The Ford Motor Company has been nudged awake by the arrival of the Chevrolet Camaro (and to a lesser degree the Dodge Challenger). A year after the reincarnation of its old rival and but a year after the redesign of its own pony car, Ford is getting aggressive about its corner of the pony car market with the 2011 Ford Mustang GT, which introduces a 412-horsepower 5.0-liter V8, plus both a six-speed manual transmission and a six-speed automatic.
Uh oh.
What we appear to have here is a good old-fashioned crosstown Detroit smackdown set amid the post-apocalyptic ruins that was once the domestic auto industry. Which, let's face it, beats the hell out of no crosstown smackdown set amid the post-apocalyptic ruins that was once the domestic auto industry.
So let us then examine the 2011 Ford Mustang GT, this newly muscled competitor.
Rollin' in My 5.0
Possibly you've heard that the 2011 Ford Mustang GT will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8. In fact, it's just about impossible that you haven't heard that the 5.0 is back, since rumors about it have been circulating for at least a year. And when Ford made it official to a slightly-too-large group of journalists on the evening of December 17, the news leaked out before Ford's press conference was even done. Such was the excitement surrounding this news that information that was supposed to be kept secret for about 10 days remained under cover for all of, what, 5 minutes? Mr. Happy Thumbs tweeted that the 5.0-liter would produce 412 hp. This caused a small Internet-based brush fire of info.
If you view the early leakage of information as an index of excitement, the return of the 5.0 to the Mustang ranks pretty high. And this 5.0-liter appears to be something quite special. And compared to the 5.0 of which Mr. Vanilla Ice extolled the virtues back in 1990, this new-generation V8 now fitted to the 2011 Mustang makes 187 hp more. Word to your mother, indeed.
The Mustang should be able to add "quickest pony car" to its resumé once the GT hits the street.
Also, unlike the 5.0-liter Windsor V8 of old (introduced as Ford's small-block V8 way back in 1962), the new engine is actually a 5.0-liter and not a 4.9, and you can do the math with its 92.2mm bore and 92.7mm stroke if you like. Ford began development on the new engine some two and a half years ago, and it's simply a bored-and-stroked version of the all-aluminum, overhead-cam 4.6-liter Modular V8 first built in Ford's Romeo plant in 1991 and fitted to the Mustang in 1996. And in addition to being a nice round number and a historically significant size, the new 5.0-liter motor is also about as large in displacement as the existing block can go.
Old Number, New Tech
But it's about more than just size. Without the ability to match the displacement of Dodge's 5.7-liter Hemi and, more important, Chevy's 6.2-liter small-block, the Ford team had to work over the engine's breathing capacity and basically throw in all the tech the company has at its disposal in order to compete with the big boys.
Out went the 4.6's SOHC cylinder heads with three valves per cylinder in favor of a DOHC setup with four valves per cylinder (a setup first introduced for the 1996 Mustang SVT Cobra, actually). The Ford engineers say they tried to use the Shelby GT500 heads but couldn't make enough horsepower with them. As it turned out, new heads had to be designed to leave the valley between the cylinder banks as open as possible to maximize space for the new intake system (the alternator has been moved down in front of the engine for the same reason). The combination of a new, composite intake manifold with new tubular exhaust headers significantly improved the engine's breathing.
For improved fuel economy as well as a broader, more drivable toque curve, Ford has added variable cam timing on both the intake and exhaust valves, just as it did for the 3.7-liter V6 that will go into the 2011 Ford Mustang V6. Mike Harrison, chief engineer for the 5.0-liter engine, says the variable cam timing provides a 5 percent improvement in low-end torque, a 2 percent improvement in peak torque and a 7 percent improvement in power. The 5.0-liter V8 makes 390 pound-feet of torque to go with its 412 hp.
