Is the 2010 Mustang Strong Enough?
There were tons of rumors around a revamped drivetrain lineup for the 2010 Ford Mustang refresh, but upon the release enthusiasts found the same 4.6L 3V, and while the 15 horsepower gain is something, is it going to be enough?
The 2010 Camaro will offer 300 (V6 base), 400 (SS, auto), and 422 (SS, manual), in a car that will tip the scales in the area of 3700 for the base on 3900 for the SS. The current Challenger makes 250 (SE), 372 (R/T auto), 376 (R/T manual) and 425 (SRT-8) horsepower, and we are all well aware of the weight issue plaguing the Dodge lineup, so they will need the extra power to keep up, and we will likely soon see if Dodge has anything planned for the Challenger engine lineup.
Power to weight ratio
The Mustang will likely have a curb weight in the area of 3400 for the base and 3600 for the GT coupes, so they will be the lightest competitors in the pony car battle. However, the ‘new’ 2010 Mustang GT with just 315 horsepower, has just a slight weight advantage over the base model Camaro. If the estimated weights of the 2010 Mustang and 2010 Camaro are correct, the cars will have a power to weight ratio of 11.4 pounds per horsepower for the Mustang GT and 12.3 pph for the V6 Camaro (SS=9.42pph)
Cost
The 2010 Mustang GT is expected to cost around $27,995, so it’s a fair discount compared to the much more powerful Camaro SS ($30,995) and the Challenger R/T ($29,995), but with the Camaro base coming in five grand less than the GT and only slightly less powerful, is the Mustang in trouble in the horsepower war between the Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger?