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We always enjoy talking cars with the opinionated Alex Nunez from Autoblog, most recently last week when we both appeared on FoxNews.com's Fox Car Report with dapper host Gary Gastelu.
This week's guest was Derrick Kuzak, who heads up global product development for Ford. Meaning he's the guy responsible for the design of every car and truck Ford builds. Pretty great job, huh?
The first EcoBoost engine is a 3.5L petrol V6 with 355hp (265kW) and 350ft-lb (474Nm) of torque
Enlarge Photo
The 2010 Taurus SHO performance model will be the first Ford to offer the EcoBoost engine.
Enlarge Photo2011 Mustang motors
After the show, talk turned to rumors of new engines for future Ford Mustangs. Kuzak didn't spill the beans--he's always happily, insistently on message--but he advised us to pay attention at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show in December.
Our pals at Motor Authority says the 2011 Mustang is expected to get a pair of new engines: a new base 3.7-liter Duratec V6 with 315 horsepower, and a new 5.0-liter Coyote V8 with 400 horses.
And Nunez also noted rumors of an aluminum-block 5.4-liter supercharged V8 to go into the 2012 Mustang Shelby GT500, which he asked Kuzak about. Answer: "That's a good idea."
And how is this green?
We don't spend a ton of time talking about 400-plus horsepower engines here at GreenCarReports, but this all got us thinking. Minutes earlier on the show, Kuzak said that Ford would offer EcoBoost engines in 90 percent of its model lines by 2012.
EcoBoost, remember, is the combination of gasoline direct injection and turbocharging that gives a smaller engine the power of a much larger motor, but with higher gas mileage. Ford is all about EcoBoost these days.
Mustang + EcoBoost
Stupidly, we didn't think to ask Kuzak about EcoBoost for Mustangs. But afterward, we got to wondering: Which EcoBoost would you put into a 'Stang?
It wouldn't be the current 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, which gives V8 power and towing capability with V6 fuel efficiency. That's the one now offered in the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO hot-rod sedan and Flex crossover, and the 2010 Lincoln MKS sedan and MKT crossover.
That engine wouldn't make much sense, since Mustangs are known for their V8s. If Ford ever stopped building V8s, you know the very last one would go into a Mustang, right?
So we came up with two alternative theories. We think each is plausible, but there are problems with each one too. Here goes.
THEORY I: Barn-burning EcoBoost GT500
Our counterpart Nelson Ireson of MotorAuthority suggests that what Nunez calls a supercharged GT500 engine is in fact a twin-turbocharged, aluminum-block "Road Runner" version that might rate as high as 600 horsepower.
Gee, twin turbos. Add direct injection, and what does that sound like? Might Ford plan to brand a high-end 5.0-liter V8 as an EcoBoost engine too? It could give all the performance of a barn-burning V10 (like the one in the Dodge Viper, say) but keeps gas mileage in V8 range.
Problem: Ford is positioning EcoBoost as much for its fuel economy as performance, and if there's one thing the GT500 is not known for, it's gas mileage.
THEORY II: Entry-level EcoBoost four
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By Mr2Pritch Posted: 10/14/2009 10:24am PDT
And I'll bet the base engine just winds up being the 3.5 duratec with 270 horsepower or so... just my $0.02
By Shell-O Posted: 10/14/2009 3:19pm PDT
How about a new 4cyl Mustang Ecoboost SVO? It could certainly be done in the spirit of Mustang history, while providing an option for fuel-efficient performance, missing since 1986...
By The Nethead here Posted: 10/20/2009 7:47am PDT
Shelby really oughtta arrange for Ford to ship his organization EcoBoosted V6 Mustangs for the Terlingua conversion and sale thru the Shelby retail network--a match so perfect that even Shelby prices would seem reasonable. The Terlingua was meant to have that engine, and the EcoBoost V6 was meant for that car.
An EcoBoost GT500? It seems like too much development would be needed (power, reliability, serviceability, ease of starting in cold weaher, yada yada yada) for a vehicle produced in such limited numbers (Isn't the GT500 capped at 2,000 units for this model year?). OTOH, what options would Shelby have for the GT500 if the 5.4L V8 gets discontinued? Unless behind the scenes the GT500 is viewed as not really viable in today's environment and its production is slated to end with the termination of the 5.4L V8. Say it ain't so, Joe...
By Cheap used cars Posted: 10/21/2009 11:18am PDT
By aaron singer Posted: 11/3/2009 5:19pm PST
By Ford Mustang Posted: 1/5/2010 11:31am PST
An SVT Turbo Ecoboost could be the econo-racer of the future.
Have an opinion?Join the conversation!