Bits & Pieces
As far as the details go, the 5.0-liter V8 features a stout, forged-steel crankshaft and it's got larger bolts for the cross-bolted main bearing caps. Wider crankcase bulkheads lend greater support for the crank as well. Powder-metal-forged connecting rods have floating wrist pins, while oil squirters cool the underside of the piston crowns. The compression ratio is 11.0:1. This new lump continues to use port-type fuel injection instead of direct injection because the engineering team believes that direct injection wouldn't add enough benefit to justify the time and expense of its development.
And for all this, the new 5.0-liter V8 weighs only 10 pounds more than the outgoing 4.6-liter version. And weight, or the relative lack of it, is what has been keeping the Mustang GT in the hunt with the thundering Camaro, despite the relatively weak output of the 4.6-liter V8. Using the data from our 2010 Ford Mustang GT, 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS and 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T comparison test as a baseline, the Mustang now has fewer pounds for each of its horsepower to pull around than the relatively heavy Camaro. With a slight weight gain from its 3,572 pounds in 2010 trim, the new Mustang GT should have a weight-to-power ratio of 8.7 pounds per hp. The Camaro is right around 9.0 pounds per hp and the flabby Challenger R/T is 10.7 pounds per hp.
If a class-leading weight-to-power ratio still seems a bit tame to you, Ford Racing has something right up your alley: the Boss 302R. This dedicated racer will set you back a little more than a standard 2011 GT — like somewhere between $79,000 and $129,000, depending on which racing series you want to run with it. Oh, and it's not what you would call street legal — at all. But its throwback paint scheme and historic name (nabbed from the Bud Moore-built racecar that Parnelli Jones made famous in the 1970 Trans-Am series) are pitch-perfect.
Other Items of Interest in the Appearance and Function of This Automobile
Barring some anomaly, the Mustang should be able to add the title of "quickest pony car" to its resumé once the 2011 version of the GT hits the street — which would be in addition to the title of "most nimble pony car."
Thanks in part to the choice between two new six-speed transmissions (a manual and an automatic), the Mustang will likely be the most fuel-efficient pony car, too, although only by a slight margin. (You'll forgive us, we trust, for waiting until now to discuss pony car fuel economy). Ford estimates a 2011 Mustang GT with the six-speed automatic should get 17 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway. The Camaro SS gets 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway and the Challenger gets 16 mpg city/25 mpg highway. And we hope the MT82 six-speed manual transmission will offer better shift feel than the five-speed Tremec of the 2010 model.
In the pursuit of fuel economy, Ford is also switching the Mustang's steering system to electric assist. This is not always a welcome swap, even if it seems increasingly inevitable as manufacturers attempt to squeeze more fuel-efficiency from every package. 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.
Ford says that more structurally rigid links for the rear axle, tuning of spring and damper rates and more roll stiffness in the rear antiroll bar will improve the vehicle's dynamics and steering response. Again, the 2010 'Stang seems pretty well tuned to us, but we'll see.
Meanwhile, Ford will up the performance ante for the Mustang GT by offering an optional Brembo braking package, which includes 14-inch front rotors along with 19-inch wheels and summer performance tires. (Presumably this will be the model Ford public relations will be handing out when it suspects a comparison test is in the offing.)
Like the 2011 Ford Mustang V6, the Mustang GT convertible also gets a strut-tower brace, a stiffer A-pillar and other items of structural bracing to combat the chop top's noodly nature.
The Mustang's interior has already been reworked for the 2010 model year, and for 2011 it gets a couple more niceties such as sun-visor storage, a universal garage door opener and illuminated visors. So there's that. Also the speedometer now goes to 160 mph and the tachometer redline moves from 6,500 to 7,000 rpm.
And — who could forget — the fenders of all 2011 GTs will carry "5.0" badges, just like Mr. Ice prefers. The 2011 Ford Mustang GT goes on sale next spring.
