The 2011 Ford Mustang is not entirely new. Rather, the steed now features a new 3.7L DURATEC V6 engine, replacing the 4.0L V6 that long served as the Mustang’s base engine.
Better MPG
The all-aluminum 24-valve twin overhead cam engine is light years ahead of the engine it replaces and, when paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, will deliver 31 mpg highway and 305 horsepower. This latest achievement marks a 50 percent performance increase and puts the Ford in the same territory as its arch-rival Chevy Camaro.
Ford significantly improved the Mustang for the 2010 model year, but one improvement that was missing was a modern engine. That hurt Mustang sales just as the Chevy Camaro returned to the market after an eight-year absence. Today, the Camaro outsells the Mustang due in part to pent-up demand for the car, as well as better engine options. In fact, the Camaro V6 gets 29 highway mpg while producing 304 horsepower, numbers that Chevrolet is expected to improve upon when the 2011 Mustang hits the market.
customer demand
Ford thinks customers will flock to the new Mustang V6, as it offers exactly what fans have been clamoring for. Said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development, “Mustang is completely transformed with this new engine. Everything people love about the car is still there and now under the hood is a V-6 engine that uses premium technology to deliver the power, feel, fuel efficiency, even the sound of the world’s best sports coupes.”
A cold-air induction system and dual exhaust help the standard engine breathe easier, allowing Mustang to redline at 7,000 RPM and enjoy quicker responses to throttle inputs. Ford says the V6-equipped Mustang will be able to go 10,000 miles between oil changes, saving customers money and reducing the need to dispose of used oil.
exhaust notes
Fans will also be happy to know that Ford engineers worked to deliver the aggressive, high-performance sounds of the new engine, from intake to exhaust. The retuned air intake system has been designed to minimize stalling while providing the driver with an exhilarating intake of air under hard acceleration. Smooth when idling, the dual exhaust system opens with a howl at full throttle, affirming that this car is all about performance.
As usual, several performance packages are available with the Mustang, upgrades like larger tires, firmer suspension, modified stability control, and other enhancements. All in all, the lack of oomph with the base Mustang no longer applies, giving drivers the thrill they want in the steed they so admire.