REPORT: 2011 Ford Mustang to finally get new 3.7-liter DOHC V6
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From: Charleston, WV
REPORT: 2011 Ford Mustang to finally get new 3.7-liter DOHC V6
When the 2010 Mustang was unveiled at the LA Auto Show last November, a collective groan arose from the crowd when it was revealed that the 2009 engine lineup was essentially being carried over. This was particularly true for the base V6 model being propelled by the ancient 4.0-liter V6 which dates back to the 2.8-liter Capri engine of the 1970s. At the debut, Ford asked us to be patient and promised that powertrain upgrades were forthcoming.
Ever since the 3.5-liter V6 debuted in the Edge and Lincoln MKX a couple of years back, Mustang have fans have wanted to see it under the hood of their favorite pony. The problem is that engine was designed for transverse front-wheel drive applications and needed some significant reworking to go into rear-drive layouts. That work has been ongoing in order to mount the new twin-turbo EcoBoost version in the F-150 pickup next year. This work is expected to translate into a normally aspirated version of the 3.5 or 3.7-liter V6 for the ponycar about a year from now, likely for the 2011 model year.
In fact, it's now being reportedly by The Mustang News that Ford showed a 3.7-liter Mustang at an employee townhall meeting recently, although no specs were revealed. In the MKS, the 3.7 churns out 273 hp with port fuel injection. With direct injection coming to the 3.5 EcoBoost, a normally aspirated DI 3.7 can't be out of the question either, with 300+ hp to match the heavier Chevrolet Camaro. Now, about that V8
Ever since the 3.5-liter V6 debuted in the Edge and Lincoln MKX a couple of years back, Mustang have fans have wanted to see it under the hood of their favorite pony. The problem is that engine was designed for transverse front-wheel drive applications and needed some significant reworking to go into rear-drive layouts. That work has been ongoing in order to mount the new twin-turbo EcoBoost version in the F-150 pickup next year. This work is expected to translate into a normally aspirated version of the 3.5 or 3.7-liter V6 for the ponycar about a year from now, likely for the 2011 model year.
In fact, it's now being reportedly by The Mustang News that Ford showed a 3.7-liter Mustang at an employee townhall meeting recently, although no specs were revealed. In the MKS, the 3.7 churns out 273 hp with port fuel injection. With direct injection coming to the 3.5 EcoBoost, a normally aspirated DI 3.7 can't be out of the question either, with 300+ hp to match the heavier Chevrolet Camaro. Now, about that V8
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Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Sterling Heights, MI
The days of Mustang being a laggard in the powertrain department are clearly over.
Hopefully GM will have some type of response - I am afraid the new 5.0 in the Mustang GT will embarrass the Camaro SS. We'll see.
Hopefully GM will have some type of response - I am afraid the new 5.0 in the Mustang GT will embarrass the Camaro SS. We'll see.
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
If anyone wants to get an idea of what this means, try this on for size:
The current Mustang GT has a 110+ horsepower deficit against the Camaro SS. But because the Camaro is 300 pounds heavier, it can't get away from the GT till both clear 60.
The new V6 Mustang will have merely a 30 horsepower deficit (at the most) to the Camaro V6, and will still have a 300 pound advantage.
Although Ford will almost certainly govern the V6's top speed (even the GT is limited to 150), it would probably be unwise to take your new V6 Camaro against this new V6 Mustang.
It seems like only yesterday I was telling V6 Camaro fans that had visions of taking down GTs that they were delusional. Now those same V6 fans are about to become aquanted with this new Mustang V6.
Quick trivia.
The Camaro SS and the Camaro V6 (w/ wheel & tire option) have the same top speed... 155 mph.
Governed, of course.
The current Mustang GT has a 110+ horsepower deficit against the Camaro SS. But because the Camaro is 300 pounds heavier, it can't get away from the GT till both clear 60.
The new V6 Mustang will have merely a 30 horsepower deficit (at the most) to the Camaro V6, and will still have a 300 pound advantage.
Although Ford will almost certainly govern the V6's top speed (even the GT is limited to 150), it would probably be unwise to take your new V6 Camaro against this new V6 Mustang.
It seems like only yesterday I was telling V6 Camaro fans that had visions of taking down GTs that they were delusional. Now those same V6 fans are about to become aquanted with this new Mustang V6.
Quick trivia.
The Camaro SS and the Camaro V6 (w/ wheel & tire option) have the same top speed... 155 mph.
Governed, of course.
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Okemos, MI
I am not sure whether the current Mustang V6 is available with Track Pack. It will be interesting to see whether the new one is. A V6 Track Pack has potential to be very appealing.
It will be interesting to see how many Mustang buyers opt for the Track Pack.
My guess is that a non-Track-Pack 2011 GT with this rumored new 400hp engine would make for a very close race with a 2010 SS (and I'm talking about all the way through the quarter mile; not shutting down at 60 like a pansy).
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From: Albany, NY
Camaro SS is still 1.5 sec. faster 0-100 than the Mustang GT track package and .6-.7 faster in the 1/4mi.
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From: Okemos, MI
Track Pack includes upgrades to all of those things over the base GT.
1SS -> 2SS is more like GT -> GT Premium.
As I said, I haven't yet seen any magazine reviews of a non-Track Pack GT, but it's safe to assume that the smaller all-season rubber alone would be sufficient to knock the handling results down below what the SS can do.
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From: Sterling Heights, MI
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From: Okemos, MI