Add A Comment »
theburner says:
10:37 PM, 05/20/2010
I really have to hand it to Ford. I was always a Pontiac guy myself when it came to Domestics, but ever since their disappearance, and the Government Motors takeover, I have truly come to respect Ford. Not only did they make a complete revival based upon their own merit, but they've also finally realized what the market is asking of them. They have brought forth the proper and competitive combination of technology and versatility within their vehicle line-up, and such an aspect can be viewed through their performance oriented showcase which includes the Taurus SHO, and now the new Mustangs. Now the V6 Mustang is as powerful as the former GT V8, yet it can receive 30 MPG! This puts a real smackdown upon the old notion that a V6 muscle car was a waste. Also, the new V8 GT 5.0 is the performance equal of the Terminator 2003-2004 SVT Cobra, which is saying a lot, as the newer Cobra is yet again another step above such! As previously mentioned as well, Ford also has a new Taurus SHO with AWD, which includes a twin-turbo V6 rated at 365 BHP (Which receives 25 MPG no less)! Sports cars, and now sport-touring sedans, are both shining examples of Ford really stomping into the game with a fervent passion that has long been past due. Coming from a guy who loved Pontiacs, and who prefers Nissan sports cars, and Toyota SUVs, I must really extend an immense amount of admiration toward Ford for the moves they have made within the past two years.
Only if we can begin to bring back all of the domestic car manufacturing jobs to Detroit, will the entire re-birth of auto Americana be complete. Ford just took a major step towards such, and for that, we should all be grateful.
kev2138 says:
07:31 PM, 04/02/2010
This new 2011 Mustang GT is awesome! Not only does it look better (inside and out) than the Camaro SS it's quicker (0-60, ¼ mile and will definitely be a lot quicker at speed) and will tear it a new one around the race track / road course. It's all around the best performing pony car in the category. Any body who thinks the SS Camaro is better, even remotely is clearly delusional! No contest, Mustang > all.
obwan22 says:
07:37 AM, 03/31/2010
WOW! I totally LOVE Mustangs anyway. (ALL of them) It looks like the Edge is going to have to go soon, and be replaced by a shiny new 2011 5.0 GT.
I will only buy a ford vehicle, as Ford still owns Ford. The others are Government owned due to the bail-outs.
FORD #1 in my book!!!
Paul
sowegacarguy says:
08:58 AM, 02/22/2010
I can't imagine ANYBODY saying the Camaro has more appeal than the Mustang. I can assuredly say "I DO NOT WANT A CAMARO." It's the redneckiest and ugliest damn car on the road. And I'm not even a GM hater. By the way, let's not forget that Ford's reliability record has been doing much better than GM's or Chrysler's over the past few years. Argue if you want, but it IS a published fact.
joezap says:
03:47 PM, 02/13/2010
The last mustang convertible I owned was the first one they made. It had the 260 ci engine and an auto trans but I still managed to burn the tires off every few thousand miles. I loved that car with the spinner hubcaps. I have now ordered my second mustang convertible, a 2011 gt 5.0. with 6 speed manual. Needless to say, I am eagerly anticipating its arrival and hope I don't get too carried away at 62 years of age.
getchmo says:
01:09 PM, 01/21/2010
Any early inside info as to MSRP on the new 5.0?
69johnny says:
09:19 AM, 01/14/2010
I'm an 05 Mustang owner and excited about the new generation. However the 2010 tailights have to GO! They remind me of an 80's Toyota Celica everytime I see them. Everyone I know
hates the tailights. Despite the new engines I won't be able to buy one until those lights are redesigned. I hope Ford is getting the message..
Overall though, I think the Mustang 05-09 and even the 2010 has the best overall balanced body proportions.
The Challenger and the Camaro by default aren't low enough or wide enough..they just look stubby.
camaro480 says:
07:08 PM, 01/12/2010
First and foremost, I am GM guy and this will be interesting to see the new 5.0 and Camaro SS go at it at the track. Power to weight ratio should equal the Mustang for the win. I'm sure aftermarket parts will be available, actually they might be getting produced now, since I think you can order this engine(not in a car) from Ford.
