2011 Ford Mustang GT at 2010 Detroit Auto Show

• Competes with: Chevrolet Camaro SS, Dodge Challenger R/T
• Looks like: Ford has built a V-8 engine that will make enthusiasts drool on their shirts
• Drivetrain: 412-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 with six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Spring 2010

The reshaping of the Ford Mustang's powertrain offerings continues with the debut of a new V-8 engine for the 2011 Mustang GT. It's rated at 412 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and produces a tire-melting 390 pounds-feet of torque at 4,250 rpm. The introduction of this new V-8 helps separate the uplevel GT from the base Mustang, which recently received a new 3.7-liter V-6 rated at 305 hp, just 10 hp shy of the outgoing Mustang GT. Pricing information for the new GT hasn't been released.

The GT's new V-8 also has a displacement of 5.0 liters, a hallowed engine size for Mustang enthusiasts that was enshrined in muscle car history with the application of "5.0" badges on the sides of previous Mustangs. Those badges return for 2011, replacing the "GT" lettering on the front fenders. Expect Mustang fans of a certain age to stop and stare when they see them. Pop the hood and more ogling is likely to ensue, as the new V-8 is a pretty engine.

In developing the all-aluminum 5.0-liter V-8, Ford paid particular attention to airflow into the engine. It features a composite intake manifold, and the alternator has been moved out of the valley between the cylinder banks for enhanced downward air movement. Other performance components include stainless-steel exhaust headers and a forged steel crankshaft. The engine weighs only about 10 pounds more than the outgoing 4.6-liter V-8, according to Mike Harrison, V-8 engine programs manager, but it makes 97 more hp. Ford isn't revealing what kind of zero-to-60-mph performance the new GT will offer, but it expects to have figures closer to when the GT goes on sale in the spring.

 

2011 Ford Mustang: 305 hp V-6, 30 mpg

• Competes with: Chevy Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Hyundai Genesis Coupe
• Looks like: It’s the same car as last year’s redesign; everything new is under the hood
• Drivetrain: 305 hp V-6 with six-speed manual or automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Spring 2010

Wait a second, didn’t the Mustang get redesigned for 2010? What’s going on here? Well, Ford may have tweaked the exterior of the Mustang but for 2011 it’s tackling the guts of the famed muscle car to better compete with Chevy’s new Camaro. To do that, Ford is starting with the base V-6 model and dropping in an all-new, all aluminum V-6 with variable valve timing that not only puts out 305 hp but that also gets 30 mpg highway.

That bests the Camaro’s impressive 304 hp and 29 mpg figures, albeit barely.

Also impressive is that the 2010 Mustang GT and its V-8 engine — which won a Cars.com faceoff against the Camaro SS and Dodge Challenger RT — puts out 315 hp.

We’d expect a later announcement about a new GT powertrain sometime in the near future. What about the rest of the base model’s changes for 2011?

2010 Ford Mustang Gets 0% Plus Cash Back

In the excitement about the all-new Chevrolet Camaro hitting the streets, many people have overlooked the 2010 Ford Mustang’s significant overhaul. While new engine offerings may be in the pipeline for later next year, the 2010 still beat out the Camaro and the Dodge Challenger in our recent face-off.

For some reason, folks have forgotten about the ‘Stang, so Ford has put a nice incentive on it to help grab peoples’ attention. You can get 0% financing for 36 months, plus $1,000 cash back. If you opt for the more popular 60-month option, the financing rate is 1.9%. The deal is good through Nov. 2.

2010 Ford Mustang: First Drive

Before bailouts and bankruptcies stole the headlines, you’ll recall that Detroit’s muscle-car wars were off to a fresh start: The Dodge Challenger and Chevy Camaro dropped anchor in Ford Mustang territory, and Ford responded with a restyled 2010 ‘Stang. With weather in the Midwest still a few weeks short of reliable sports-car-testing conditions, I took to Southern California for a few days behind the wheel of a five-speed-manual Mustang GT coupe. The palm trees and sunshine never get old out here, but the traffic sure does.

