Long before its 50th anniversary, the Ford Mustang was a legend.
A big part of the Mustang’s legendary status is due to the slew of fantastic engines that have rumbled behind the now-infamous Pony badge. From the original 289-cubic-inch V8, the mighty 428 Cobra Jet, to the 5.0 V8 of the ’80s, these powerplants have legacies of their own.
So what about the engines that will power the latest and – Ford hopes – greatest Pony Car? Let us take you under the hood of the new 2015 Mustang and see how things stack up.
Not-so-basic
For 2015, the base engine is a 3.7-Liter V6 carried over from the last generation. While some muscle car purists might sneer at the lowly V6; they should know a couple of things. The original Mustang went into battle with a “Thriftpower Inline-6″, alongside its better-known V8 counterparts.
What’s more, most Mustangs sold will come with the base engine. So, for most people, the Mustang experience will be defined by this V6.
The good news is that it’s really not a bad engine. The current version of the 3.7-liter Duratec V6 puts out around 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. That’s pretty respectable in a car that might weigh in at as little as 3,300 pounds – or around 200 fewer pounds than the current ‘Stang.
Delightfully, Ford has hinted that the V6 going into the all-new 2015 model will produce “at least” the same power, which at least suggests there may be more in store.
The promise of reduced weight might also lead to an increase in gas mileage. Sure, it may not be the sexiest thing in the world. For buyers looking to get in on the pony car experience without having to mortgage their house or their children, though, spending a bit less at the pumps might be appealing.