Ford announced today that the 2011 Ford Mustang will once again have a 5.0 liter V8 engine. For Ford fans, the number 5.0 is a reminder of happier times, when the Mustang was the coolest car on the block. The new engine, codenamed Coyote, will be available in the F-150 next year and in the Mustang GT for the 2011 model year. According to MotorAuthority, the engine will make about 400-hp.
The Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro have been in an on-and-off rivalry since the Camaro was released in 1967 as GM’s response to the Mustang’s popularity. In the following years, Ford and Chevy were like the Hatfields and the McCoys.
In 1996 it looked like Ford was giving up on the competition when it got rid of the 302 cubic inch 5.0 liter engine in the Mustang GT in favor of a 215-hp 4.6 liter one, just as Chevy upped the ante with its 275-hp LT1 engine. When the aluminum LS1 found its way to the Camaro, it became clear that if you wanted a pony car, you had to buy a Camaro. The Mustang became a chick car.
Good point the mustang was never discontinued. I wouldn’t say it was b/c it is “better”…but b/c it is appealing to chicks and they bought a ton of them…that is what more than likely kept it alive. I will say the 7 years w/o the f-body was rough…but it is worth it knowing it isn’t a chick car. I am just glad it is back.
well you know love is true when you let it go and it comes back. case and point camaro. ford and mustang are they shitty relationship that stays together for the kids in return destroying what pony cars should be.
I think it was more of a guilt trip. GM was wondering why their sales were down, then they realized that they had nothing for the fanboys to get a boner over for under $50k since 2002.
not really, them pulling the plug on the camaro back on '02 was a smart move. i think the sales figures for the end of the '02 run was around 47k cars sold. not a whole lot by todays standards.
