2018 Mustang GT does 0-60 in under 4 Seconds!

The 2018 Mustang GT will be able to get to 60 mph before you’ve finished reading this sentence.

Ford has just announced the 2018 Mustang GT and it’s going to be very quick. The 5.0-liter V8 has had an overhaul and now makes 460 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s an extra 25 horses and another 20 lb.-ft of torque over the current model.

However, that’s not enough on its own to pull off 0-60 in under four seconds. For that, you’ll have to order a 2018 Mustang GT with Ford’s new 10-speed automatic transmission and the Performance Package. You’ll also have to select a new setting: Drag Strip mode.

Wait, what? Drag Strip mode?

Oh yes. On top of the extra horses and the slick 10-speed auto, there’s now a Drag Strip mode. Ford’s Mustang chief engineer Gene Widmann explains:

“Typically, when you shift gears, you give up time. In Drag Strip mode, the engine torque doesn’t drop when you’re shifting. You get peak engine torque and horsepower straight through thanks to our new Ford-built 10-speed transmission.”

In GTs equipped with the Performance Pack, Drag Strip mode alters the settings of the car’s MagneRide dampers. The result is greater traction off the line. For those of us looking for the thrill of shifting ourselves more than taking split seconds off the clock, Drag Strip Mode is also available for cars with the manual option.

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Drag Strip mode will also be available for the 2019 EcoBoost Mustang engine, which has gained a number bump as well. The four-cylinder now generates 310 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s a 30 lb.-ft. gain over the current model. If you add the Performance Package and the 10-speed automatic then hit Drag Strip mode, the 2018 EcoBoost-powered Mustang will sprint from 0-to-60-mph in under five seconds. That’s a very respectable dash away from the lights.

The magnetic dampers in the GT Performance Package could be a real game changer. Not just for leaving the line but for kicking the Mustangs cornering ability up another notch. We’re also excited to see the 10-speed automatic and suspect that’s going to be a huge upgrade on the 6-speed currently available for the Mustang.

We can’t wait for this evolution of the Mustang to hit the street, and the GT looks particularly tasty.

Ian Wright

Ian Wright has been a professional writer for two years and is a regular contributor to Corvette Forum, Jaguar Forum, and 6SpeedOnline, among other auto sites.

His obsession with cars started young and has left him stranded miles off-road in Land Rovers, being lost far from home in hot hatches, going sideways in rallycross cars, being propelled forward in supercars and, more sensibly, standing in fields staring at classic cars. His first job was as a mechanic and then trained as a driving instructor before going into media production.

The automotive itch never left though, and he realized writing about cars is his true calling. However, that doesn’t stop him from also hosting the Both Hand Drive podcast.

Ian can be reached at bothhanddrive@gmail.com