2011 Ford 5.0 Mustang GT vs. The World

At the Houston Auto Show earlier this year I was able to get a closer look at the new 2011 5.0 Mustang GT. This is the power plant that puts Ford back in the muscle car fight, with the Mustang's eternal rival the Camaro reborn, the horsepower race is on once again. Recently Ford Racing has added this new 5.0 liter engine to its online catalog with a suggested retail of $6999. The new engine was made for speed with an all aluminum block and a weight of only 444 lbs generating 412 hp. Owners of the previous 4.6 liter Mustang will be glad to know that the mounts on this engine will match those on your vehicle.  Ford has made slight revisions to the Mustang's styling but kept the retro looks that have served it so well.  There are even a few trim choices depending on if you get the standard GT or the GT Premium.  So lets see how this new pony stacks up against the competition.

The Dodge Challenger SRT8 is a truly beautiful machine that shows its heritage from the golden age of muscle. Whenever I see one in traffic I can't help but give it a second glance. The Challenger stays true to its roots by coming with a 6.1 HEMI V8 engine producing a massive 425 hp. The big Dodge has all the right ingredients for a true muscle car it would seem. There are unfortunately some let downs with the suspension being a bit to soft and the sheer size of the car hindering the power to weight ratio. Even with these hassles, I still like the Challenger which has managed to capture the attitude and appeal of the 60s and 70s today.

General Motors has brought back an icon with the Camaro and then given it high honors with the SS badge. I have to say the styling is certainly aggressive and edgy but it can't be called beautiful. It's as if Chevrolet was releasing a declaration of war rather than a car. The Super Sport is the only new Camaro to come with a V8 engine and it has the largest displacement of all three at 6.2 liters. In the power race Chevy and Dodge are neck and neck with almost identical engine output. However you get the impression that the Dodge is only a passing thought in the minds of Chevrolet engineers. The Camaro and Mustang have been mortal enemies since the 1960s and the stage is set for them to do battle once again.

Here are the stats:

Power
Ford Mustang 5.0 GT - 412 hp 390 lb-ft torque
Dodge Challenger 6.1 SRT8 - 425 hp 420 lb-ft torque
Chevy Carmaro 6.2 SS - 426 hp 420 lb-ft torque

MPG
Ford Mustang 5.0 GT – 17 city/26 hwy
Dodge Challenger 6.1 SRT8 – 13 city/19 hwy
Chevy Carmaro 6.2 SS – 16 city/25 hwy

Looking at the above figures you can see that Ford is doing more with less and this is against the competitions top offerings. If you were to throw a Shelby into the mix the others might just run home with their tails between their legs. I think Ford has hit a home run with this new engine and I am eager to see how the other players will react in the near future.  Ford has put their cards on the table now we just have to wait and see what Chevy has in store with the rumored Z28 Camaro and if Dodge's Challenger can rise to the occasion.

Sources: Internet, Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet