At the Wheel: The 5.0 Litre is Back!
Review by Dean Washington, Photos by Adrian Janzen
Often, when we in the media attend new vehicle events, the manufacturers tend to fill our heads with every little detail and feature of the model, causing you sometimes to walk away not entirely clear what the real highlight of the vehicle was.
That was not the case at the recent event in Ottawa for the new model Mustang, as it was crystal clear that it is all about the powertrains in the new 2011 version of the best selling pony car of all time. Yes, there was no doubt about it when Ford’s VP of Engineering, Joe Smith’s opening comment was “the 5.0 litre is back,” it was clear what the focus was for the car that has sold over nine million units in North America during its run of 47 continuous years in production.
Of course, the standard and optional equipment available on each model was covered, which includes highlights like the MyKey system that is designed to encourage safer teen driving and safety belt use, as well as a driver’s message centre in the instrument 
cluster and integrated blind-spot mirrors in the side-view mirror housings. Another standard feature on all models is Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS) which provides an improved turning radius at parking lot speeds and more precise steering and handling in high-speed and highway driving. When you step up into the GT and Shelby models, the EPAS system is specially tuned to offer even better steering dynamics, and you also get an upgraded performance brake package and an enhanced suspension featuring an improved rear lower control arm and stiffened rear stabilizer bushings. All models are equipped with a 6-speed manual or optional all-new automatic transmission with the new automatic featuring a grade-assist or “hill mode” to improve drivability on steep grades.
All excellent upgrades from the previous generation, but the heart of the new Mustang is truly the all-new, all-aluminum engines that boast significant gains from the previous versions with more power (an additional 95hp in the 3.7L and 100hp in the 5.0L), better fuel economy (10.7 L/100 km city/6.4 L/100 km hwy (6-speed auto), 11.1 L/100 km city/6.9 L100 km hwy (6-speed man)), as well being much lighter than the outgoing engines. And if you look back even further to the 1995 version of the 5.0L, you may be surprised, as I was to learn, that it only produced a paltry 215hp which is almost 200hp less than the current edition.
Let’s take a look at the three new engines in the Mustang.
3.7-litre Ti-VCT V6
The entry-level V6 technology is a segment leader in many categories. The dual-overhead-camshaft (DOHC) 24-valve motor with Ford’s Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) produces an impressive 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, all while sporting best-in-class fuel economy. The benefit of Ti-VCT is that is provides precise variable control of “valve overlap,” or the window of time in which both the intake and exhaust valves in the engine are open simultaneously. The engine is designed to produce torque down low and with the assistance of a cold air induction system and dual exhaust, the baby of the family redlines at an impressive 7,000 rpm. On top of this, the 3.7L is also the most fuel efficient engine in its segment. If it wasn’t for some of the options available in the GT model, the power and fuel economy of this engine makes it a tough decision to move up to the GT.
5.0-litre Ti-VCT V8
Without a doubt, the return of the 5.0L was a much-needed one. The GT just didn’t seem right without it. Now, with the modern 5.0-litre four-valve Ti-VCT V8 engine, the GT delivers 412 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque while enjoying fuel economy of 7.8 L/100 km on the highway with the six-speed automatic transmission.
The all-new aluminum four-valve-per-cylinder heads feature a compact roller finger follower valvetrain layout leaving more room for high-flow ports for free-breathing performance. The head structure was designed to support higher cylinder head pressures and cross-flow cooling for sustained high-rpm use. The aluminum block was also developed for optimized windage and oil drainback under lateral conditions and high rpm for those who like to run on the track. The increased main bearing bulkhead widths and nodular iron cross-bolted main bearing caps with upsized bolts also were used to accommodate the significant performance increase. The designers also increased capacity and baffling of the deep-sump stamped steel oil pan to enable sustained high-rpm use which allows owners the convenience of only changing the oil every 16,000 kilometres. The 5.0L is a huge upgrade from the outgoing 4.6L on every level.
Supercharged 5.4-litre aluminum-block V8
The Shelby GT500 is powered by an all-new aluminum-block 5.4-litre supercharged V-8 engine which is 102 pounds lighter than the outgoing cast-iron block producing 550 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Although the 5.4L provides 10 more horsepower than the 2010 model, Ford tells us the 2011 GT500 is the first GT500 to achieve fuel economy numbers that will allow it to avoid gas guzzler tax.
The lighter aluminum block is reinforced with structural webbing, unique bulkhead chillers and strong six-bolt billet main bearing caps for high-performance durability under extreme conditions. Additional intercooler surface area helps drop intake air temperatures; the resulting cooler, denser intake air helps bump horsepower and torque for better performance.
All impressive numbers indeed, but proof is really when you get behind the wheel. We had an opportunity to drive each model around Calabogie Motorsports Park and the new Mustang did not disappoint. I started in the V6 and made my way up to the Shelby and I must say none of the models felt out of place as we made our way around the road course. Each model, including the V6, felt very capable and stable although there was a noticeable difference in the GT’s handling as one would expect from the upgraded suspension. Not being a race car driver, I didn’t push the Shelby to its limits, but according to the professional driving instructors guiding us around the track, they couldn’t emphasise enough how impressed they were not only with the Shelby, but all the models.
Yes indeed the 5.0L is back…let’s hope it is for good!
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