V10

The current D35 makes 265 HP @ 6250 RPM.
Scaling up to 3.7L = 280 HP so making 300 HP should be easy.

Either optimize for 91 octane, higher CR, timing etc. could give +5% HP = 294 HP. A little more tuning would easily have it making 300+ HP

Optimize HP at higher RPM. If the heads have the air flow, a 3.7L version should make 300 HP ~ 6,700 - 6,800 RPM

LEO_06GT

I doubt Ford would let the V6 get so close in power to the current GT. If you look at the past the current V6 model (rated at 210hp) isn't even close to the last generations GT (260hp) . The farther you go back the more you'll see it's true that the V6 usually doesn't surpass a GT's HP numbers for several generations. The current V6 is a great example as it's taken 40+ years for Ford to offer the V6 with over 200hp. With that said I'd love to see Ford maximizing the V6 engine. It's about time. Heck the 300Z and new BMW are rated at 300hp with a V6 so why can't Ford do the same.

Knight

Yeah if they do offer the 3.7 it will be more torque tuned then hp. so if will not have 300 hp. but i don't think 270hp or so is out of the question.

Boomer

If the GT at the time the 3.7 or 3.5 goes into the stang... has say... 400hp... a 275-300hp v6 is definately a possibility (past habbits or not... they now have to compete and probably won't take it lying down)

codeman94

Why would they do that? IT would be a waste of development dollars. There are so many other places a motor like that could go! Optional equipment at least for Taurus, Sable, Mustang, Fusion, Milan, .....SVT Focus? Next-Gen Fiesta??

jarradasay

Ford is going to have to keep up with everyone else. Even if you just look at V6's in general the 3.8 and 4.0 are pathetic across the board. When the V6's are getting blown away by Altimas due to the new 270HP V6, or the 200HP+ I4's that are getting to be a dime a dozen a large SOHC Steal block V6 just isn't going to cut it. (is the 4.0 Steal or Aluminum?) Granted mustang value is mustang value, but as the mustang price edges up they will have to be more competative. Chevy's new 430-436HP LS3 will likely make it into the next Camaro, if not then the LS2 definitely will with 400+, the Mustang GT is going to have to grow some larger *****, or it will just look like a colt out there. I definitely see a HO V6 soon.
And as much as I hate to agree, V6's are the future. (they'll likely always have a V8, but Gvmt/world is going to make it unenjoyable).

V10

I say that the next generation V6 Mustang will be much more attractive to enthusiasts and have at least 280 HP. Ford needs to do this for 2 reasons. 1. As stated above, look at the competition and the HP their V6s are making. 2. Future higher CAFE requirements will force Ford to make the V8 Stang good enough to get some customers buy V6s instead of a GTs.

Boomer has the right thinking. The next generation Mustang GT will have considerably more HP than today's GT. Look at the bump in HP on the last gen GTs:

1994 - 215 HP
1999 - 260 HP
2005 - 300 HP
2010 - will be 340 - 350 HP

Since the next gen GT will have >340 HP that leaves plenty of room for the V6 to have 280+ HP.

Boomer

I think they'll it'll be higher just to be competetive with the Camaro and Challenger

Especially if the mod motors of today start to die off with V6/TTV6 creaping into their teritory, the HOSS engines will be higher.

DynamicmustangGT

hmmm not a tt?

jsaylor

I dunno. Granted when looked at generically and out of historical context it does seem that way. But we went through this in the 70's and then again in the 80's and if history is an indicator this too shall pass. Don't get me wrong, if current trends continue then we will see a surge in the 6 and 4 cylinder performance markets. But I still think we'll have a viable and realistic high performance V8 market even in the short term. And in the long term I'd bet that the current situation will prove to do more to revolutionize the V8, yet again, than to rid the world of it.

grrr428

I've heard that the 3.7 will be a Lincoln exclusive....certainly for the first year. I'm sure there will many variations on the 3.5 in the future. It's designed to fit in many applications. A very good engine too!

