After years of not having a truly muscular engine in its pony car, Ford Motor Company has developed a high-performance, 412 horsepower V8 for its 2011 Mustang GT. The new engine will be mated to a pair of advanced six-speed transmissions and will offer as much as 25 mpg on the highway.
The new Mustang GT will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Developed rapidly in Dearborn with input from Ford Racing, the new V8 is based on experiences learned from the Coyote IndyCar engine and Cammer V8 race engine, although it is an entirely new design on its own.
To crank out 412 horsepower and 390 lb-ft. and to provide faster response, Ford added cam torque-actuated variable cam timing and all-new aluminum four valve-per-cylinder heads with plenty of room for high-flow ports for better performance. The engine provides a particularly flat torque curve for a naturally-aspirated vehicle and it is capable of revving up to an impressive 7,000 rpm.
In order to reel in the performance, Ford will offer Brembo front brakes from the GT500 Mustang as an option. The 14-inch vented front discs will be mated to 19-inch alloy wheels.
The V8 will be mated to a choice of six-speed Getrag manual or six-speed automatic transmissions. With the automatic, the Mustang is estimated to deliver 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, while the manual will likely be rated at 16/24.
To save fuel and, Ford says, improve steering feel, the 2011 Mustang GT eschews its traditional hydraulic power steering for an electric setup. Ford says steering effort has been reduced at low speed but increased for highway driving to aid handling.
Although the Mustang GT carries over the look introduced for the 2010 model year, the V8 ushers in an enhanced rear lower control arm to add stiffness and a new rear stabilizer bar to help improve on-center steering.
William Getty lives and breathes cars. He started driving cars as a 12 year old on the racetrack with his dad. Since then cars has always been a big part of Williams life.
In his garage you can find his beloved 2005 Ford Mustang, as well as a 2020 Audi A3.