YouTuber Sneaks EcoBoost Mustang Into Coyote-only Shootout
Despite making some highly-questionable passes, StangMode’s cloaked EcoBoost was surprisingly effective.
Ford has done an excellent job with the EcoBoost Mustang. It’s been fully embraced by the Mustang community, and there is no bad blood between EcoBoost and Coyote owners. The four cylinder’s ability to hang with its big brother got a big boost recently in a very enjoyable video posted on YouTube by StangMode.
The premise is simple: disguise a 2016 EcoBoost Mustang as a 5.0 Coyote and see what happens. With the help of Henry Nichols, who supplied the featured Mustang, the duo entered the convertible into a Coyote exclusive drag strip shootout. The results are hilarious and worth covering in-depth.
The video begins with the first part of the Mustang’s disguise: some 5.0 badges. StangMode wisely used officially licensed Ford badges for the disguise. The duo is also forced to rely solely on the 3M adhesive because there are no pre-drilled holes for the 5.0 badges on EcoBoost models. He also purchased the GT’s plenum cover. It looks hilariously out of place in the engine bay, especially because it conspicuously hangs over the cold air intake. The fact that the whole thing is secured via zip ties is just icing on the cake.
“Just going to a Coyote shootout, you know. Just normal guys here” StangMode says nervously. This is the undercover Ecoboost’s first test, which happens about three minutes in. After explaining several times that the convertible is stock, the tech takes a look into the engine bay and clears the car for racing!
Henry and StangMode then inspect everything before heading over to the Coyote owners hangout spot. They have a brief conversation with a fellow Mustang enthusiast, who wants to know if the disguised car has been modified in any way. After StangMode tells him it’s totally stock, he concludes that he’ll run the strip in 12.8 seconds. He does not question the authenticity of the Mustang.
The video then cuts to “secret agent” Joe, a friend of StangMode, who is there to race his Mustang. Joe is completely in on the prank. “This is gonna be the most epic video ever!” says Joe.
After a brief meeting with the people running the race, StangMode explains the situation. The undercover Ecoboost gets two test races to qualify. An unmodified 2018 GT with the 10-speed automatic is the first adversary.
The EcoBoost initially runs ahead of the GT but is quickly overtaken, for obvious reasons. StangMode is disappointed by his 13.8 lap time at 98 mph. “We can do much better than that.”
The video’s climax arrives at a little over eleven minutes into the video, when an older gentleman strolls up to the undercover Ecoboost and checks out the engine bay with an intensity that seems to indicate he knows what’s up.
“Who owns this?” asks the older gentleman. “A lot of questions for ya.” Oh boy, is this it? Is their cover blown? The anxiety is palpable. “Any special rules that you have to follow, besides the helmet, that a hard top doesn’t?” Whew! The tension is immediately dissipated.
“So far we’re duping some people, which is okay! It’s kind of funny too” says StangMode. Yes, StangMode, it is very funny. “I’m sure people hear it and maybe they think it’s a turbo five oh.” That’s a plausible explanation!
StangMode ultimately does the right thing and comes clean to the people who interacted with him and the undercover Ecoboost. Their reactions might be the best parts of the video.
Not everyone was duped. An F-150 owner saw through the subterfuge and amusingly kept it to himself! “I looked at the motor and figured it out” he says when asked about the Mustang. The final leg of the video has StangMode complete the second qualifying round against another GT hardtop. Unsurprisingly, the EcoBoost is unable to outgun the GT.
Ultimately, StangMode feels satisfied with the way things turned out. “Lot of respect, lot of fun” says StangMode.
The 2.3 liter EcoBoost four is a great engine for the Mustang. It can be modified extensively, and it gives the pony car a unique vibe. StangeMode’s prank was good, clean fun because he revealed the truth to everyone who looked at the car. More importantly, it highlighted how the EcoBoost has gained the respect of Mustang enthusiasts. Overall, it’s an amusing video that is worthy of the fifteen minute run time.
Images: YouTube