As the good folks at Ford prepare to unleash the refreshed, 2018 Ford Mustang on the masses, the automaker has finally revealed some crucial performance information. Most important of all: the 2018 Ford Mustang GT will wring up to 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque out of its 5.0-liter Coyote V8.
The improvements of 25 horsepower and 20 lb-ft over the outgoing Ford Mustang GT come about mostly as a result of the Coyote’s new dual-injection system. This setup combines low-pressure port injection with high-pressure direct injection for more precise computer control over fueling.
Drag Strip Mode
You can do a lot with 460 horsepower, including completing the sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in under 4.0 seconds.
Ford tells us that 0-to-60 time is achievable on a 2018 Ford Mustang GT equipped with the company’s new 10-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission and Performance Pack – so long as Drag Strip Mode is selected. Drag Strip Mode – one of five user-selectable drive modes – is brand-new for 2018, and allows the transmission to manage torque to the new Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires included as part of the optional Performance Pack for maximum acceleration.
“Typically, when you shift gears, you give up time,” says Ford Mustang Chief Engineer Carl Widmann. “In Drag Strip mode, the engine torque doesn’t drop when you’re shifting. You get peak engine torque and horsepower straight through thanks to our new Ford-built 10-speed transmission.”
The new 10-speed features direct-acting hydraulic controls, and boasts a wider ratio spread than the outgoing 6-speed with optimized spacing.
Other News
Ford still has yet to confirm the 5.0L V8’s new, higher rev limit, but every scrap of evidence points to a 7,500-rpm redline – 500-rpm higher than the 2017 Mustang GT.
Like the GT, the 2018 Ford Mustang EcoBoost will deliver greater performance than its predecessor. Power will remain unchanged at 310 horsepower, but torque will swell from 320 lb-ft to 350 lb-ft. That model, too, can be optioned with Ford’s new 10-speed automatic.
Apart from Drag Strip Mode, the 2018 Ford Mustang will also boast Normal, Sport, Track, and Snow/Wet driving modes. The online configurator for the new models launches tomorrow, and the revamped pony car will start arriving in dealer showrooms this fall.
Comments
Nice! Still not quite sold on new front end styling but will see in person when it arrives. Might trade up from my 2012 GT. Or wait on complete redo in 2020 as my 2012 only has 8k miles and is in excellent condition with mild modifications by Steeda.