Revealed: 2011 Ford Mustang
New V-6 Engine Pumps 305 HP, Gets
30 MPG
Posted: Nov, 30 2009
It would be reasonable to expect
that Ford might pass over the Mustang and instead devote more attention
to its other models since it's fresh off a comprehensive revamp for the
2010 model year. However, that's not what is shaping up in the House
That Henry Built.
For 2011, the Blue Oval is
introducing a new 3.7-liter V6 Mustang that should give it the firepower
and refinement needed to take on Chevrolet's six-cylinder Camaro and
Hyundai's upstart Genesis Coupe. But it isn't just the spanking
all-aluminum powerplant and its 305 horsepower and 280 foot-pounds of
torque that's making the scene for the forthcoming model year. In
addition to the Cleveland-sourced mill, there are a pair of fresh
gearboxes, a new V6 performance package, and a host of nip/tucks to the
interior and elsewhere.
Now, we could grouse on
behalf of 2010 MY 'Stang owners everywhere that these upgrades weren't
part of last year's mid-life updo, but instead, we'll just be happy that
these advancements are arriving at all.
Despite being smaller
than the outgoing 4.0-liter V6, the dual-overhead cam 3.7-liter's
horsepower and torque ratings represent massive improvements over the
2010 model (305 HP dismisses 210 HP and 280 lb-ft. plays 240 torques).
In fact, that's more horsepower than the 4.6-liter V8 Mustang made just a
few years ago. While the 305-horse figure only allows the Mustang to
pip the crosstown Camaro by a single all-important stallion in the pony
car bragging wars, Ford says the powertrain will be good for 30
miles-per-gallon on the highway when paired with its new six-speed
automatic, also one notch better than the Chevy.
That
impressive fuel economy figure isn't just the result of the new engine
-- a suite of new pieces have been developed in order to maximize
performance, including a revised air intake, a pair of new six-speed
transmissions (both automatic and manual), electric power steering, and
even some aerodynamic tidying, including a revised front fascia, deeper
front air dam, rear-wheel tire spats, different underbody shields, and a
new rear decklid seal.
The Heart
Transplant
Despite those incremental improvements,
the centerpiece of the 2011 Mustang is obviously the 24-valve Duratec
V6, and it includes Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT)
and polished buckets and roller finger followers in the direct-acting
mechanical bucket valvetrain, among other features. Ford officials
promise that V6 buyers won't miss the roar of the V8's extra cylinders
thanks to a retuned air intake and throaty standard dual exhaust. At the
sneak-peek event for this new Mustang motor, Autoblog had the chance to
hear the new engine fire up and rev -- and it indeed sounds sporty and
purposeful. To be fair, however, we only heard the powertrain briefly in
an enclosed space (a large development garage on Ford's Dearborn
campus), so we'll have to wait until it's out in the open and we're
behind the wheel to really get a feel for the 3.7's aural character.
Other noteworthy features of the drivetrain include a deep-sump aluminum
oil pan that enables less-frequent 10,000-mile oil change intervals and
a 7,000-RPM redline.
On the transmission front, Ford
has fitted a new six-speed 6R60 automatic with hill-start assist that
allows for the 30 MPG highway bogey, as well as 19 MPG in the urban
cycle (a 25 percent improvement over the 2010's 16 mpg city / 24 mpg
highway figures). Prefer to shift for yourself? Expect fuel economy to
suffer an iota for your enjoyment, with numbers for the six-speed manual
falling to 18/29 (2010 MY: 18/26).
Naturally, with
an all-new powertrain and its differing weight properties, Ford's
engineers also had to turn their attention to the suspension. To that
end, the 2011 V6 gets new damper and spring rates, a different rear
lower control arm, and stiffer stabilizer bar bushings.
A More
Electrifying Steer?
We always get a bit nervous when
vehicles move to electronic power steering. Such systems may improve
performance by lowering parasitic drag on the engine, but they rarely do
any favors for steering feel. Ford assures us that they've worked hard
to build a robust "feedback loop" into the system, but again, we'll have
to wait and see for ourselves. In the meantime, we'll remain curious
about how effective Ford's so-called Pull-Drift Compensation system is
at accounting for road crowns and crosswinds, not to mention the
amusingly named Active Nibble Control, which apparently helps to
exorcise high-speed vibrations caused by wheel balance issues and warped
brake rotors. And about those brakes -- they're bigger. 11.5-inches in
front and 11.8-inchers out back have been borrowed from the GT's parts
bin, and there's also a standard limited-slip differential to help get
the V6 model's newfound power to the ground.
In
Pictures: 2011 Ford Mustang
The Performance
Model
What V6 Mustang are we most eager to drive? The new
Performance Package model, which is scheduled to go on sale next August,
as it promises to provide increased grip and go. For starters, the Perf
Pack borrows the uprated front struts and rear shocks/springs from the
V8 GT model, along with its thicker front and rear anti-roll bars and
the rear lower control arms from the Shelby GT500. Also included is a
3.31 axle ratio for better acceleration, model-specific 19-inch alloys
wrapped in Pirelli summer rubber, more lenient stability control
programming with a dedicated sport mode, as well as a strut tower brace
and the usual assortment of badges.
How will street spotters
identify the new V6 Mustang? If the dual exhaust isn't enough of a
tip-off, you'll probably have to check the glass. For 2011, all Mustangs
get nifty integrated blind-spot mirrors -- and if you peek inside the
driver's side window, you might catch a glimpse of the new-look
instrument cluster which features a 160 MPH speedo and an 8,000-RPM
tach.
How Much -- and What's
Next?
Ford has yet to release any performance
estimates or pricing, but despite the big jump in power and content, we
don't expect pricing to increase dramatically. Given that the augmented
V6 nearly shades the current 4.6-liter V8's horsepower figure (and the
fact that the latter engine is comprehensively outgunned by the Camaro
SS' 6.2-liter engine's 426 hp and 420 pound-feet of torque, it's no
surprise that a new V8 engine is rumored, and we fully expect to see it
before this domestic auto show season is out.
The
takeaway from all of this? For those who thought that the rekindled pony
car wars reached a fever pitch this year with the advent of the
refreshed Mustang, long-awaited Camaro and still-warm Dodge Challenger,
well ... we ain't seen nothin' yet.
2011 Shelby GT350
