2020 Ford Mustang May Get a More Powerful Four Cylinder Option

Mook

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https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2019/02/14/ford-may-offer-third-engine-in-mustang#

Everyone in Dearborn is keeping mum for now—a spokesman said only that the company “is always elevating Mustang and will share more exciting news this spring”—but Ford provided a glimpse of its plan with a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration vehicle identification number filing. The paperwork, one of the documents Ford has started filing for vehicles coming in the 2020 model year, shows the company may once again offer three engines in any Mustang without a Shelby badge.

That’s significant, because Ford dropped the V-6 from the base Mustang for the 2018 model after deciding the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four provided better power for just $1000 more. That left the four-banger and the V-8, which carried a $9000 premium, as consumers’ only choices.

Both are fine engines, but that’s quite a gap in power, performance, and price. Ford found itself in a bind even after cutting the price of the base model by $1000 because Chevrolet continued offering three engines in the Camaro. Although Ford’s turbo four beats the Camaro’s turbo four, it falls a full 25 horsepower short of the Chevy’s six.

Uh-oh. Consumers who wanted a little more oomph but didn’t want to step up to the GT were stuck. Safe to assume many of them gave the V-6 Camaro a good long look.

The filing published this week the NHTSA website provides VIN decoder information for a handful of 2020 Ford models, including the Mustang. It lists data for many of the familiar Mustang engines and trim levels along with not one but two engine codes for the 2.3-liter turbocharged engine.

The second listing lists horsepower as “TBD,” but sources at Ford say we’re looking at a new, higher-powered version of the turbocharged engine. Exact figures remain a mystery, but it seems likely that Ford will aim for exceeding the 335 ponies produced by the Camaro’s V-6. It could even go as high as 350, given that’s what you get from the 2.3-liter EcoBoost four in the wild Focus RS. That wouldn’t be difficult, given that the Mustang’s engine already shares its crank, rods, pistons, camshafts and valvetrain with the engine in the Focus RS. The biggest differences are in the engine block and cylinder head castings and engine tune.

Whatever the final horsepower figure is, Ford won’t have to mess with the gearbox, since it bolts the same MT-82 six-speed manual to both the four- and eight-cylinder engines. The added power might require a beefier clutch than you get with the base model, but that’s an easy change.

Should all this come to pass, expect to pay a few grand more over base for the mid-level Mustang. The EcoBoost Performance Package already available on the base Mustang could be offered as well, perhaps with some customized chassis tuning. That would make the mid-level Mustang a solid competitor against the Camaro V-6 1LE.

At least until Chevrolet decides how to respond.
 

EmersonHart13

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https://www.autoblog.com/2019/04/05/2020-ford-mustang-entry-level-performance-model/

There's no question that the Shelby GT350 and GT500 Ford Mustangs are spectacular performance machines, but they're out of reach for many people. It seems Ford has a solution, having just announced an "entry-level" performance 2020 Ford Mustang is on the way. But that's all the company said about it.

Naturally, this has our speculation gears turning furiously. We can safely assume that this Mustang won't be as powerful or as fast as a GT350 or GT500. It's also hard to imagine Ford creating another derivative of the regular V8 Mustang, since the company already offers two levels of Performance Packages, plus the higher-power Bullitt, to say nothing of the wide assortment of factory Ford Performance parts available.

That has us thinking that it must be based on the four-cylinder Mustang. It would be neat to see something priced below the current Performance Package model that retails at just under $30,000, but that's fairly unlikely. What seems more likely is a hotter four-cylinder model with a bit more power, and possibly some of the Mustang GT Performance Package 2 goodies. Getting the four-pot Mustang to at least 350 horsepower seems like a reasonable goal, since the Focus RS can make that power with a similar engine. Coupled with the chassis tweaks and aerodynamic upgrades of the Performance Package 2, it could be a very interesting vehicle. To keep it viable, though, Ford would probably have to keep the price below the GT's $36,000 base price.

This of course is all just educated guesswork on our parts until Ford provides the official information. Considering the announcement's proximity to the New York Auto Show, we imagine we'll have more details near the show date.
 

Kensington

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The thought before was, I think, they were too close in power to the V8 option in power and price. The power aspect was taken care of, but the limiting factor may be cost at this point. The complication with a twin turbo V6 just adds too much cost.
 

Rent Free

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"entry level" performance trim.

Pfft what the hell is this? Im not hating on a 350ish HP 4 cylinder, what I feel like is going to happen is itll continue to push the V8 MSRP up well into the 50k range for "well optioned" V8s.

Out of reach for some enthusiasts........ No shit because its 50k V8 car.

Its getting absurd. A loaded damn PP2 car should top out at 50k GT350 60K GT500 70k

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.au...0-ford-mustang-entry-level-performance-model/

Heres the writing on the wall from Ford. "Were gonna stop building all cars except the Mustang basically so we better start marking them up!"

I smell scam.
 

Kensington

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tenor.gif
 

Kensington

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=28&v=OChuD89sL9A

:squirts:

he Ford Focus is dead in the United States, and that also includes the high-performance Focus RS model. However, the RS engine built in Valencia, Spain is living on in the U.S. thanks to a new variant of the 2020 Ford Mustang. It's called the EcoBoost High Performance Package, and said engine is the heart of the latest entry-level Pony car.

Replacing the performance pack on the Mustang EcoBoost, the High Performance Package gets the updated 2.3-liter high output EcoBoost four-cylinder. In making the conversion from transverse mounting to longitudinal mounting, Ford had to make a few changes. As a result, the engine in the Mustang makes 330 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels, because Mustang, and can be had with either a six-speed manual transmission or Ford's 10-speed automatic.

The automatic has been tuned specifically for this application, though enthusiasts will still likely opt for the manual. Drivers who prefer the open-air experience will be also able to select the High Performance Package in the Convertible model.

“The Ford Performance Focus RS 2.3-liter engine is a high-revving marvel, and anyone who’s driven this EcoBoost engine instantly loves how quickly it responds and delivers power,” said Carl Widmann, Mustang chief engineer. “When our team got the chance to try this specially built engine in a Mustang, we immediately agreed, ‘We have to do this.’”

Aerodynamic updates from the Mustang GT and its own Performance Package make its way to the EcoBoost. Those include the brakes from the Mustang GT.

A front splitter and rear spoiler assist with downforce. A strut tower brace helps tighten up the steering. There's a 32-millimeter solid sway bar up front and a 24-millimeter unit in the rear.

For buyers who opt for the coupe, they can then choose the EcoBoost Handling Package on top of the High Performance Package. That adds MagneRide magnetorheological ride control dampers, upgraded brakes, a Torsen limited-slip, wider tires, and Pirelli P Zero Corsa4 summer tires.

Widmann told The Drive that the primary goal was to make speed affordable. While pricing isn't yet released yes, the company is making the package available on base trims with cloth interior. Buyers can select features if they want to, but the hope is to help buyers who want a fun sports car without breaking the bank to look to this Mustang as a viable option.

"It's for a back road or an autocross," Widmann said, emphasizing this Mustang is all about handling.

The Mustang EcoBoost High Performance Package will be available in the fall with four new colors, including Grabber Lime, Iconic Silver, Red Hot Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, and Twister Orange.
 
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