Hopefully this Mustang will be produced and not just a concept. It will be re-assuring in case GM bites the dust or Camaro, that Americans will have powerful muscle car :)
Lastly, another interesting show down will be if Chevy produces the 2011 Z28 Camaro with the CTS-V engine producing around 550hp vs the GT500.
doublegt351 says:
07:47 PM, 01/06/2010
it is funny to read the little boyz from the far east .They are the reason street racing is gone ,no control with those bee killers. The fear of the 5.0 coming back is so wide spread on this web by the other side ,it almost jumps off the screen. I can't wait to get mine so i can wax a few of them. we should all be happy that cars like these are making a come back. Take a walk outside and tell me where the global warming is , 28 today was the low and 50 the high here in Parrish florida long live the v8 ,no matter how makes it.
chevyboy10 says:
06:24 PM, 01/04/2010
Why are all Ford enthusiasts so jealous of the CAMARO??? really like even the dude who wrote this crap sounds like he was pissed when the Camaro SS was introduced to the public. ( not to mention it was only at first a fantisy in a movie to most people.) ooops... Anyway i'm kinda glad ford is stepping their game up it makes life for speed demons more interesting. However it's still not quite there. The one thing that GM will always have in it's corner is it's speed demon cars; the Corvette ZR1, Camaro, Impala, the new G series from Pontiac, and not to mention there's rumors of a firebird intro. GM is in some deep sh**, and yeah they may have pulled the Camaro out as a desperate attempt for help, but hell it works. and nobody can't deny they want one, even Ford enthusiasts. Lets face it the car has style, Ford can fight the Hp game all they want but the camaro is much more appealing.
2006vr6 says:
07:46 AM, 01/04/2010
Yes.....I miss my 93 5.0 Stang. Funny - just test drove the new SHO and a 2010 Stang (auto). Well I can see Ford needing to juice up the engine because the SHO had it all over the Stang. Crap - the bloody seat runners don't go back enough for me. All I can say is the SHO is much more a Grand Touring ride than the Stang. Even like the massaging seat. Mate the new 302 with a sweet shifting transmission with a sport mode and paddles, steering column should be fully adjustable, make the blasted front seats go back further. Keep the interior modern not retro (retro body style is still in however the interior is just the opposite). I was hoping to really like the 2010 Stang - however I drove the SHO first. I always said that a Mustang that was an auto wasn't really a true Stang - Guess that has changed along with age. A silky smooth and fast auto with paddles and a sport mode is my preference. Don't neglect your new V6 Stang. That will generate more sales and may really juice up the tuner crowd with aftermarket charger or turbo add on. Heck....I still have my large collection of mustang cards. Would like to fit my 6' mid 50's frame comfortably behing the wheel once again.
wideglide says:
07:05 AM, 01/02/2010
Zilla wrote:
Make mine Highland Green with tan leather and a six speed manual! Hooray for Ford - finally a killer Ford small block for the first time in.... But it really looks like they nailed it. As for the whole IRS thing, look first at the numbers (these from Road & Track):
Mustang - .93 lateral acceleration, 69.1 700' slalom
Camaro SS - .89 lateral acceleration, 66.4 700' slalom
Challenger R/T - .83 lateral acceleration, 62.7 700' slalom
Those handling numbers are more SPORTS Car numbers than Pony car. Then look at the R&T and C&D comparos. Both said the Mustang was far more nimble and tossable, and gave the best steering feedback and feel. Now tack on another hundred ponies, and tweak the handling some more = My next car!!!
99stanggtvert says:
12:41 AM, 01/02/2010
To those of you blasting the reliability of these cars (the last bastion of the import guys), I own a 99 GT that I bought new and it has had exactly ZERO issues in 140,000 miles. I began adding bolt ons and modifying it from even before the warranty was up and it has been a headache free car for me. So much so that it convinced my father, a Honda and Toyota loyalist, to purchase a Ford for my mother (a 2003 Explorer) which has had, take a guess, no problems either.
