Mustangs To Get 400 HP, 5.0 Engine Soon?

[CPG Marketing]

It is understandable why the Mustang designers might have gotten a little complacent. After surviving emissions massacre of the muscle car during the mid-to-late ‘70s, the Mustang’s only true competitor were the GM F-bodies, i.e. the Camaro and Trans Am. During this period, the venerable 5.0 motor carried Ford through all the 80’s and half of the 90’s until being replaced in 1996 by the SOHC 4.6 liter modular motor, and just as the 4.6 began catching up to the more powerful LS1 engines via improvements in intake and head design, GM shut the doors on the Camaro faithful, leaving the Mustang alone at the top. So while the exterior has been improved and the Mustang looks sharper than ever, in terms of horsepower and engine development, there have been only minor improvements. Now the Mustang is on the outside looking in, as two of its old rivals (Challenger and Mustang) have returned with over 100 horsepower more than the Mustang GT.

But according to Drive, and Australian performance magazine, that is all about to change with the introduction of the all-aluminum, 5.0 “Coyote” engine.


Picture: Drive

The engine is being developed in Austrailia for use by the Ford Performance Vehicles devision, or FPV. Utilizing an all-aluminum design and likely to debut in one of FPV’s Falcon-based sport sedans, the Coyote 5.0 instills nostalgia for the infamous 5.0 motor, but in modular form. This motor is said to be putting out north of 400 horsepower and 400 ft-lbs of torque, meaning the Camaro and Challenger will have a hard time bullying around new Mustang owners.

While most of the world worries about fuel economy, there is still segments of the population dedicated to performance V8s, and according to Drive FPV continues to sell more V8s than turbo V6 engines, despite the latter’s improved fuel economy. When these motors will make it to the U.S. is anyone’s guess, but the sooner the better to be sure. Keep your fingers crossed for 2011.

Source: StreetLegalTV