Ford 5.0 and supercharged 5.4 V8 now available as crate motors

Any time a new, more potent engine is announced in a current production car, the aftermarket crowd celebrates. Because whenever a new mass produced V8 is installed in a modern car, that means it is only a matter of time before the engine is available as a crate engine. And hot rodders are always looking for some new technology to add to their old school rides.

So all of you street rodders and Fox chassis Mustang enthusiasts can rejoice, as the new 5.0 is now available as a crate engine, and so is the aluminum 5.4 that powers the 2011 Shelby GT500. The 5.0 comes completely assembled with everything minus the wiring harness and powertrain control module that will run you an extra $1,499.

The Coyote 5.0 will set you back a reasonable $6,999, while the supercharged 5.4 will cost you a steep $20,999. But that's a small price to pay for car show trophies and the envy that will certainly ensue. Check out the Ford Racing site for all the specs and info.

Videos: 2011 Ford Mustangs already in the 10's

The 2011 Ford Mustang is already one of the more powerful Mustangs ever offered. It also promises to have a boatload of potential for those so inclined to improve upon what Ford has created, which is most everyone who purchases one. The Mustang has always been a blank canvas of sorts for those who want to make it faster.

The first to achieve a 10 second quarter mile run in a 2011 model are the folks at JPC Racing. Thanks to 4.56 gears, tighter upper and lower control arms, racing slicks, and a 100hp shot of nitrous. The best time they recorded was a 10.96 @ 125.75 mph.

A little while later, Evolution Performance ran a 10.88 @ 126.66 mph using 3.73 gears, a prototype cool air intake, Eaton Trutrac differential, D.O.T. approved racing tires and a 100 shot of nitrous.

These numbers are certainly impressive in themselves, and show what kind of potential the new 5.0 possesses. Given some time to play around with the new mill, we are excited to see what kind of untapped potential it has.

2011 Ford Mustang GT officially has 412 hp, 26 mpg highway

We've known for some time that the 2011 Ford Mustang GT was getting a vastly improved powerplant in the form of a 5.0L V8. An increase in power was a given, and the subsequent 412 hp is exactly what has been rumored for some time now.

But what no one seemingly expects to be synonymous with a bump in power is an increase in gas mileage. But as with it's V6 brethren, the V8 puts out a respectable 17 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway with a six speed manual, 18 and 25 with the automatic.

Those numbers are a large improvement over the outgoing 2010 model with the 4.6 V8, which was rated at 15/23 manual, 15/22 automatic. They also beat out the Camaro SS, which is rated at 16/24 manual and 16/25 automatic.

According to Ford, having an extra gear in the transmissions plays a large part in the better fuel economy, in addition to the Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) that can quickly adjust the intake and exhaust valves. Check out the press release for all the details.

Press Release

2011 FORD MUSTANG GT LEADS CLASS WITH 26 MPG HIGHWAY, 412 HORSEPOWER

DEARBORN, Mich., March 16, 2010 – The 2011 Ford Mustang GT, powered by a new 412-hp 5.0-liter V-8 engine, adds yet another notch to its belt: an EPA rating of 26 mpg highway when equipped with the six-speed manual transmission, giving it the best fuel economy in its class.

"The 2011 Mustang continues to exceed expectations in every category, and these fuel economy numbers are another chapter in an incredible story," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president, Global Product Development. "To offer this kind of horsepower and class-leading fuel economy in a comfortable, beautiful, tech-savvy and affordable package – it's really unprecedented."

With the six-speed manual transmission, Mustang GT coupe is rated at 17 mpg city and
26 highway, while models with the available six-speed automatic achieve 18 mpg city and
25 highway.

The GT's best in class fuel numbers come on the heels of the Mustang V-6, which just last week cracked the record books as not only the most fuel-efficient Mustang ever, but also the first production car in history to produce 305 horsepower and 31 mpg highway.

Mustang GT is powered by an all-new 5.0-liter double-overhead-camshaft (DOHC) V-8 with a host of advanced features to deliver the combination of power and class-leading fuel economy.

Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) adjusts the valvetrain in microseconds depending on driver inputs. A carefully tuned intake and exhaust system ensures free breathing at all engine speeds. And all-aluminum construction results in a lightweight yet durable powerplant.

A pair of new transmissions, both with six forward ratios, also play a large part in making the 2011 Mustang a breakthrough car. Regardless of whether drivers want to shift for themselves or let the car shift for them, they're treated to carefully chosen gear ratios to maximize fuel economy while still delivering high-horsepower performance

"Mustang powertrain development has reached a point where customers don't have to choose between fuel efficiency and performance," says Barb Samardzich, Ford vice president of Global Powertrain Engineering. "Thanks to technologies like Ti-VCT and our six-speed gearboxes, a Mustang driver has the best of both worlds."

No twin turbo 5.0L for Ford Shelby GT500 after all

Rumors were flying around the last few months regarding the next generation powerplants in the Mustang. So far most of them have proven true, as we know for certain the 2011 model will feature a 5.0L V8 as speculated.

One of those rumors, however, is not going to come to fruition. Mike Harrison, Ford's chief engineer for the 5.0L and 6.2L V8 engines told Autoblog that this was not an option for the new Shelby. The main obstacle is the sheer size of the 5.0, as it consumes almost the entire engine bay of a Mustang.

Well, we can't have everything we want now can we?

400 hp 5.0 "Coyote" confirmed for 2010

5.0 is a magical displacement, one that means a lot to the Ford loyalists, and now the designation is going to make a comeback. Many moaned and groaned when the 2010 Mustang was released and retained the 'ol 4.6, but spy shots showing an aluminum engine under the hood of a new Mustang gave hope for the future.

According to Ford Australia's product development director, Russell Christophers, the U.S. team is indeed working on an all-new, aluminum double-overhead cam 5.0-liter V8 – codenamed "Coyote" – with output expected to crest 400 hp and around 400 lb-ft of torque. Christophers told Australia's Drive, "I have seen the performance curves and it is a pretty good engine."

The new 32-valve, 5.0-liter V8 is expected to be fitted to the Mustang and F-150 sometime in 2010, replacing the current 4.6- and 5.4-liter. This will certainly give the new Camaro a little run for it's money.