So ford is about to announce the engine line-up for the 2011 Mustang. My speculation:

V6- Possibly the 3.7 liter, but don't expect 300+ HP. I'd imagine it will still be under 250HP. Ford relies on V6 buyers to keep sales figures high, and the insurance costs for a 300HP car would keep many potential V6 buyers out of the market.

GT- Likely the 5.0, but I wouldn't expect 400HP. I'd say mid to upper 300, but not 400. I just don't see ford taking that leap.

GT500- I imagine the 2011 will be a carryover of the 2010, possibly with minor changes.

Anyone else care to place their bets?

 

I am gonna have to stick to the rumors, they don't seem that far fetched.

The V6 will definitely have over 250 if they are using the 3.7 liter engine. It's already making 273 HP in the Lincoln MKS, so I would at least expect it to match that of course being lighter than the Lincoln as well.

As far as the GT... all the rumors are saying 400 HP even the stuff supposedly being leaked from Ford... I am gonna bet it will be 400 HP.

GT500 supposedly aluminum block same HP, but a bit lighter

 

This.

Also, the 3.7L is rumored to be equipped with direct injection and the rumors are it will make a little more then 300hp.

 

we dont need to post links to other sites when the information is on the front page here...im going to try to keep up on mustang news so that its all right at your fingertips...

https://mustangforums.com/articles/2...announced.html

As for the engines...

if the 3.7 is in the Mustang, its not going to have less than 273hp. they use the duratec 37 in the mazda cx9, and one of the lincolns, and it makes 273 in those. ive also heard the direct injection/300hp rumors.

the 5.0...we know that this coyote motor is coming. we know that the camaro has a ton more power than the mustang, and ford needs to close that gap. also, in a recent interview, bill ford jr made the comment like "at ford, we will offer you a hybrid that can get 50mpg, or a mustang with 400hp". could have been that he meant 500, and he meant the gt500, but it has more than 500hp now, so how badly could he have misspoken? also, with 400hp, that leaves a big enough gap that its not robbing sales from the gt500, yet it gets it up there with the challenger and camaro...and the mustang weighs a little less.

there is an aluminum 5.4 out there, similar to what is in the gt500 now, and that is expected to become the new gt500 engine.

 

I can maybe see 273hp, to match the other 3.7 liter applications, but I don't see 300+. The mustang's bread and butter is the V6, and if buyers are priced out of the market by insurance costs, Ford will suffer.

For ten years prior to the Camaro being canceled, Ford never felt the need to "close the gap". As long as sales are strong, Ford will stick to what works. Perhaps 400HP is a possibility, but I see that as the max for the GT. Also, I really think Bill Ford Jr. was speaking off the cuff in that interview, because Ford doesn't make a 50mpg hybrid either (the fusion hybrid maxes out at 41mpg).

That would be very nice. I can see that happening, but I wouldn't expect a significant jump in HP.

 

Also, I remember all of the "rumors" and supposed leaks that surrounded the 2010 before it was released. None of them panned out.

 

you are right about that, but leading up to that, those rumors were only fan-based. we knew that for 2010 there was a cosmetic change coming, and there were big hopes for more power, which didnt happen.

this time, ford is hyping up new engines, and the enthusiasts and media are only following along like a lost puppy hoping for crumbs...would they really make plans for a big announcement at the LA auto show if there wasnt something exciting coming?

perhaps bill ford was only trying to generate interest, but that interview where he made the comment about higher fuel economy and a 400hp mustang, he was talking along the lines of "the new lineup will offer this and this.."

again, its all just speculation,but with ALL of the fuss and rumors at this point, i think that some people are really going to be turned off by ford if they dont "answer the call", so to speak...

 

3.7l V6 300+ HP
5.0l V8 400 HP
5.4l SC V8 with aluminum block Same HP

Those are the engines for the 2011.

 

+1 that's definitely what is going in the mustang for 2011.

 

Is this true about insurance?

For the sake of curiosity, before I bought mine, I asked my insurance company the difference between insuring a 2010 V6 and a 2010 GT. The difference was about $150 per year.

And this was for (what I consider to be) excellent (overboard?) coverage: high liability coverage, mid to low deductibles on collision/comprehensive, extended rental coverage, etc.

So the jumping point for a higher power speculative 2011 V6 model would be moot (if $150 per year is considered that.)

Yeah, I realize age range of insured may play a signifcant role into the different costs of insuring a V6 v. GT -- not to mention driving record of any individual regardless of age (which, of course on this forum, we'd all have no problems here )