable times.

Well, the first 2015 Ford Mustang units have reached some owners and one of those owners is the collective group of tuning masterminds at SCT Performance. This past weekend, SCT got their new 2015 Mustang GT on the dyno and on the track, and they achieved impressive figures in both cases.

The SCT Performance 2015 Mustang GT
Before getting into the numbers on the 2015 Ford Mustang GT being tested by SCT Performance, a bit about SCT for those who are unfamiliar with the name. SCT is one of the biggest names in the modern performance world, offering “tuners” that connect to a vehicle’s on board diagnostics system to gently coax out more power without any other modifications. The Ford Mustang is undoubtedly one of the most popular vehicles to modify for performance so SCT Performance will be quick to roll out a power-adding tool for new Mustang buyers. To do that, they need a test car and that is why SCT has one of the first production units of the next generation Mustang.

2015 Ford Mustang Galleries:
Live images from the 2015 Ford Mustang Detroit Debut
A look at the similarities in styling across the 2015 Ford Mustang trimlines
The 2015 Ford Mustang in Triple Yellow

While SCT Performance will surely make some big news of their own once they begin working on performance engine calibration tunes for the 2015 Mustang GT, today Im focused on their baseline testing of the new pony car.

SCT 2015 Mustang GT on the Dyno
When fitted with the 6-speed automatic transmission, the SCT Performance 2015 Ford Mustang GT made 361.85 horsepower and 345.39lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels. Those numbers were recorded with the Mustang running in 4th gear and when the car shifted to 5th gear, the peak torque rose to 353.02, but peak horsepower dropped to 339.43. Those are very solid figures for a stock vehicle and when you look at the advertised numbers of 435 horsepower and 400lb-ft of torque, the self-shifting Mustang is “losing” around 17% of its power between the flywheel and the road. That is a touch higher than the 15% drivetrain loss figure that is typically used for calculating a rough wheel horsepower figure, but it is also with an automatic transmission that generally eats up more power on the way to the wheels.

Attacking the Quarter Mile
More importantly, the folks from SCT Performance took their 2015 Ford Mustang GT to the drag strip and their times were much, much better than the times from the first media drives. Where most media outlets reported quarter mile times in the low 13 second range, SCT was able to take their showroom-stock 2015 Mustang GT and run a 12.86 at 107 miles per hour. Compare that time to the media norm of 13 flat, and you have yourself a quarter mile time that is much easier to swallow for those prospective Mustang owners looking to go drag racing. It should also be pointed out that a well driven 2015 Mustang GT with the 6-speed manual transmission is likely to be even quicker through the quarter mile so stock times could be even better than the 12.86 by SCT.

We will keep following SCT’s progress with their new Mustang to see how much extra power they can pull from the stock 2015 GT and in the meantime, check out this video of their Mustang doing a monster burnout.

The image at the top of this piece is a still captured from the SCT burnout video show here.

Comments

Turbofroggy (not verified)    October 8, 2014 - 11:08AM

In reply to by Patrick Rall

Oh yes forgot to show my math; 2015 Mustang GT fastback, with tax $46,543, 19mpg combined. @ $4.00/gas * 100K miles of driving, total for just the car and the gas = $67,595.
Tesla Model S60 after tax credits, and no sales tax in WA, $63,570, 285wh/mile @ $0.10/kwh * 100K miles of driving = $66,420, for a TCO of $1,175 less than the Mustang.
I have driven it on a road course to 110mpg+, it handled just fine. I also drive to work, store, baseball game, movie night, occasional 2200 mile trips to Monterey. I can also drive the Tesla nationwide on the free Supercharger network. Does Ford have a backlog of 3-4 months of cars that people have on order? Has Ford ever pre-sold over a year and a half of production on a new model that no one has ever seen or test driven yet? Ford has lots of plug-in models available, C-Max Energi, Ford Fusion Energi and Ford Focus Electric. They are hedging their bets, they will be around, as well as Tesla.

Austin (not verified)    November 19, 2014 - 2:15PM

In reply to by turbofroggy (not verified)

Let me preface this by saying Teslas are awesome and I Love them. But...why the hell are you talking about it here? This was an article talking about the wheel horsepower of the new mustang. When people find themselves on this page it is because they are interested in the MUSTANG. This article was not a breakdown of the differences between two radically different cars. Why did you even comment? I was hoping to read something insightful about the mustang in the comments...now I have just lost 5 minutes of my life.

