Ford has announced that it will cut back production of its V8-powered mustangs. Since launching in 2004, about 52% of all Mustangs have been equipped with a 4.6L V8. Historically, the Mustang powertrain mix is usually 70% V6 and 30% V8.
“It was three capacity increases (for the V-8) after Job 1 for me,” Mustang chief engineer Paul Randle told Automotive News. “Now I’m throttling back, and I’m at about 45 percent V-8.”
Randle said the V8 model was extremely popular at launch, with Ford ’s marketing department asking him for more V8s three times in the first three months the car was on the market.
The V8 mix will be scaled back due to rising fuel prices and the fact that most enthusiasts buy early in the car’s life-cycle.
“We’ve got a really respectable (fuel economy) rate on the V-6,” Randle said. The 4.0L V6-powered Mustang gets 16/24 mpg city/highways when equipped with an automatic transmission.
