My source has told me that the 2011MY will have the new GDI V8.

 

I read your post about this on another forum also...and hearing this doesn't make it sound to probable to be in the standard GT, I don't know if it will be an option, but why would Ford introduce an engine the second year of production and have it not be a special edition/special expensive option, etc.

 

When I asked "Should I buy a 2009 Mustang or 2010 Mustang?" my contact paused and said "I would wait for the 2011 Mustang. It will have the new DI V8 engine".
That's all he could say. I didn't specify Mustang GT or Special Edition.

As for a new 2009 or 2010 Special Edition? All he said was that Ford is bringing something out. He wouldn't even tell me 2009MY or 2010MY. He wouldn't comment on an engine either. By his reaction to the question, it appeared that Team Mustang was is frantic mode.

 

Mustang GT

 

If they put the 3.5 V6 in the Mustang as the base engine for 2010 and it is at the current 265 HP (as listed for other models using it), you would think that the base HP for the GT would go up probably into the 350-365 HP range.

 

That agrees with other rumors that the 5.0 won't appear until 2011 MY.

 

I wouldn't be so sure about that. Things in Ford Motor have a way of changing.

 

I'll stick with it for now thanks

 

I sure hope so ! There is a saying ;
"As much as things change, things stay the same." . I hope history doesn't repeat itself ! Back in the 60' s, Ford was the slowest car on the quarter mile. Maybe it didn't hurt the durability , but people equated slow with 'no good'. Back then, the Dodge and the Chevy were the 'best bang for the buck' if you wanted something 'quick'.... pretty much in that order. So, if FoMoCo by chance reads these forums, PLEASE DON'T BECOME THE SLOWEST BY REPEATING HISTORY !!!!

 

I think since the Challenger is slower than the GT500 i'd bet that it's base V8 will be a tick or two behind the GT model but I hate to say it I think the Camaro will be the quickest of the bunch. Like in the 4th gen years I have a feeling the Camaro will be a tad more expensive but offer better overall performance. I'm sure the Camaro will receive plenty of Corvette trickle down parts for years to come. I think the Mustang will still be the sales leader at the end of the day, though it won't be the fastest it will probably be the best overall buy. Though this is pure speculation this is how I see things playing out.

 

The Camaro better be on Jenny Craig or have a rocket up its ***

 

I'm with Boomer here. What we've heard thus far indicates that we should expect 400+hp and 360+lb-ft of torque......and do note those plus signs as these are minimum expected numbers.......on run of the mill 87 octane gas. The 87 octane aspect of the above rating is the most recent part of this equation and is particularly interesting as it goes a long way toward explaining how two hp figures, one suggesting 400hp and the other suggesting 425hp, have been floating around lately. It seems pretty likely that 400hp is on regular and 425hp could be what we can expect with premium in the tank. Most importantly, this info fits nicely into the ease with which many of these insiders act as though Ford is pulling 400hp out of these engines. This new 5.0L is going to be 100%, USDA-certified, grade-A, bad-***

Further, on a couple of occasions insiders have indicated that weight has been a major factor in the S197 update, info which jives perfectly with recent info from within Ford that the same would be a major focus of upcoming programs. Take a S197 weighing about what the current model does or less and shove a 400+hp 5.0L V8 backed by a 6-speed tranny and you have a car that even the rosiest scenario LS3-powered Zeta platform Camaro is going to find more than a match.

 

I think the only way we're getting a 400+hp Mustang in 2010 will be in an S/E like the Boss or Mach 1. Ford stated a while back that the Boss would be a lightened version and produce 375+hp (probably 400hp). I can't imagine that power will continually keep going up so quickly. To go from 300hp to 400hp in a base GT is a little reasonable. If the upcoming competition is fierce, Ford will simply crank up the volume on the GT500 to whatever level they need. Remember Ford already has an answer to the Challenger/Camaro with the GT500. Even a beefed up Challenger will have it's hands full with a base Mustang GT. Dollar for dollar, you can't beat the value of a Mustang!!

 

I hope Jsaylor's info is right, and it would make sense. A decent 4V 5.0 ought to easily make 400+hp these days. Heck, a raft of current 4-something liter V8s are making well over that these days. And perhaps this weird 87 octane fetish would explain the differential power ratings - a lesser one for 87 octane swill and a higher one for real gas, where 425 hp ought to be readily doable. Back that with the GT500's six speed and Brembo brakes and finally put in that IRS that's been gathering dust in the back of the development shed and voila, you have a fully competitive Mustang to run with and even ahead of the Challenger SRT8 and Camaro Big Motor.

Given that the Challenger has come out to be rather, well, ample, and I figure the Camaro may split the weight difference with the Stang, than the lighter Stang may well have a strong performance advantage should the somewhat complacent Ford development process deign it so. But given what hints the Zeta-chassied G8's overall goodness might indicate for the Camaro platform mate, it will be a vicious competitive fight ... ah, delicious!

 

I understand your skepticism, but by now it seems that the next Mustang GT level mill will either be that 5.0L 400hp V8 or the GTDi Twinforce/Ecoboost V6, or possibly this 5.0L GDi V8 and that same GTDi V6 mill, partially because the Mod motor isn't cutting it anymore in terms of power output or fuel economy and partially because the above mentioned 5.0L V8 and GTDi V6 engines are effectively the only plausible alternatives known to exist. And if there were other engine choices being developed for a 2011MY debut you would have heard about them by now. For a rundown of what we already know......

1. The same small bore that compromises hp potential in naturally aspirated applications also contributes to poor fuel economy and is certainly the main reason the mod motor is getting the axe. The 5.0L V8 being discussed not only makes more power than a reasonably similar 4.6L it will almost certainly manage significantly better fuel mileage as well, and would likely accomplish this even without GDi given the elimination of the issues created by the 4.6L's small bore.