Patrick Rall    October 8, 2014 - 7:56PM

At least Ford has the guts to publish sales numbers rather than misleading all of the easily-led fans who believe whatever Elon feeds them. When they start publishing actual sales numbers, they will be taken seriously with the rest of the grownups in the auto industry. Right now, theyre nothing but another Tucker except Tesla has a schtick with their EV technology that most of drivers in American dont want. it is like Ford bragging about how much their commercial grade trucks can tow. Theyre the best, but almost no one cares...just like the only people who care about Tesla are people who foolishly bought a Tesla. Had Fisker climbed into bed with Mercedes and Toyota early on, it would be a Karma owner talking right now and the Model S would be going for nothing in ebay. Fortunately, Elon will get into bed with anyone to keep his unimpressive cars rolling off the line at a loss.

As for the backlog, Ford doesnt have a ridiculous backlog because they are a real automaker with factories to build their vehicles. They dont have a ridiculous backlog, but they sell more trucks in a day than Tesla sells cars in a month...if not in a year.

You forgot to mention that Tesla has more trolls who go around the internet bragging about dominating a segment that most people dont care about. No one challenges them in the number of misinformed fanboys. Now move on and go play with the rest of the Tesla trolls.

erick iglesias (not verified)    October 15, 2014 - 6:49AM

Do you guys not remember when automobiles were first being produced and how many times those EXPLODED and killed people? Don't forget that we have been driving cars running on gasoline under our asses and have killed more people than electric vehicles have.
Now that guy with the Tesla model S is just a prick who can't except that people have other tastes than him. Keep your Tesla. I hope you realize that those batteries are worse for the environment than the lifetime of a normal gasoline vehicle.

BVK (not verified)    November 1, 2014 - 10:04PM

Mr. Terrible @ Establishing Statistics Logically Again (TESLA), So when your battery runs out, how long does it take for a fill up? Makes for longer trips just to claim your green? which by the way does not consider the costs to the rest of us taxpayers to give out these freebee tax incentives. Great for the owner, bad for the rest of society as a whole. What do you plan on doing with all those old batteries (Lithium-Ion pollutes, its toxic waste), put them in a land fill? Or some other toxic pit? At least the lead/acid batteries in regular auto's can be recycled, along with all the metal and plastics. Auto Oils can be recycled, or burned. New engine technology has near zero emissions, computer and sensor controlled. (Direct Injection, Turbo charged, High Tech Computers and Sensors/controls, +100K mi Spark plugs, require no tuning for ignition systems, Cats on exhaust, 6 to 8 speed transmission = lower turning RPM boasting the MPG per lb of mass) And all Battery cars need Tax incentives to sell them, because they are an over-priced alternative that can not survive by itself in a free market place (At least with todays technology). If you want a Tesla, you should still have to pay your fair share of taxes. In Tough budget times we can ill afford niceties like this, by funding these extreme tax breaks for the rich ($100K car). This does not even consider all the energy losses in the system to get your battery charged. In Engineering there is something called an efficiency ratio for Energy systems, What is the final ratio from source of power generation to actual performance in terms of work done to move the car?, Compare that to the Auto efficiency models and consider the government incentives (Tax Breaks) vs. levied taxes, you will find that the battery car will lose hands down. By the way, remember you don't pay those pesky little gasoline taxes that keep our roads in good repair. Level the complete playing field and Batteries lose. If the Battery cars gain any significant market share eventually all those tax breaks will go away, because we can't afford to be giving large numbers of the tax paying public these incentives. It will bankrupt our government. So continue with that smart A _ _ smirk driving that appliance. May you constantly be trying to find an open outlet to plug in to and waiting for it to charge up.

james (not verified)    November 24, 2014 - 5:37PM

i can afford to buy a electron car. I chose to use gas as liquid entertainment. but by all means please drive a electric/hybrid whatever. just that much less fuel usage to contend with. but don't think for a second that over priced crap is emission free. almost all of you dead heads buy into that crap. there is a power plant some where putting out something. unless you of course have bought your own solar farm of wind/water production then we are the same. I do use these technologies at home. hate the power companies jacking with prices when they screw up. cars are made for fun!

John (not verified)    October 22, 2015 - 9:40PM

And, recycling batteries and other computer components is far worse on the atmosphere than tail pipe emissions, that's a fact. Not all this post 2000 nonsense about going green. 80% of Ca pollution comes from China, did that also occur to you?, Emissions and green garbage is all political and revenue generation. The earth heats up between each Iceage, and we are headed towards another Iceage, but on the way there, it's going to warm up. We need to accept it instead of trying to change something we can not change. You also have to look at the fact that all the readings taken from the Poles, has been done in the summer, when the ice melts every time anyway, using that as " oh no, the Ice is melting" yes, like it does every summer. The human race will not be around another 200 yrs, which is when it might get to 120-122 on hot days in summer in Phoenix, AZ, not the 115-116 of today. And to the idiot that said he took his Tesla ton a road course, LOLOL!!! Sure, the back way home from work.