Mustang fans thought the pony car would eventually part ways with the 4.0-litre SOHC V6, which has been around for, well, too long really.
The obvious replacement was one of the company’s new DOHC Duratec V6s, which are powering various front-drive products. But no one was sure when the switch would happen, which Duratec would get the call, and in what state of tune would be that Duratec.
Well, thanks to a briefing at Ford HQ in advance of the LA show, all has been revealed…
It will happen for the 2011 model year, and it will be the 3.7-litre version, which first appeared on the 2009 Lincoln MKS.
In the Lincoln, the V6 is outfitted with variable cam timing on the intake camshafts, and produces 272 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque.
Mustang’s 3.7 is fitted with Ti-VCT, Ford-speak for twin independent Variable Camshaft Timing, which, according to the automaker, can continually adjust all four valves per cylinder (intake and exhaust) “in microseconds.”
The engine also features new composite upper and lower intake manifolds, a new ignition system, piston-cooling jets, and a die-cast aluminum oil pan and cylinder block (with its aluminum head, feel free to think of this engine as all-aluminum).
Net result: a high revving engine, with a 7,000 rpm redline, which produces 305 hp at 6,500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm.
Ford says the new intake runners are not only more efficient, they will provide the driver with that satisfying intake rush sound on hard acceleration. Back-end sound has also said to be improved: an all-new dual exhaust system promises to be mellow at idle, then open up “with a howl at full tilt.”
“This car marks a new type of Mustang,” said David Pericak, Mustang chief nameplate engineer. “We’re using a high-performance quad-cam V6 with all the bells and whistles in a car that’s become legendary for its handling and road holding; it’s really going to get a lot of new sports coupe fans excited about Mustang, some for the first time ever.”
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The obvious replacement was one of the company’s new DOHC Duratec V6s, which are powering various front-drive products. But no one was sure when the switch would happen, which Duratec would get the call, and in what state of tune would be that Duratec.
Well, thanks to a briefing at Ford HQ in advance of the LA show, all has been revealed…
It will happen for the 2011 model year, and it will be the 3.7-litre version, which first appeared on the 2009 Lincoln MKS.
In the Lincoln, the V6 is outfitted with variable cam timing on the intake camshafts, and produces 272 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque.
Mustang’s 3.7 is fitted with Ti-VCT, Ford-speak for twin independent Variable Camshaft Timing, which, according to the automaker, can continually adjust all four valves per cylinder (intake and exhaust) “in microseconds.”
The engine also features new composite upper and lower intake manifolds, a new ignition system, piston-cooling jets, and a die-cast aluminum oil pan and cylinder block (with its aluminum head, feel free to think of this engine as all-aluminum).
Net result: a high revving engine, with a 7,000 rpm redline, which produces 305 hp at 6,500 rpm and 280 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm.
Ford says the new intake runners are not only more efficient, they will provide the driver with that satisfying intake rush sound on hard acceleration. Back-end sound has also said to be improved: an all-new dual exhaust system promises to be mellow at idle, then open up “with a howl at full tilt.”
“This car marks a new type of Mustang,” said David Pericak, Mustang chief nameplate engineer. “We’re using a high-performance quad-cam V6 with all the bells and whistles in a car that’s become legendary for its handling and road holding; it’s really going to get a lot of new sports coupe fans excited about Mustang, some for the first time ever.”
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