The Ford Mustang was officially unveiled last night simultaneously in six cities worldwide, and we were at the Sydney launch to bring you live coverage of the event.
We've already covered the initial details on the car in our story yesterday (with live photos), but today we have more technical details on the Mustang to share with you. The sixth generation Mustang measures 4,784mm long, 1,916mm wide and 1,381mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,720mm. That's the same wheelbase as the outgoing fifth gen, but the car is longer, wider, with the height being about the same.
2.3 litre Ecoboost engine
The model that Malaysia will most likely get is the one in the middle of the line-up, which is powered by a four cylinder 2.3 litre Ecoboost GTDI engine. It already has more than enough power, and has significantly more affordable taxation - both in terms of road tax as well as import and excise duties.
The new 2.3 litre Ecoboost brings turbocharging to the Mustang powertrain line-up. It's the first Ford engine to use a low-inertia twin-scroll turbocharger to provide quicker boost response. A twin scroll turbo allows Ford to keep the exhaust pulses separated from the next cylinder in the firing order, eliminating mixing losses and maximizing pulse energy to the turbine wheel.
The cylinder head features an integrated exhaust manifold that separates the inner and outer pairs of cylinders into each inlet passage to the turbo. The separated exhaust ports also enable the exhaust valves to stay open longer for reduced pumping losses that improve specific fuel consumption by about 1 percent.
The engine is expected to produce 305 horsepower at 5,500rpm and 407Nm of torque from 2,500rpm to 4,500rpm for the American market spec. 90% of that torque is said to be available from 1,500rpm. Because of the high power to displacement ratio, the engine features a forged steel crankshaft and conrods, piston cooling jets, steel piston ring carriers, premium bearing materials, upgrade valve seat materials, a high pressure die-cast aluminium cylinder block with ladder-frame bearing caps, and a deep sump die-cast aluminium oil pan.
The engine uses a 9.5:1 compression ratio with direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing, and is said to be able to run on RON91. Bore and stroke is 87.55 mm by 94 mm. The steering is of the EPS type, with a 12.2m kerb to kerb turning circle.
The Ecoboost Mustang will be available with either a 6-speed manual from Getrag or a ZF-based 6-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters. Power goes to the rear wheels, and Mustang comes with a limited slip differential. Brakes for the Ecoboost model are 352x32mm vented discs at the front with four piston 46mm fixed aluminium calipers, and 330x25mm vented discs at the rear with single piston 45mm floating iron calipers. Standard tyres are 19 inch wheels with 9 inch width, wrapped with 255/40R19 tyres.
5.0 litre V8 engine
The top of the line engine is the 5.0 litre V8, which will power the Mustang GT. The engine does 420 horsepower at 6,500rpm and 529Nm of torque at 4,250rpm. Compression ratio is 11.0:1 and the engine is recommended to run on RON98 fuel. There's no direct injection here, but there's twin independent variable camshaft timing at least.
The block and head are aluminium, the pistons are cast aluminium and the conrods are forged. Because this engine will tend to have to be revved high, it has stiffer valve springs compared to the old V8 to ensure that the valve close completely at high RPM. The intake manifold has control valves to artially close off port flow at lower engine speeds. This increases the air charge tumble and swirl for improved air-fuel mixing. This results in better fuel economy, idle stability and lower emissions.
The V8-powered Mustang will also get either a 6-speed manual from Getrag or a ZF-based 6-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, sending power to the rear wheels through a limited slip differential. It has larger brakes - 380x34mm vented discs at the front with Brembo six-pot 36mm fixed aluminium calipers, and 330x25mm vented discs at the rear with single piston 45mm floating iron calipers. The V8 Mustang uses a staggered wheel setup - 19 by 9 inch wheels at the front wrapped with 255/40R19 tyres and 19 by 9.5 inch wheels at the rear wrapped with 275/40R19 tyres.
Both the left hand drive and right hand drive Mustangs will be built at Ford's Flat Rock assembly plant in Michigan. Prototypes will begin to be built in January 2015, but full scale production will begin later. Australia is expected to get the Mustang in 2015, so a Malaysian launch will probably happen then as well.
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