Ford Confirms 2011 Mustang GT's 5.0-Liter Engine
Posted: Dec. 28, 2009
The news was leaked on Facebook and Twitter over a week ago, but now it’s official. Ford has confirmed that the 2011 Mustang GT will come with a 5.0-liter V8 engine that pumps out 412 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. So if you’re thinking about buying a new Mustang GT, you may want to skip the 2010 model.
The 2011 model’s 5.0-liter engine will replace the 2010 GT’s 4.6-liter V8, which makes 315 horsepower and earns 23 mpg. The new engine is expected to net 25 miles per gallon with an automatic transmission. It harkens back to the 5.0-liter engine used in the 1990 model Mustang, which is good news for pony car aficionados.
Jalopnik explains: “The 5.0-liter, or 302 as it was known in the pre-liter era, has become irrevocably tied to the Mustang, when the 4.6-liter was introduced the Stang-faithful praised the increased output but moaned over the loss of their favored displacement.”
With 412 ponies under the hood, the 2011 Mustang GT competes with the 425-horsepower Camaro SS and 425-horsepower Challenger SRT8 and Charger SRT8. Though these rivals beat the Mustang on paper, real-world testing may produce different results.
Autoblog speculates: “No word on performance figures, but expect a mid-four second 0-60 sprint and a quarter-mile in the high 12s. At least. Especially as the current Mustang GT (315-hp, 320 lb-ft of torque) hits 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and runs the quarter in 13.5. Oh, according to Ford, the new 5.0 weighs just ten pounds more than the outgoing GT.”
Car and Driver is also hopeful that the changes will make the Mustang a true competitor: “With its comparatively small 4.6-liter V-8 under the hood, the Mustang has had a lot to overcome. … Well, come fall of 2010, the Mustang GT stands to put even more distance between it and its rivals with a thoroughly modern mill of its own…”
In addition to the new engine, the 2011 Mustang offers new six-speed automatic and manual transmissions (replacing the current five-speed), an optional Brembo braking package, and fuel economy-boosting electrical assist steering.
“This is not always a welcome swap, even if it seems increasingly inevitable as manufacturers attempt to squeeze more fuel-efficiency from every package,” writes Edmunds Inside Line of the steering change. “And we love the way the 2010 Mustang steers. We hope the challenge of meeting the standard set by the current car will make the new system better.”
LINK:
Ford Confirms 2011 Mustang GT's 5.0-Liter Engine - U.S. News Rankings and Reviews
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