CMOC Admin

iTrader: (1)

"Makes a great boat anchor." That's how our editor-in-chief, Angus MacKenzie, neatly summarizes the V-6 engine in the 2010 Ford Mustang. The so-called "Cologne" six, produced by Ford of Germany in varying displacements for more than FOUR DECADES (currently it's a single-cam, 4.0-liter), is rough, noisy, and underpowered (210 horses) and probably cheats on its taxes. Single-handedly, it knocked the Mustang out of contention for our 2010 Car of the Year award (the V-8-powered Mustang GT and GT500, in contrast, earned raves). We admire this motor like we admire Balloon Boy Dad.

But now -- and none too soon -- it's gone. For the 2011 model year, starting this spring, the Mustang jettisons the stinky Cologne in favor of a sophisticated new DOHC 3.7-liter V-6 that banishes the taint of its predecessor like a rainbow after a hurricane. Ford graciously provided MT with an exclusive, preproduction ride (no wheel time yet, though) at the maker's Arizona Proving Grounds. Listen up: The news is very good indeed.

Everything the 4.0-liter six wasn't -- refined, highly efficient, smooth, powerful -- the new 24-valve, 3.7-liter unit is. A version of the Duratec six that also powers the Lincoln MKS and the Mazda CX-9, among others, the Mustang 3.7 boasts such advances as twin-independent variable cam timing (TiCVT, which provides up to 60 degrees of control on the intake side and up to 50 degrees on exhaust), a forged-steel crank, piston-cooling jets, and a die-cast aluminum deep sump that allows 10,000-mile oil-change intervals. Horsepower jumps into a different league entirely, from a wimpy 210 in the 2010 car to a romping 305 horses in the 2011 (note that the new six tops the Camaro V-6's 304 horsepower -- and nearly matches the output of the V-8 in the 2010 Mustang GT). Torque swells as well, from 240 pound-feet to 280.

Mustang fans will thrill to a redline that now hovers at a screaming 7000 rpm (up from 6250 rpm in the 4.0) -- and to know that burned gases are now routed through genuine twin exhausts. Standard. The 3.7 also features such welcome extras as one-touch starting (i.e., a single turn of the key initiates automatic cranking, not to be confused with a pushbutton starter) and efficiency-enhancing fuel shutoff during aggressive deceleration.

Ford wasn't content simply to upgrade the Mustang's base mill. Also new are six-speed manual and automatic transmissions. Combined with the 3.7's 95-horsepower boost in output, the six-speeds, Ford says, help drop 0 to 60 mph times by around 1.5 seconds. An optional 3.31 rear axle (a 2.73 is standard) should improve acceleration even more. Also up: fuel economy. Ford expects the manual to deliver 18/29 city/highway mpg (up from 18/26 in 2010) and the automatic to yield 19 mpg city and "at least" 30 mpg highway (a huge bump over the 2010 auto's 16/24 mpg).

Read more: 2011 Ford Mustang V6 - First ride and photos - Motor Trend

1low03gt

Nice read!

spuddy

These car review people make me giggle. They all talk like they actually know what they are talking about but in truth they don't. They just write to fill a niche in a magazine with all kinds of advertising and would never say anything negative unless it's about the outgoing (engine) in fear of their advertising revenues being cut.

FACT: that old 4.0 rough horrible outgoing V6 is more durable than any of the V8's stuffed into any other Mustang. The V6 is rated as "much better than average" in reliability. The V8's are rated as "average".

FACT: that nice new engine the "refined, highly efficient, smooth, powerful -- the new 24-valve, 3.7-liter unit is. A version of the Duratec six that also powers the Lincoln MKS and the Mazda CX-9" ahhh.. wrong. Those vehicles use a 3.5 litre engine made by Mazda. It too has been rated as "average".

FACT: that old rough V6 gets over 30mpg in the current Mustang. That "new efficient engine" in the MKS, CX9 and actually the Ford Edge gets only 26mpg in a front drive only vehicle weighing similar to the Mustang.

FACT: the current V6 Mustang has a 3:31 rear end gear ratio. The new engine comes standard with a 2:90 rear end ratio and a 6 speed automatic to get better fuel economy. So much for the more efficient engine.

The 305+hp now generated by the reworked 3.5 to 3.7 litre won't feel much different thanks to the degrading of the power train.

And just to add fuel to the fire.... Motor Trend has been dragged into court several times for taking kick backs for their reviews. Case in Point: Do you remember the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon. Motor Trend rated them as CAR OF THE YEAR. The Consumer Reports rated them as unacceptable due to engineering problems with the steering. This was the first time Motor Trend was found to be taking money from Chrysler for their ratings. They settled out of court.

I'd question anything Motor Trend ever published.

SNAKEBITE

I question anything any mag writes me self

VAEM

I don't like Motor Trend because they are very biased. In 9/10 comparisons between the Camaro and Mustang they vote GM. I've seen more than a few instances where it's blatant.

spuddy

It's also another area where they are dead wrong...

Mustang is best in class as rated by NHTSA, IIHS, Consumer Reports etc.
Camaro came in 2nd
Dodge Challenger came in dead last.
all based on performance, handling, safety, braking, reliability.

I watched a UK segment on Topgear where they where doing top speed testing on the salt flats in the US with a Corvette, Cadillac and a Challenger. The Challenger came in last there too. They actually covered the entire front with duct tape to cover the front grill so it could gain more speed. It turns out the actual design is its biggest drawback.

fast Ed

iTrader: (1)

Not sure about the Mazda, but the base engine in the Lincoln MKS has always been the 3.7L since 2009. This is a Ford engine built in the Cleveland plant with the 3.5L that it is based on, not a Mazda engine. The only 3.5 in the MKS is the 355 hp EcoBoost TT version from 2010 on.

You might have been thinking of the smaller Lincoln MKZ, it is available with the 3.5L.


cheers
Ed N.

spuddy

The Ford Edge and its Lincoln twin and the CX7 and the CX9 (which Motor Trend referred to) are all based on the Mazda 6 platform and have a 3.5 litre engine designed by Mazda. Some parts may be assemble in the US but it is a Mazda engine. I own two of them, one for me and one for my wife (Mustang is my toy) and engine has Mazda's unique Id right on the block. They produce 265hp

My point was that Motor Trend as usual has confused the engines and the vehicles with the 3.7 reference which is a derivative of the 3.5

SNAKEBITE

I am always shocked when an Audi or MB tops a BMW in the major mags. They all seem to have a hard on for the BMW'S. I know they are nice but so are the other high end European vehicles.