The Ford Mustang's story since its design overhaul in 2005 is a tale of two cars. From 2005 to 2010, buyers could choose the economical V-6 or for the more powerful V-8. The powerplants split the Mustang's personality. On the one hand, there was the pedestrian V-6-powered version that was all looks and no power, and on the other, the V-8 version that echoed its original 1960s performance. The picture brightened when Ford finally offered a new V-6 in 2011.
Background
The V-6 first arrived in the 1974 Mustangs as a 90-horsepower 2.8-liter. Ford added an 85-horsepower 3.3-liter V-6 in 1979, and a year later Ford introduced the 119-horsepower 4.2-liter V-8. In 1980, the 5-liter V-8 received electronic fuel injection to generate 175 horsepower. Throughout the 1990s, the Essex 3.8- and 3.9-liter V-6s powered the Mustang, while options included the 4.6- 4.9- and 5.8-liter Windsor and Modular V-8s.
V-6 in the 2000s
By 2005, Ford equipped its Mustangs with an outdated 15-year-old 4-liter V-6, although it was a vast improvement over previous V-6 generations. For car buyers looking for an inexpensive alternative to the V-8 Mustang, the V-6 provided an adequate, but uninspiring 210 horsepower. It had decent acceleration, but labored at highway speeds. It could reach 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and the quarter mile in 15.4 seconds at 92 mph. By contrast, the next level engine was a giant leap, with the 4.6-liter V-8 wielding 300 horsepower and 320 foot-pounds of torque in the 2009 GT models. It could reach 60 mph from a dead stop in 5 seconds and the quarter mile in 13.6 seconds at 104 mph.
V-8s in the 2000s
For 2010, the 4.6-liter V-8's horsepower increased to 315 and the torque rating was 325 foot-pounds. Ford placed the 4.6 in the Mustang GT and matched it with a five-speed manual transmission and 3.31-to-1 rear gear ratio and limited-slip differential. The engine lost a little on acceleration by achieving 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, but its speed over the quarter mile was impressive at 13.7 seconds at 103 mph. The 2010 Shelby Mustang GT500 came with a supercharged and intercooled 540-horsepower 5.4-liter V-8 that generated 510 foot-pounds of torque. Ford matched it with a six-speed manual transmission, a 9-psi boost system and 3.55-to-1 rear gear ratio with a limited-slip differential. It hit 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds and the quarter mile in 12.7 seconds.
2011-2012 V-6
Ford introduced its all-aluminum 3.7-liter V-6 in 2011. It wielded 305 horsepower and 280 foot-pounds of torque. The 2011 3.7-liter came close to the 315-horsepower V-8 from 2010. Gas mileage also improved to a combined 31 mpg, up from about 20 mpg.
2011-2012 V-8s
Three V-8s powered the GT, Boss 302 and the Shelby GT500. The standard 5-liter V-8 provided 412 horsepower and 377 foot-pounds of torque. The Boss 302's 5-liter V-8 had a horsepower rating of 444 and a 380 foot-pound torque rating. The Boss 302 could reach the quarter mile in 11.4 seconds at 117 mph. The 2011 Shelby's supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 developed 550 horsepower and 510 foot-pounds of torque.
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