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.
12/10, 10:34 AM
posted by:
murphy1
16 miles per gallon for a v6 in the city….wow…
12/10, 10:35 AM
posted by:
cwwilson
Ummm…okay. Not what I would do if it’s selling well. But this is Ford of North America.
12/10, 10:43 AM
posted by:
christianboy10
V8 is what makes that car papular,what is ford thinking?
12/10, 10:45 AM
posted by:
fan
i perfectly understand that…. gives ford dealers a chance to markup the prices of the V8s they get, while propably boosting the sales of the V6…
12/10, 10:59 AM
posted by:
Get Real
Offer the V6, the 4.6 V8, then offer an optional big-block V8. Few can afford the stupid expensive limited production cars with the big-block engine we want.
Wasn’t it this same Ford company in the 60’s that dropped big engines into small cars and made them affordable ???
12/10, 11:06 AM
posted by:
global_lightning
What am I missing here? The V6 gets 16/24 MPG and costs ~$20K. The V8 gets 15/22 MPG and costs ~$25K. I don’t think most people buying the Mustang are using it as their primary commuter, and a 1 MPG difference at this rate won’t make much of a difference anyway.
I’d drop the V6 – if you want a Mustang, step up to the real deal. Offer a big block or a supercharged small block to go up against the Corvette.
12/10, 11:07 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
Had an older (1996) stang with the 4.6 V8 and got 28 mpg on the highway, and about 19/20 city. What gives with the V6?
12/10, 11:31 AM
posted by:
planet_drive
16mpg for a V6 is just terrible, but hey its ford, so no surprise.
12/10, 11:44 AM
posted by:
casualobserver
Let’s face it. The Mustang V6 is basically a cast-iron, low-revving, two-valve truck engine.
How about putting Ford’s 3.5L aluminum DOHC V6 in this car? It will produce more power, rev more freely, and probably get better mileage. Also, this would take about 150 lbs off the front axle which should make the entry level vehicle noticeably more agile and fun!
12/10, 11:54 AM
posted by:
LP640
16mpg for a V6 is just terrible, but hey its ford, so no surprise.
Comment by planet_drive, posted on December10 at 11:31 am
The smartest comment on the thread
12/10, 12:17 PM
posted by:
moto-racer13
^I agree 100% its ford they don’t know how to build good well engineered cars. everything from ford is bad engineering. 16mpg in a V6 lol wow!
12/10, 12:29 PM
posted by:
F451
The price of a barrel of oil has spoken.
12/10, 1:32 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
global: the Mustang is too ubiquitous to attract ‘vette shoppers. Ford should develop a
12/10, 1:41 PM
posted by:
///m
16mpg for a V6? Wow… give me an RX-8
12/10, 2:20 PM
posted by:
Gary
These have got to be the dumbest series of posts’ I have seen in a long time. Look at the competition, what gas milege are they rated at for 08′? They also have gone down quite a bit. Not to take into account this is city mpg everyone is looking at. They do make a big block V8 for the Mustang, it’s called a SHelby GT500. Does anyone realize the V6 must is the cheapest/best gas mileage car for it’s segment.
12/10, 2:47 PM
posted by:
autonut
I think enthusiasts will buy big block. What the mileage for V8 15 mpg? Is that much of a difference? Not for this car, but probably for fleet and their fleet #s are pathetic.
12/10, 4:03 PM
posted by:
C6Racer
True that Ford builds crap. My brother’s 1994 325i has an I-6 and gets between 35 and 40 mpg on the highway with the cruise control set at 70mph. No joke. Even my 2000 Sierra, which weighs almost 5000lbs and has a 5.3L V8, can get around 20 mpg with the cruise on 65 mph.
Ford sucks.
12/10, 4:04 PM
posted by:
C6Racer
Not to mention 13 mpg city average for my truck too.
12/10, 4:09 PM
posted by:
jonnycat
Everything from ford is bad engineering? Ignorance is bliss, I guess.
12/10, 4:15 PM
posted by:
JedS88
Thats better thar my Jeep 4.0L
And Mustang have not had “big blocks” sence 1973
12/10, 4:46 PM
posted by:
Arbiter
Casualobserver,
the V6 used in the Mustang is a SOHC V6, NOT the old 3.8 pushrod unit.
Aluminum heads and SEFI.
12/10, 6:05 PM
posted by:
JedS88
How about a 4.9L(302c.i.) Aluminator block in the GT for 2010.
12/10, 6:29 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
I don’t know if you guys understand that it isn’t just fuel prices and enthusiasts that’s cutting production.
Ford is keeping supply low and demand high. Obviously the highest selling and most desirable model is the V-8, which would be great to cut production since it’s been a great enthusiast platform. The pricing has stayed relatively stable, not a bundle of incentives to drive them off the lots.
C6racer- My Ford F-150 on the highway and around town averages about 19 miles to the gallon. I don’t have a miles per gallon reader or anything for my Taurus (3.0 liter V-6), but I’ve had it go about 28 miles on a gallon of gas in Washington D.C, city driving.
12/10, 7:16 PM
posted by:
TOZO
That’s the right engine, casualobserver, the new 3.5L V6 is what the Mustang neeeeds.
12/10, 9:06 PM
posted by:
kool_aje
How about 30/40 mpg for daily usage Mustang… Equipped by 2.7 litre commonrail turbo intercooler diesel for Europe/Asia/Australia markets (esp. for Australians please). For US, just give them what they want, we all know how the environment hypocrits are ;P
12/11, 12:47 AM
posted by:
C6Racer
jayjc08, I don’t have an mpg gauge in mine either. It wasn’t till ‘03 that GM started puttin them in the trucks.
12/11, 10:39 AM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
‘87-SVO
12/11, 2:35 PM
posted by:
Noah
There are only two reasons for a cutback—-one is that the car ain’t selling and two is so the dealers can surcharge more. Has anyone had a more stupid marketing dept?
12/11, 3:44 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
C6racer- I just put a gallon of gas in the tank, and see where it takes me.
I did however have a mpg reader on my F-150. It was an after market part that I’ve only recently taken off (read: “Made in China”)
Gary, autonutt- The Saleen S302 Extreme has a Saleen built 4.9 liter. The 5.4 liter (GT500) isn’t a big block.
Noah- I guess your just repeating what other kids have said on this forum. We already know the V-8 is the best selling model so… Do you understand supply and demand? Do the math.
12/12, 12:28 AM
posted by:
stang67
Ford Mustang does get terrible gas mileage. My 2005 Gt has 45000 miles, original brakes and tires and I drive like a grandma and it still averages 16 to 17 mpg city and highway. Sad