By Jon Barrett. Photos Courtesy of the Ford Motor Company
Ford vs. Chevrolet vs. Dodge. It is a rivalry as classic as the Hatfield and McCoy feud which sparked a mighty horsepower war back in the 1960s and early 1970s - the era of the American Muscle Car. Though those times seem like they are far behind us, the recent rebirth of the muscle car segment has given rise to a whole new generation of gearheads waging an all out war of horsepower and torque with cars that draw their lineage back to the heyday of American iron. Unfortunately, loyal Ford fanatics have been the underdogs in this conflict of cubic inches and tireobliterating torque. Their weapon, the Mustang, has just been too lacking in power compared to the offerings from Chevrolet and Dodge. The one trump card the 'Stang had to play in this campaign was weight - being nearly 250 lbs lighter than the Chevrolet Camaro and over 500 lbs lighter than the Dodge Challenger. Unfortunately, the gross displays of power that each of the Mustang's competitors had was enough to even the playing field. Now, thanks to the 2011 Mustang GT, the Camaro and Challenger will be fighting an uphill battle against an even more formidable foe.
There is No Replacement for Displacement... and a Healthy Dose of Modern Technology
In 1996 Ford phased out its 302 cubic inch pushrod V8 for its new Modular 4.6L (289 ci) SOHC, 24-valve V8. Though this engine was technologically more advanced than the outgoing 5.0, it was just never a powerhouse of an engine - especially when compared to GM's emerging LS-series power plants.
Though development continued on the "Mod" motor (including Dual Overhead Cam naturally aspirated and supercharged variants), it never really delivered on the horsepower that Muscle Car fans thirsted for. Realizing that some drastic measures had to be taken, Ford started development of an all-new engine all the way back in 2000. And in 2007, with the return of the American Muscle Car wars looming on the horizon, the team set a goal of developing an 5.0-liter engine that made over 400 horsepower without compromising its drivability or fuel economy. To accomplish this, the team drew inspiration on everything from their current line of crate motors to Ford's Indy Car engines of the past.
Codenamed "Coyote," the all new 5.0 is arguably the most technologically advanced of all of the current muscle car power plants developing 412 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque out of just 302 cubic inches. On top of its increased displacement from the outgoing 4.6, it also boasts dual overhead camshafts sporting Ford's new Twin Independent - Variable Cam Timing. This system allows for 2 separate cam profiles while also allowing the computer the ability to adjust cam timing. Not only does this allow for better drivability and fuel economy in the lower rpm ranges, but it allows for a more aggressive cam profile for high-rpm driving. With a redline 500 rpms higher than the outgoing 2010 GT (now at 7000 rpms), extra measures were taken to guarantee reliability during continuous, high-rpm driving. To accomplish this, Ford added piston-cooling oil jets and an 8 quart, deep-sump, baffled oil pan to ensure proper lubrication was always ontap. This new engine is also fitted with a set of tubular exhaust headers to help improve exhaust flow. Add all of this technology to a first-for-the-the-GT 6-speed manual transmission, and you have a recipe for amazing performance potential.
