First Test: 2011 Ford Mustang GT

MotorTrend

MT senior editor Ron Kiino and the Motor Trend staff take the updated 2011 Ford Mustang GT out for some testing including the dyno to see how Fords potent new 5.0-liter V-8 really is under the hood.

Transcript

00:00 (upbeat music)

00:02 Not since 1995 has the Ford Mustang

00:10 offered a five liter V8 under its hood.

00:13 We all know that 5.0 was really a 4.9.

00:17 Well, for 2011, the Mustang GT finally gets

00:20 a legitimate five liter V8.

00:22 And this one cranks out 412 horsepower,

00:25 or nearly 100 horses more than last year's 4.6 liter GT.

00:30 And we were already big fans of last year's

00:31 315 horsepower GT.

00:34 How do we like this 412 horsepower version?

00:37 What do you think?

00:38 (engine revving)

00:41 (upbeat music)

00:46 (tires screeching)

00:49 Yes, the 5.0 is back, and it's better than ever.

01:05 Ford rates this 32 valve gem at 412 horsepower

01:09 and 390 pound feet.

01:11 Of course, we're not going to take Ford to work for it,

01:14 so we headed to K&N Air Filters, Riverside, California,

01:17 to check power and torque of the dyno.

01:19 (upbeat music)

01:22 The official numbers, how about 435 horsepower

01:42 and 404 pound feet.

01:43 (engine revving)

01:46 Up next, it was off to the track

01:49 to put the new Mustang GT to the test.

01:52 In zero to 60 acceleration, the GT did just 4.3 seconds,

01:56 which is worth noting, is two tenths quicker

01:59 than that of the Chevy Camaro SS,

02:01 and only two tenths slower than that of the 2010

02:04 supercharged Shelby GT500.

02:07 In the quarter mile, the 5.0 required only 12.8 seconds

02:12 at 110.8 miles per hour.

02:14 Our GT was equipped with the optional Brembo brake package,

02:18 and it did not disappoint.

02:20 In 60 to zero braking, the 5.0 needed a scant 105 feet.

02:24 Through our figure eight test, the GT clawed its way

02:29 to a run of 25.3 seconds at 0.75 G average.

02:34 Impressive indeed, as was maximum lateral acceleration

02:37 of 0.94 G.

02:39 (laughing)

02:41 So we just put the all new five liter Mustang GT

02:45 through its paces, and sure enough,

02:47 it's the quickest Mustang GT we've ever tested.

02:50 But, can it out muscle the Chevy Camaro SS

02:54 and the Dodge Challenger SRT8?

02:56 We'll answer that question very soon.

02:58 (upbeat music)

03:00 (upbeat music)

03:03 (upbeat music)

03:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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