97svtgoin05gt

THis may very well be true but lets face it, Ford cannot afford to keep their best steps only shown in certain dance halls. It's go time. Get these new innovative designs out there in as many offerings as you can. Holding back any good cards now would be a mistake. This tailspin needs to be stopped at all costs.

Someone mentioned in this topic earlier "have you noticed how quickly things change at FoMoCo these days?" It HAS to. The alternative isn't attractive.

V10

The D37 will make its debut around March 2008 in the 2009 MY Lincoln MKS. So if the same engine appears in the 2010 Mustang it wil be 1 to 1-1/2 years after Lincoln gets it. It's also possible that there will be some differences between the Lincoln and the Mustang versions of the D37.

grrr428

Maybe The Mustang will get the 3.5 sooner? This year wouldn't be too soon. I'm guessing it's a cost issue of the 4.0 vs the 3.5, and the HP 250 vs 300 difference between the currrent 4.6 would be too close?

V10

I wouldn't count on a new V6 until the updated 2010 Mustang appears. Look at Ford's history, it usually changes Mustang engines only when an updated version of the Stang is rolled out.

A second problem, as you pointed out, is the current D35 V6 is rated at 265 HP. At only 35 HP less than the V8 GT the HP gap is too small.

Based on the very little info. we have so far, my guess is the 2010 Mustang gets a 280+ HP D37 V6 and the GT gets either 4.6L V8 with improved 3V heads making ~340 HP or a 5.0L V8 based on the new Jag V8 with >350 HP. The HP gap between the V6 & V8 will be closed to make the V6 more attractive to help CAFE.

1trickpony

V-10 makes a lot of good points. I think Ford will bring this out with the redesign in 2010. I cannot see a 300 HP base V-6 Mustang. I'm guessing Ford will change the cams to make more low-end torque so maybe 270 HP/270 TQ at 5800 rpm and 4000 rpm with a reduced redline of 6500 rpm or lower. This would be competitive at its price point, $20,000 or so. I think the next GT engine will have at least 325 HP so this should be enough room for the marketing guys. I see Ford accounts stripping this engine down to save costs, not adding cool and expensive stuff. I could see the forged crank going away and the high redline with it. I think the Lincoln will get DI and make 300 HP. This would still make it a Lincoln exclusive and allow Ford to use the lo-po version.

V10

The current D35 has a forged steel crank and 6700 RPM redline. Max HP is at 6250 RPM, so either the heads don't flow enough air or it's already tuned for torque.

I guess the question is whether the D37 version will be tuned for HP or TQ. If the Mustang gets a D37, I'd expect it to be the same as D37s used in other vehicles - for cost savings.

I agree with 1trickpony, the GT engine will not get any sorts of "cool & expensive stuff" - again due to cost.

1trickpony

I'm with you about the forged crank. I'm saying Ford will re-cam the motor to move peak HP and TQ down into the powerband. I think torque is a premium in muscle cars. If the motor is all done at 6000 rpm, they'll probably yank the forged crank and other goodies (VVT?) to save $. The bean counters will go wild. For example, they did this with the automatic Mach 1 motors. Ford re-cammed and tuned the motor to make power down low for the auto. They also yanked the forged crank and set a 5,800 rpm redline on the auotmatic Mach 1. I guess the question is is it cheaper to strip the motor or leave it alone? Right now, I'd say they'll strip it. Sorry if I sound negative but Ford is hurting financially.

V10

I don't think they'll yank the VVT. It is critical to emissions & MPG. VVT does not do anything for peak HP, but it can significantly broaden the torque band.

1trickpony

Good point about VVT. If its important to emissions or fuel economy, its probably a keeper. I cannot think of anything else Ford could strip off easy to save money that dramatically affect performance. I guess time will tell. I'll be in the market for a car in 2010 and the engines available will definately affect my decision. A strong V-6 might be all I want.