Ford Set to Reintroduce Turbocharged Mustang

LONDONDERRY, N.H. (01/25/2012)(readMedia)-- Like pickup owners, American muscle-car enthusiasts have long had a thing for large, loud V8 engines. However, with the fast-growing success of the smaller, turbocharged EcoBoost engine in the F-150 pickup, Ford has decided to try one on for size in an upcoming Mustang. Recently confirming at the Detroit Auto Show that the muscle car is in the works, Ford has only gone as far to say that the turbocharged Mustang will reach Ford dealerships in the "very near future."

A turbocharged Ford Mustang was last seen in the lineup as the Mustang SVO, which was produced from 1984 to 1986. Offering similar power to V8 models, the Mustang SVO proved that its turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder drivetrain was capable of hanging with larger displacement engines, but purists remained loyal to the conventional eight-cylinder powertrain.

"Times have changed, and an EcoBoost-powered Mustang could really take off with its combination of power and fuel efficiency," said Jim McGovern, general manager of Ford of Londonderry, a New Hampshire Ford dealer. "We've already seen more than 40 percent of F-150 buyers go with the EcoBoost model, and if there's any group that is slow to move away from V8 engines, it's the truck crowd."

The 2012 Ford F-150 EcoBoost is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged engine with 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, providing all the power of a V8 while using less gas. As the largest member of the EcoBoost family, the 3.5-liter V6 is just one of the potential options for the Mustang EcoBoost. Car and Driver magazine's best guess is that the pony car will feature a four-cylinder similar to the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine slated for the upcoming 247-horsepower 2013 Ford Focus ST. In that case, the publication asserts that the Mustang's EcoBoost engine would be a third drivetrain option rather than a replacement for either of the existing V6 and V8 powerplants.

While big changes may be coming further down the line, the 2013 Ford Mustang will receive its own set of updates to improve performance and usability when it goes on sale early this year. Tops on the list with muscle-car fans should be the new Mustang GT's power boost, with its tweaked 5.0-liter V8 now set to produce 420 horsepower, an increase of 8 horsepower compared to the 2012 model year.

On the outside, the 2013 Mustang gets a more aggressive front-end treatment, which includes a front splitter, revised headlights and a new hood with functional heat extractors to help keep engine temperatures down. The Mustang's taillights are now bordered by strips of LEDs in a new glossy black panel that runs across the car's width. Ford has even included "pony projection lights" on the exterior mirrors that project the Mustang logo on the ground when the doors are unlocked.

"Today's Mustang is a meticulous mix of retro design and modern technology," McGovern added. "You get the looks of the classic Mustang, but with modern, powerful engines and features like the Ford SYNC infotainment system that would have seemed like science fiction when the car first debuted."

About Ford of Londonderry:

Ford of Londonderry is a premier New Hampshire Ford dealer, serving those in nearby Derry, Concord, Nashua and Manchester. Ford of Londonderry has the extensive new and used Ford inventory New Hampshire drivers desire, with amazing prices and specials on all the latest models. They also have a skilled Ford service team that can handle any repairs or maintenance their customers need completed. You can preview their wide selection of Fords at www.fordoflondonderry.com, call them at 888-871-1155, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FordofLondonderry, or visit their Ford dealership at 33 Nashua Road in Londonderry, N.H.