2. While the Mod Motor as we know it will continue in production for a time after 2011 the 4.6L version is, according to every insider who has had something to say on the subject, dead after the 2010 or 2011 model year. Given this something has to be replacing it.

3. Ford is apparently preparing for volume production of this 5.0L Mod motor replacement, so it has to be going into something and be doing so in meaningful numbers. Since everything outside of the F-Series and Expedition can be effectively ruled out as potential homes for this engine by the time it debuts in 2011 the Mustang seems an easy no-brainer here.

4. Other than the GTDi V6, 5.0l DOHC GDi V8, and 6.3L 'Boss/Hurricane' V8 there exists no plausible Mustang GT powerplants to replace the departing 4.6L V8 that anybody is aware of. And since we already know that the big cube Boss motors have been axed as potential GT level Mustang offerings you can mark that one off your list. Do I think Ford might offer the GTDi V6 in a Mustang? Yes. But if does occur and if that engine is marketed in a Mustang GT model I will be astounded and amazed if there weren't either....

a: an option to replace that GTDi V6 with a V8, which by this point we know would have to be the 5.0L V8 being discussed here.

or b: two replacements for the current GT model one being powered by the 3.5L GTDi V6 and the other being powered by the 5.0L DOHC GDi V8.

Either way a high volume V8 model Mustang is a given for several years to come and by 2011 the 5.0L GDi V8 were talking about here will be the only game in town outside of the Boss/Hurricane which has already been confirmed as a no-go.

 

I'm just taking the info provided by people like Fourcam, Blue II, Igor and Boomer and putting the pieces together in a puzzle that fits together increasingly well. Given what rumors indicate I'd be surprised if you don't get everything you want by 2011, sans the IRS of course....seems you'll have to wait until GWRD takes over for that. Still, a 400+hp regular production Mustang V8 with a 6M that weighs what the current model does or less and which packs significant brake and suspension upgrades into the mix seems a likely candidate to give any comparatively-priced Camaro serious headaches and the Challenger RT a full on migrane.

 

Saying that in 2011 if/when a 5.0L does come into the Mustang GT (if its rated at 400hp)
... no one is saying that the jump will be from 300 to 400

I wouldn't doubt that the 2010, if having the 4.6 3v, will be rated at a higher 320-350hp

I'm no insider, but I've heard that Ford is not going to just sit and let the Mustang take a beating from these competitors.
And remember underpowered does not = slower

Queue Frosted Mini-Wheats comercial:
"The adult in me can wait because I'm still paying off the 2005,
<flash>
but the KID in me wants to drop the hammer on a 5.0L and whoop some ***"

 

I know i'm playing devils advocate here but it seems as if some people are taking the upcoming competition lightly. I do agree that Ford will put up a better fight than they did during the 4th gen wars but to say that the Camaro will be too heavy to compete is a little quick to judge. I remember the 4th gen Camaros were also a bit heavier than the Mustang yet it was still the faster car in most applications. Even the new Challenger weighing as much as it does and having 75 less HP really isn't that far behind the GT500 from the road tests I have read.

As far as engines go the competition is also in pretty good shape. Though it may be short lived, Mopar has a bigger version of the Hemi coming out soon, while GM can stuff the 7.0 500HP into a Camaro or even the ZR1's supercharged 6.2 with over 600HP! The two GM engines are not even speculation.. these motors are already in production and I don't see Chevy being shy about sticking a Corvette motor into a Camaro it has been done several times already!

Bottom line is I can't wait to see the next Mustang/Camaro/Challenger variants over the next couple years! It should be fun but I don't think one brand is going to reign supreme.

 

They can stuff whatever they want in their.... if it doesn't sell ... it's a moot point
Bigger HP or not.

As for speculation on the Challenger...we know its not light...
On the Camaro... look to the G8 (3948lbs) and insiders. (and thats the coupe)
That platform isn't the lightest and the vert will probably break 4000lbs...unless like i said, they were feeding it Jenny Craig, or its made of some lightweight material that'll push cost up.
It's probably not going to be the lightest girl at the dance.

Comparison the Mustang GT right now is around 3500-3650 (coupe/vert)lbs for comparisons sake..
give or take.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this.

 

I understand your point Boomer, it is going to be a heavier car. Just because the car is heavier doesn't mean that the car is doomed. The Camaro has been heavier than the Mustang for several years and has kept up or in many ways outperformed the mustang.

Here is an example The 98' SVT Cobra was lighter and has 5HP more than the 05' GT yet times show that the GT is a good half second faster than the Cobra and the equal of the 01' Cobra with 20 more HP. In my previous post I also mentioned that, though not as fast as the GT500 the new Challenger keeps up with it despite having 75 less HP and an automatic tranny.

All I am saying is that GM always makes a competitive performance car. Unlike Ford they inject high performance into every model unlike Ford sticking to just the Mustang. The outgoing LS1 Camaro is still on par with the current Mustang GT in terms of performance and I have a feeling that the next gen car is going to blow the 4th gen Camaro out of the water the way our 5th gen Mustang did to the previous gen!

The fasted stock time posted from a non-mustang magazine that I could find was a road test of the 05' GT they list it going 0-60 in 5.1 and 1/4 in 13.5 with a 5 speed. The G8 sedan that is expected to share it's platform with the Camaro ran 0-60 in 5.3 and 1/4 in 13.8 with an auto tranny and costs just about the same as a Mustang GT, I figure the Camaro will be a couple ticks faster and much smaller than the G8 and still be priced around the same territory as the Mustang.

All i'm trying to say is that the Mustang isn't the only car in town anymore. I have a feeling a lot of people are going to be stunned by how fast the Camaro is gonna be