Check JD Power on the most reliable brand of cars. Guess who, FORD. That said, America from the mid to late 70's right up to this century did make utter garbage. The times have changed, however, and its about time these geniuses realized it.
I still wouldnt buy a Chrysler product though. LOL.
fbo says:
11:53 PM, 01/01/2010
I never bought any US cars, but if i ever do ill buy Ford. Simply because they didnt steal tax payers money and run off with it, like GM and Chrysler did. GM the new Government Motors is building most of its cars in mexico, canada, india and now china and putting americans factory workers out of jobs.
ronix2720 says:
06:03 AM, 12/30/2009
In January of 2009 I bought a 2010 Grabber Blue Pony Package. The car was great! And the interior improvements were the key factor of me buying the 2010 over something like the 2007. There was only one problem in the Pony Package....The V6. I felt the car was underpowered 210 horsepower wasn't enough but I would just deal with it. In July of 2009 the Mustang got T-boned and I was not at fault. No-one was hurt in the accident and the car was a write-off. The insurance company gave me the check to pay for a new Mustang. But I thought it would be a better idea to go for the GT this time. So two weeks later I took my check and went and bought a Grabber Blue GT with the Track Pack included. After driving that car for the first time I just thought that car accident was a blessing. The GT is amazing! It's fast and the handling on the car is amazing. I am glad to be a proud GT owner and even though the V6 Pony Package is a nice car the GT just blows it away. When I read this article above I am happy that Ford is finally changing the V6 since they didn't change it for 2010. 5.0 is a good change for the GT as it will attract more customers. I am really pleased to here the direction that Ford is going with the Mustang and I can't wait for some of the special editions to come out. Maybe I will get into another car accident and have the 412 horsepower Mustang....
mieden says:
06:02 AM, 12/29/2009
sixwheeler, I'm no fan of McPherson's either (particularly with a live-axle behind them). However, theres nothing wrong with new ones. As long as wheel travel has been intelligently designed and strut mounts are well installed theres no big flaw. The problem comes at 70K miles when they have aged and start acting accordingly...
sixwheeler says:
12:07 AM, 12/29/2009
Clark Kent, if you ran out of reasons to buy the thing, then I suggest you go ahead and buy it. I, on the other hand, have one reason not to buy it, all else considered: McPherson struts in the front. I can live with the pig-iron-pipe-with-freon-can-in-the-miiddle at the back, but the McPhersons rule it out for me, as it has so many other seemingly excellent cars.
Oh and before someone chimes in to say that BMW always had struts, two things:
1. That's why I never bothered to invest hard-earned money in a BMW, and
2. They finally came to their senses with the latest 7-series. No more McPhersons.
deadviper says:
08:55 PM, 12/28/2009
I'm more intrested to see Chevy's answer to this, as they won't be taking it lying down. Between the mustang and the camaro, it looks like the challenger falls even further behind and will need to lose some weight and gain some power to keep up...
...or not. (lack of)Power never stopped the mustang from increasing it's most important number of all: sales.
deathtollwrx says:
06:46 PM, 12/28/2009
I really do hope this person is kidding.
Anyways the new Mustang is what the GT should have been in 2005. Yes 260 horses to 300 was okay but Nissan was already pushing that power with V6
way2goslick says:
08:34 AM, 12/28/2009
Meh! Not enough to make me want to trade in my Bad Azz Civic Si! For the extra money I'd save I can turbocharge AND supercharge my Si and run circles around this thing. Face it Detroit 'Bad Boyz wit Bad Toyz' today means today's car culture drives imports. Twenty years from now I'm gonna put my hat on backwards, pop in some Fitty Cent, and go rollin' in my Si! Puheece!
imclarkkent says:
06:38 PM, 12/28/2009
Reasons I never bought a Mustang:
1) Ok, ok, it's got power, but it's never class-leading power/weight. I prefer the camaro on paper, but I hate the look of the thing.
