Dearborn, Michigan - We’ve already shown you what Ford’s updated 2018 Mustang looks like, and told you all about its advanced gizmotronics in our
But what’s more important in a Pony Car, especially one intended for world distribution, are the ponies under the bonnet. Now Ford has released details of the 2018 Mustang powertrains - and, on paper at least, they are really impressive.
Ford is quoting a 0-60mph (96km/h) blast-off time for the flagship GT variant of less than four seconds in Drag Strip mode, making it the most powerful and fastest accelerating Mustang GT yet; it’s also quicker to 60mph than a Porsche 911 Carrera, which takes 4.4s according to claims.
The GT’s five-litre V8 has been revised to combine high-pressure direct fuel-injection and low-pressure intake port injection, to give you the best of both worlds: improved torque and response at low revs as well as more top-end power.
The result, according to chief engineer Carl Widmann, is an 18kW improvement in peak power, from 325 to 343kW, and a 5.7 percent increase in torque, from 540 to 570Nm.
New 10-speed transmission
The previous model's six-speed ‘box has been replaced by a new 10 speed paddle-shift transmission - designed and built in-house - with direct-acting hydraulic controls and real-time adaptive shift scheduling. It has specific mappings for each of the five selectable drive modes - Normal, Sport, Track, Drag Strip and Snow/Wet - including skip-shift and direct downshifting.
And lastly, Widmann gives credit to the specially designed Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires that come with the new Performance Pack, for improving traction off the line (and everywhere else).
EcoBoost also boosted
The 2.3-litre turbopetrol four has also been retuned; power is unchanged at 233kW, torque is up 40Nm to 470Nm. In Drag Strip mode, with Performance Package, 0-100 time is quoted at ‘under five seconds’.
Ford SA has yet to confirm when the facelifted and beef-injected Mustangs will be released in South Africa - as soon as we hear, so will you.