When Ford dropped the 5.0 way back in 1996, in favor of the more powerful but smaller 4.6 liter V8, enthusiasts cried foul. They liked the legendary, if power-lacking, five point oh. Fifteen long years later, the 5.0 is back, baby. That’s right, the 2011 Mustang GT will sport a 412 HP 5.0 liter V8. Oh, and there will be a cool 390 lb-ft of torque on tap, if you’re in to that sort of thing.
While technically, the 2011 GT will fall short in the horsepower wars ( The Camaro SS makes 426 HP, while the Challenger SRT8 makes 425 HP ), I don’t think anyone will care. Remember, we’re looking at a nearly 100 HP jump over the 2010 model. And, there’s always the weight issue. While not exactly a featherweight, the Mustang is several hundred pounds lighter than it’s crosstown competition. What does that add up to? The Mustang will take the performance crown back, no doubt.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the iconic pony car. Adding a bigger engine and more horses under the hood is fantastic news. Oh, did I forget to mention this little tidbit? Ford is expecting a gas mileage bump to 25 MPG on the highway. ZOMG.