Answer: 2011 5.0
2) C'mon, those things handle like pigs! I want a car that can handle the twisties, not just "a 1/4 mile at a time."
Answer: 2010, and hopefully, 2011 Mustang
3) There's a reason so many people refer to these things as Rustangs. You'll be spending as much time keeping it running as you will driving it.
Answer: A reimagined Ford who announces that they want to rip the title of "most reliable cars" from Toyotas clutches. This remains to be seen, but if the new Fusion is any indicator, they are serious about the claim.
Looks like I'm running out of reasons NOT to buy a Mustang... assuming they keep the price of a base GT around 27-29k, I just may get myself one. Did they announce the price and I just missed it in the article?
bodyblue says:
04:53 PM, 12/28/2009
"People who know nothing about engines, powertrains or physics are still getting caught up on the OHC vs pushrod debate and that is laughable."
Now that is an ignorant statement. "people who know nothing about engines"...Like the engineers at Ford and GM? Pushrods are fine in larger displacement engines but not in small displacements......if you knew something about engines you would know that. The GM small block is a true wonder of egineering and I said that. But how much does it weigh? The Camaro is a pig already so why not put a smaller, lighter engine in it? Oh wait, they have an OHC V6.....the small block will be the first to go away as CAFE standards go up, it is just too big for the future. Small OHC engines are the only answer to certain problems.
strangelove says:
02:25 PM, 12/28/2009
jmaroun: continue to enjoy your balanced handling, un-"assisted" steering feel, and damn-near-perfect engine note... all three of which will likely be fiddled with for this one, and not in a good way.
though, not to tear you down after building you up, but i'd take 100hp over all those any day :)
pison says:
02:16 PM, 12/28/2009
@ jmaroun, if u left a comment clearly u had to make an account which meant that you obviously love this site which means you must visit the site 2 -3 times a week which brings me to the conclusion that its your fault for purchasing a 2010 GT when edmunds had info on here about a new V8 for the following year after the redesign of the mustang, which was posted weeks before the release of the new mustang. My friends its not all about the images of new vehicles, its about actually reading what the improvements or disadvantages are. sucks for you buddy :)
jmaroun says:
10:21 AM, 12/28/2009
2011 5.0! Great, so now what am I supposed to do with my 4 month old 2010 GT?
WTF?
And how do we know 2012 will not bring IRS??
I'm all for progress, but the least Ford can do is offer some sort of deal for people who got a previous year model.
Joseph
San Diego
albook says:
09:57 AM, 12/28/2009
Good to see Ford is actually waking up. A welcomed upgrade for the Mustang but I'll still take a Comaro over it any day. It will probably be a couple tenths of a second slower to 60 than the Mustang now but the car looks otherworldly good whereas the Mustang just seems plain in design.
fordman189 says:
09:31 AM, 12/28/2009
I'll be honest, this just made my next vehicle decision much more difficult, since I'll be in the market for a new vehicle in 2011. The GT is right near the price range I'm aiming for and DAMN that engine looks SWEET!
lemiet says:
09:30 AM, 12/28/2009
I am NOT a fan of American cars, I guess not being an American, but for sure, this Mustang gets my attention. I am a BMW and Honda fan although, if I may say for the last 2 or 3 years, American cars have been stepping up to the global plate. This Mustang has some nice details, and nothing beats a high tech 5.0V8 which might I add is a beautiful sight to behold. POWERED BY FORD.
wikiwiki says:
08:34 AM, 12/28/2009
I'll take my 2011 Mustang V6 thank you. 300HP is more than enough for me. Although I'd take anything from Japan or Korea in the same price range over the Mustang V6 so what's the point, right?
way2goslick says:
08:34 AM, 12/28/2009
Meh! Not enough to make me want to trade in my Bad Azz Civic Si! For the extra money I'd save I can turbocharge AND supercharge my Si and run circles around this thing. Face it Detroit 'Bad Boyz wit Bad Toyz' today means today's car culture drives imports. Twenty years from now I'm gonna put my hat on backwards, pop in some Fitty Cent, and go rollin' in my Si! Puheece!
bankerdanny says:
08:24 AM, 12/28/2009
And hey, look, ancillary guages where you can see them at a glance rather than having to look on the floor. What a novel concept.
