2018 Ford Mustang GT - Gone In (Less Than) 4 Seconds!

Ford has been teasing the upcoming 2018 Ford Mustang GT since January and in the latest release has revealed the performance figures of the car. 

The 2018 Ford Mustang will be powered by either of two engines - the 2.3-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost motor and the 5.0-litre, naturally-aspirated V8 motor. The 3.7-litre, naturally-aspirated V6 available in the current model will be discontinued because of its waning popularity in most markets.

Recommended Read: Ford Mustang GT India drive impressions

The variant in question today is the Mustang GT powered by the redesigned 5.0-litre V8 motor under its hood. It now develops 466PS of maximum power (up from 441PS) and 569Nm of peak torque (up from 542Nm). This motor is paired to either a 6-speed manual transmission or an all-new 10-speed 'SelectShift' automatic transmission (the current car gets a 6-speed automatic). 

The 2018 Mustang gets a 'Drag Strip' driving mode which manages the engine torque, gear shifts and available grip. With the additional 'Performance Pack' the Mustang GT is fitted with custom-designed Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres. All of this combined, Ford claims, gives the Mustang GT a 0-60mph (0-96.56kmph) run in 'less than 4 seconds', making it the quickest Mustang ever.

Ford is so proud of this fact that it is claiming that the Mustang is now quicker than a Porsche 911. The Porsche 911 Carrera that is.

Recommended Read: Mind the Bite! The 2017 Shelby Snake is here

The increased performance is attributed to improvements in the 5.0-litre V8 motor, which now gets dual-fuel high-pressure direct injection as well as low-pressure port fuel injection - this allows the engine to be responsive both at low RPMs as well as high RPMs. The increased combustion capabilities also make the new engine more efficient, claims Ford.

The new 10-speed transmission also plays a big role in the sub 4-second time set by the new Mustang GT. In 'Drag Strip' mode, the system changes gears quicker for lower torque losses in between shifts. In other modes - normal, sport, track and snow/wet - the shifts are smoother and quicker. 

Ford claims that the new transmission is less fussy about downshifting quickly through manual inputs via the steering mounted paddle shifters. More gear ratios also mean that the new Mustang GT will be more efficient and less polluting than before.

These features will also be available in the Mustang GT powered by the EcoBoost motor. The 2.3-litre, turbocharged motor now develops 314PS of maximum power (which is the same as before) and 474Nm of peak torque (41Nm more). With the Michelin tyres, 10-speed automatic transmission and in the 'Drag Strip' mode, the Mustang GT EcoBoost achieves 0-96.56kmph in under five seconds, as compared to over 5 seconds before.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

The first units of the new Ford Mustang GT will be on sale in the USA beginning September 2017. The 5.0-litre V8 will make its way to India too, but as is the case right now, it may not be as powerful as the car sold in the USA.