For seemingly ever, Ford has been content to let its low-hanging fruit edition Mustang rot away in irrelevance. Nothing seemed to make the Blue Oval boys happier than stocking every rental car fleet in the nation with soft-riding, underpowered has-beens. Let's make that never-rans. So for the performance minded buyer, the V6 version of the Mustang never even entered the picture. Worse, do you know what car people interested in a V6 Mustang cross-shopped the most? Pat yourself on the back if you said Honda Accord Coupe. In other words, the V6 Mustang was never a sports car.
mustang v6 2011
mustang v6 2011
along comes the 2011 model year and you can throw everything you thought you knew about Ford's entry-level pony car out the window. It simply no longer applies. Gone is the archaic, universally unloved and soon to be totally forgotten 4.0-liter V6. In its place is a very high-tech version of Ford and Mazda's 3.7-liter 60-degree V6. With it, the 2011 Ford Mustang V6 produces 305 horsepower, 280 pound-feet of torque, and yet returns 31 mpg on the freeway according to the EPA. In fact, as Ford was happy to tell us (quite a a few times), the 2011 V6 is the only car ever to produce 305 hp and get 31 mpg. Fabulous numbers no doubt, but they only tell part of the story. In our opinion, the Mustang V6 could be the most significant car released this year. Follow the jump to learn why.
mustang v6 2011
mustang v6 2011
mustang v6 2011
Before we get to the significant part, we'll start with the car itself. For 2011, all Mustangs receive new front and rear fascias. Part of the reason is, of course, aesthetic, but the bulk of the impetus behind the change has to do with mileage. In other words, Ford is getting serious about aerodynamics. As such, the 2011 Mustangs are four percent slipperier than last year's models, which themselves were brand new designs. The V6 aero-tweaks include a new upper grill, lower front-spoiler and air dam, an underbody "aeroshield," a decklid seal and rear wheel spats.
