I stand to correct myself here, the engine for the new Mustang is rumored to be from Ford's truck lineup - the 24 valve 300 horsepower V8. Weight will continue to be an issue for the Stang because of the torque and power being produced from the V8, especially when you offer a convertable version which needs a strong frame.

Having said that, the current Mustang isn't that much heavier than it's rival the RSX Type S. The Type S weighs 2767 lbs and the '03 GT Mustang weighs 3,071 lbs. That's a difference of 304lbs. That is substantial, but respectable considering that the Mustang platfrm suports a convertable version as well. Even with the weight difference the GT is still faster in the 1/4 mile.

As far as a Carolla sitting next to a GT (as cited a few articles earlier in this thread) I have to ask what modifications have been made to the Carolla. I guess if the 130hp Carolla sits next to the GT than it will blow the doors off a 200hp RSX Type S 6 speed, because the Type S will run the 1/4 mile in 15.16 verify that stat here:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...sx/index1.html

And the "heavy" "ugly" "slow" 2003 Mustang GT will do it in 14.0 Verify that in the following articlehttp://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...112_0212_q400/)

And if you have a few bucks to spend on better heads and a supercharger, you can run the 4.6 GT in the 12.8 second range which is where the Stock Cobra runs at.

Regardless of taste or opinion, the Mustang has been around for almost 40 years and isn't going away anytime soon. Hats off to a company that can keep a model in production for that long.