The New Ford Mustang Engines Bring the Mustang Right Up To Date

With the all-new Ford Mustang you get a choice of advanced engines and manual or automatic transmissions, all capable of delivering power and performance worthy of the Mustang badge in any specification; but it is the arrival of the all-new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine that is getting salivation to the mouths of those in the know, as it brings turbocharging to the Mustang powertrain line-up.

The EcoBoost engine has been especially designed with drivers who want outstanding performance and fuel efficiency in mind, and was specifically commissioned by Mustang for this purpose, with intake manifold and turbocharger housing fully optimised to provide better breathing and higher output in the Ford Mustang – and with outputs of 314 PS and 434 Nm of torque for the European version of the Ford Mustang, this EcoBoost engine fits the bill for a true Mustang powerplant.

“This EcoBoost engine delivers the healthy output that Mustang drivers expect regardless of the speed with a broad, flat torque curve and great driveability under any conditions,” said Scott Makowksi, Ford EcoBoost powertrain engineering manager.

This particular 2.3-litre engine is the newest member of Ford’s global family of EcoBoost engines; features such technology as direct fuel injection, twin independent variable camshaft timing and the aforementioned turbocharging to produce big-engine power and torque with improved fuel efficiency; and is the first Ford engine to make use of a low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger that provides quicker boost response while enabling lower emissions and improved efficiency.

The cylinder head also features an integrated exhaust manifold that separates the inner and outer pairs of cylinders into each inlet passage to the turbo because keeping the exhaust pulses separated from the next cylinder in the firing order eliminates mixing losses and maximises pulse energy to the turbine wheel, resulting in both a quicker torque delivery when the driver needs it, and an improved (by 1%) fuel consumption.

With all that power about, it is important that the engine is durable; so the enhancements that have been made to the Mustang EcoBoost engine so that it is able to withstand all the inherent stresses are substantial, and include a forged-steel crankshaft, piston-cooling jets, steel piston ring groves, premium bearing materials, upgraded valve seat materials, forged-steel connecting rods, a high-pressure die-cast aluminium cylinder block with ladder-frame bearing caps, and a deep-sump, die-cast aluminium oil pan.

But the beating heart of a Mustang isn’t just an EcoBoost

Let’s be honest; if you are looking at a truly great Ford Mustang engine line-up, it would look a bit empty without a great V8 engine somewhere at its core.

Don’t worry; there is one. It’s a 5.0-litre V8 engine that “powers into a new generation with a host of upgrades that enable it to breathe better, especially at higher engine speeds.”

So what does this V8 engine have that gives the new Ford Mustang the oomph that it needs to drag it kicking and screaming into the current decade and beyond? Let’s see: larger intake valves, larger exhaust valves, revised intake camshafts, revised exhaust camshafts, stiffer valve springs that deliver precise control of valves high rpm, new cylinder-head casting with revised ports that provide a straighter path to the valves for less-restrictive intake and exhaust flow, sinter forged connecting rods that are lighter and more durable for high-rpm operation, redesigned piston Crowns with deeper pockets to clear the new larger valves, and a rebalanced forged crankshaft, again to support higher-rpm operation.

With all these upgrades, the new V8 engine can now generate 418 PS and 524 Nm of torque for the Ford Mustang European version.

There’s also a new intake manifold that includes charge motion control valves to partially close off port flow at lower engine speeds to improve air-fuel mixing and therefore the fuel economy, idle stability and producing lower emissions.

The Mustang Transmissions

The Mustang isn’t just for those “Hey; look at me” moments. The Ford Mustang “blends outstanding all-around performance and everyday usability” and will appeal to drivers who prefer to let the car handle the shifting during their daily work run, but still want to take control when the roads get twisty. So maybe that’s why Ford have introduced the new steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles with rev-matching downshifts as standard with the Select-Shift six-speed automatic transmission. This also features a redesigned case with cast-in ribs that help make it stiffer and reduce the weight.

There is also a manual Getrag transmission with a shift linkage design for improved precision and slick engagement.

Overall it just shows what can be achieved with a choice of powertrains to match driving styles and lifestyles, because the new Mustang now has contemporary technology under the hood to “match its modern design and yet remain quintessentially Mustang.”