Terrible wheels though. Keep those crappy chrome things away from me.
bankerdanny says:
08:19 AM, 12/28/2009
Holy crap, what a beautiful engine. Now THAT'S how you use plastic. You design the intake runners the look great without a cover, then you use the plastic to make the heads look like classic valve covers.
No masses of tubing and wiring either, just an incredibly clean install. Well done Ford.
toomanyns says:
07:57 AM, 12/28/2009
There was a time when I thought that the 2007 Shelby GT500 was the greatest thing to ever happen to a Mustang.
Performance and price-wise, the introduction of this 5.0 engine and a 6-speed manual to the Mustang GT are, easily, the greatest things to EVER happen to a Mustang.
You can now get "sick" performance AND looks in a Mustang without spending over $40k.
Fearless ET forecast: 12.9 @ 112.
What was that giant sucking sound you just heard? The resale value of EVERY 2010 and earlier Mustang GT ever made.....
If you still really wanted one, just imagine the deal you'll be able to get on a new 2010 4.6 liter Mustang GT in the Spring.
chavis10 says:
07:28 AM, 12/28/2009
jimmyzie-the Mustang has offered HIDs for the last three model years if I remember correctly. Also, perhaps the detail you are missing as that the Stang also comes in a convertible so having a roof mounted body color "sharkfin" style antenna would mean having to install a conventially located radio mast anyway. They killed two birds with one stone with this design.
jimmyzie says:
07:17 AM, 12/28/2009
Great looking car, but Ford and Chevy never pay attention to the details. Whats with the plastic antenna(370Z finally updated)...that drives me nuts. Thankfully, they added a smooth gas cap cover last year. They need to put the park brake lever on the floor. It will make the inside of the car look cleaner. Also, the auto shifter looks outdated with its accordian type plastic surround. Nice LED taillights but why are they still using Halogen headlights? For $35,000 its not a bargain.
chavis10 says:
06:52 AM, 12/28/2009
"The Camaro needs to go on a diet and get an engine designed in the 21st century. The GM small block is a wonderful engine but it is at the limit of technology.....it needs a lot more displacement to make just a bit more horsepower."
What exactly is your point? And the LS3 was designed in the 21st century. A lot of features of the LS series engine are JUST now being incorporated into other mass produced V8s such as the thermoplastic intake manifold, deep skirt and the hyper eutectic pistons. Interestingly enough, this new 5.0L Stang engine is using them now for the first time when the LS1 had them in the late '90s with the C5 Corvette. The heavier Camarao with a much larger higher output engine gets virtually the same EPA mileage as the Stang while still using parasitic hydraulic steering. Displacement has nothing to do with "technology" or being of a modern vs old school design. The 2 valve per cylinder approach is completely different than the 4 valve per cylinder style of engine. People are caught up on large displacement as if it's a negative attribute when it's really not. If you installed Ford's 5.0L in the Camaro, it would be slower because you need plentiful torque to move a heavier vehicle more effectively and would also suck more gas because the gearing would have the shorter. Also, a high torque engine allows tall gearing (for improved efficiency) with no hit to performance. People who know nothing about engines, powertrains or physics are still getting caught up on the OHC vs pushrod debate and that is laughable. Both have their advantages and disadvantages but rest assured there is nothing "low tech" about the LS series V8.
