So Fourcam on SVTP has given us the firm 400hp/360tq number on the 5L V8, and has confirmed that it will be in the Model Year 2010 GT. The problem had been that we also have solid info showing that the Direct Injection 5L V8 would not be ready for a MY '10 release, which had led to speculation that the current 4.6 would carry over with tuning and wait until 2011at the earliest for the DI 5L. This in turn led to consternation that the refreshed 2010 would be lacking compared to the Competition.

4cam, on the other hand, held steadfast that the 400hp/360tq 5L was coming for the 2010 GT, and hinted that it might be doing 400hp/360tq without DI and would have DI introduced, with even better numbers, later.

Well, this morning that hint became a solid leak, as 4cam posted this:
400hp/360tq in 2010, the 5L premiering at the same time as the refreshed body. Then, DI "later." Suck on it, bowties.

 

Ah, so we are getting the 5.0 for the 2010 MY. Very nice...

 

This is great info. I could care less about 400hp with DI and 400hp without. As long as there is 400hp stock. Time to start saving up the cash for down payment.

 

Even without DI...it'll be a nice engine.
And something to look forward to when it IS put in.

 

so then they will boost the hp in 2011 or detune it down to 400? It would be nice to have DI but I could live without as long as 2010 came with the 400hp 5.0. Good news all around though!

 

If the Hp does increase in 2011, I'd doubt will see a huge boost. Maybe 5-10hp. Those with 2010's can easily make up the difference with some mods. CAI, exhaust, tune? Hell the DI system could be retrofitted.

 

I don't think it'll be "we can just add it"
The design will probably differ.

As for the DI, I can't see them offering until a couple of years after or even wait till the new platform.
But we'll have to wait and see.

 

2015 for the new platform right?

 

This is great news. First, Fourcams numbers are almost certainly a little conservative at least, but even assuming they aren't, a non DI 5.0L V8 that can crank out 400hp and 360lb-ft of torque means Camaro and Challenger beating hp and torque for less dough right now and the certainty of more powerful DI versions of the same a few years down the road. (for those worried about it this also means that modding the 5.0L V8 will still be relatively simple for at least a year or two)

As for the pending implementation of DI. Given what we've seen with direct injection in other applications I would say we can expect close to a 15% improvement in peak hp, a 10% improvement in torque, and a serious improvement in the torque curve with no loss in fuel economy once DI shows up. That means a DI 5.0L V8 could easily be a 450hp/395lb-ft of torque mill utilizing the same basic platform as the initial SEFI version.

400hp SEFI and 450hp DI versions sound like a great excuse for a GT/Boss 302 fueled one-two punch to the Camaro's stones to me. Or, as Ford might put it, they could drive these right up Chevy's.........

As a bit of an aside, in a possible lineup update we could be looking at a 2011 lineup like this if we're lucky.

V6: 3.5L, DOHC, V6 (~265hp and 250lb-ft of torque)

'Turbo' 3.5L, GTDi, DOHC, V6 (~340hp and 360lb-ft of torque)

GT: 5.0L, DOHC, V8 (~400hp and 360lb-ft of torque)

Boss 302: 5.0L, DI, DOHC, V8 (~445hp and 395lb-ft of torque)

GT500: 5.0L, GTDi, DOHC, V8 (~550HP and 550lb-ft of torque)

While this is just a guess the most impressive part of all of this IMHO is that all three 5.0L versions of this engine would likely get nearly identical fuel economy. Ah, the wonders of direct injection.

 

Or is it possible that Ford will keep the HP the same on the DI engine so that MPG can increase. 35 MPG fleet average is a high bar and even though the Mustang GT isn't produced in huge numbers, I'm certain Ford is going to try to get as much MPG as possible.

 

I had thought of that as well although I didn't mention it. They could leave power virtually as is and reap the benefits of much improved fuel economy or they could even split the difference. It will be interesting to see what unfolds.

 

I'm skeptical of this new information. I will have to speak to my source.
I can see 400hp in a SE, but not the GT.

 

I feel the same as you. 400hp is too generous in a base GT, especially when the Mustang has some strong performance numbers already. The Boss will no doubt sport this 400hp engine, but this is too optimistic for base models. Numbers have been "confirmed" before on this (and other) site before, only to come up short at show time. I realize the MPG benefits of GDI, but one doesn't throw in HP for free.

 

The 360hp is truck
The 400hp is car/mustang

I'll change my view if the wind blows differently

 

You could do that but no need, you could do both, because when you make an engine more efficent by adding things like DI, you are automatically benefiting by more power.

just using hypothetical numbers here but say the engine is using 10% of its energy as power output, 90% is heat loss.

Then you add DI and lets say you get 2% increase in efficency. so now the same fuel amount makes use of 12% of the gas and only 88% loss.

The car with 400hp would make 480hp with the same amount of fuel. but thats only peak we are talking about and same fuel would not be better gas milage.

But here is where the mileage increase would come. For normal driving say the car engine needs to use 50hp to moderatly accelerate. With the new improvments you are making that 50hp with less fuel.. so now you have better fuel economy and when you step on it you are also getting more power.

 

JSaylor's assumptions and numbers make a great deal of sense overall, now if Ford only has the same good sense to implement such a lineup, they will indeed have a credible counterpunch to the Dodge and GM new comers.

My hope is that Ford would also implement an IRS option, at least on the Boss and GT500 models to further take advantage of the presumed handling/agility benefits of being a somewhat smaller and lighter platform than the aforementioned competitors, both of which will be sporting a more advanced IRS. That and significantly better brakes could really put the Stang well into the fray of things, performance-wise, rather than simply being a slower, poorer handling budget pony car. Perhaps the Mustang might finally attain its so far unrealized promise as a poor man's M3.

 

Wow, and here I thought adding DI would only gain like 10hp.

 

Im still wondering about why everyone is so skeptical about a 400hp GT. I mean look ayt the competition. yes its a huge increase but serously there are a few non mainstream companies like nissan and cadilac that are putting out 300 to 330hp cars these days. (and by mainstream i mean muscle cars) Plus the camaro and challenger. I know it is a huge increase but really we are getting into that type of era where we are going to see some major changes no one ever expected. I would bet that the 5.0 is for the gt and not just SE's.

 

400 and change hp out of a modern (D?)OHC 5 liter is hardly pushing the envelope of the possible these days -- it's the 4 liter motors that are pushing that number now (Audi, BMW), and given the heavy duty firepower the Challenger and Camaro are and will be packing, Ford really does need to up its game a lot to keep the Mustang fully competitive, lest they get relegating to appealing only on nostalgia and a cheap price.

 

I think 400 horsepower is just to much of a jump for the base Mustang GT in 2010, the 5.0L is probably for an SE model. Some history of HP for the base Mustang GT.

1986 - 200hp
1987 - 225 hp
1993 - 225 hp
1994 - 215 hp
1996 - 215 hp
1999 - 260 hp
2005 - 300 hp
2010 - More like 315 hp, just my guess

The most horsepower it ever jumped over the last 20 years was 45, so to say it will go from 300 to 400 is just unrealistic. Just my 2 cents.