PS- kudos to Ford on this engine though. It seems like a killer, on paper at least. I haven't seen anyone else run 11:1 compression on regular gas with port injection. An Acura V6 engine would blow itself up if it tried to make full power on regular octane. Good job Ford!
mieden says:
06:32 AM, 12/28/2009
bodyblue, I must respectfully disagree. While the Camaro is in desperate need of a diet, the small-block has PLENTY of life left in it. I hear DI and small turbos are on the way to clean up the exhaust and get even more efficiency (power & economy) from the old lump. I too recently doubted its ticket into the next decade, however, be aware those old boys at GM are still throwing tech at it. (Especially now that they've buried the high-feature Northstar replacement) And, the IRS in the Camaro is less detailed in its tuning but physics is physics, the Camaro will out-ride and out-handle every "normal" Mustang that comes off the showroom floor. The MT comparo was a handling test (they didnt compare handling achieved vs ride tuning, the GT500 rides like a truck). In the real-world the Camaro is the better product, no question. Whats the price difference between a GT500 and a Camaro SS anyway?
lt1boy says:
06:19 AM, 12/28/2009
I've never been a big Mustang fan... until now. The new V6 makes as much power as the old V8, and the old V8 now makes almost as much power as the Camaro's LS3. I wonder what Chevy has up their sleeves to match the new 5.0... perhaps the LS7? Dodge's only hope with the Challenger is to stuff the 8.3 liter Viper engine into it and make a Challenger SRT-10.
firstclass says:
06:19 AM, 12/28/2009
I agree with Charlesb but I think the biggest contributor to the cheep and tacky look of this mustang are those hirable chrome rims. Ford wasn't afraid to use gun-metal gray on the engine and the dash of chrome around the intake manifold really makes it stand out. I'd like to see some type of gray rim with a chrome lip to accent them. Hopefully Ford will show other choices of rims at the Detroit auto show.
bodyblue says:
04:38 AM, 12/28/2009
The Camaro needs to go on a diet and get an engine designed in the 21st century. The GM small block is a wonderful engine but it is at the limit of technology.....it needs a lot more displacement to make just a bit more horsepower. In the Motor Trend top 10 handling cars, the Camaro came in 10 out of 10. It needs better suspension tuning to match the old school GT500 that came in 5th. I guess IRS can be beat by a live axle with the proper attention to detail......so the Chevy fans can forget the "it does not have IRS so why would you buy a Mustang" garbage.....its nice to see The Boss is Back.
thedream21479 says:
03:57 AM, 12/28/2009
ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! Fantastic Job Ford...This has to be the most gorgeous American engine I've ever seen.
If it drives as good as it looks, I'll be happy to add the 5.0 in my garage next to my CLK63 Black and E46 M3.
Love it love it love it!
alexdi says:
01:00 AM, 12/28/2009
Exciting as this car will be, it's a stiffened V6 for $7K less with a proven engine that I'm most interested in. When you can hustle that one to 60 in 5.6, I start to wonder just how much speed is necessary.
charlesb says:
11:16 PM, 12/27/2009
It still looks kind of retro tacky and cheap, but with 400 hp it might not matter.
firstclass says:
10:32 PM, 12/27/2009
That's got to be one of the best looking engine presentation Fords done since the first gen Taurus SHO. And the engine only weighs 10 pounds more than the outgoing engine. I'm glad to hear Ford went through the trouble of redesign the cylinder heads for this engine as well. It shows that ford is committed to making the mustang more than competitive and not just another parts bin special. And I think all mustang fans know that Ford could have easily made this engines power with parts sourced from already existing components at their disposal. But instead chose to address all the issues with the previous mustang not just power. Well done Ford.
I know the side badging is supposed to be reminiscent of the 79-93 mustang but for some reason it just doesn't fit the retro style of the current model, perhaps if ford placed smaller badges on the sides of the "powerdome hood". When I see the 5.0 badge on this mustang I just think someone took the F-1 off an old F-150 badge and stuck it on there. (Also no more Vanilla Ice references...Ice ice baby did nothing to make the 5liter mustang desirable; at least in my mind)