The early word: Ford has Chevy and Dodge beat on interior quality, and the Mustang’s relative practicality bodes well for mass appeal. Like before, however, this pony car does best on smooth, straight pavement. Toss some challenging routes into the mix, and its architecture shows its age.

2010 Ford Mustang Priced Below $21K

Today we got full pricing and specs on the redesigned Mustang which goes on sale this spring. The base V-6 coupe will start at $20,995, while the base convertible will cost buyers another $5,000 on top of that. Destination charges add another $850. The 315-hp V-8 GT coupe starts at $27,995.

With specs and pricing out, the full muscle-car comparisons have begun: Compared with the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro, the Mustang is the most affordable.

The base V-6 Challenger costs $1,225 more than the base Mustang, while the Camaro costs $1,250 more. The V-8 Challenger R/T costs $2,225 more than a Mustang GT, while the Camaro SS is $2,250 more than the Ford.

There is a cost, however, to the Mustang’s price advantage: The Challenger and Camaro are based off newer mechanical designs. The Mustang’s reworking this year was more of a refresh than a total redesign.

The Camaro and Challenger also have more power, both in V-6 and V-8 forms; the V-6 Camaro produces nearly 100 more hp than the V-6 Mustang. However, neither of the Mustang’s competitors come in a convertible body style.

On the surface, it looks like this is going to be a close race between a good deal, refinement and raw power. We’ll reserve final judgment until we’ve test-driven all three. Until then, make sure to tell us which one you think is best.

Full Mustang specs and pricing below.

Up Close: 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

The biggest news concerning Ford's new Mustang Shelby GT500 is the prodigious 540 hp generated by its supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 — that's 40 hp more than the 2009 version — but the 2010 model also has a lot of subtle details on the exterior and interior that distinguish it from regular Mustangs.

2009 Detroit Auto Show: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500

• Competes with: Dodge Challenger SRT8
• Looks like: Ford isn’t about to give up on its Shelby models
• Drivetrain: 540-hp, supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 with six-speed manual transmission
• Hits dealerships: Spring 2009

The redesigned 2010 Ford Mustang debuted to the public in November at the Los Angeles auto show, and now the high-powered Shelby GT500 version is ready for Detroit’s big show next month.

The 2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 gets the new sheet metal and interior treatment, like the regular Mustang, but its engine is similar to the last Shelby variant Ford put out, the GT500 KR; it has the same supercharged V-8 engine putting out 540 hp and 510 pounds-feet  of torque, with a similar suspension and brakes.The company says however, that it will be faster and more fuel efficient than before.

The other big difference is the look. Riding on standard 19-inch wheels with rubber-band-thin low-profile tires (the convertible gets 18s), the 2010 model is indeed menacing in appearance. A large hood vent works as a heat extractor for the monstrous engine, and it creates a different look from the outgoing version’s twin scoops. Like the regular Mustang, the headlights, grille and taillights are all redesigned for 2010. 

Convertible fans will be happy to know they can also get racing stripes this time around. Seriously — that’s one of the changes.

We could talk a lot more about the need for such a high-powered beast, but instead we’ll just ogle the pictures below.

Video: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro vs. 2010 Ford Mustang

We would like to think that Mike Hanley has suddenly become a YouTube star, but more likely the popularity of this Cars.com comparison video is due to the American muscle cars that come under his scrutiny. Hanley took some time at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show to study the 2010 Chevy Camaro and 2010 Ford Mustang for a side-by-side comparison. He takes a look at styling, performance, interior design and unique features of each car.

2010 Camaro and 2010 Mustang Comparison (Cars.com)

2010 Ford Mustang: Video

The 2010 Mustang retains the look of the previous model, but not without some updates and significant styling changes. A shorter grille, redesigned taillights, and the option of a backup camera are just a few of the exterior changes Mike Hanley highlights in the video above.

In a second video, below, he highlights a few of the car’s improvements, like a soft-touch dashboard, Ford’s Sync system and electronic stability control. Are these new tweaks and improvements worth the wait until the fall of 2009, when the '10 Mustang will hit dealerships? 

Auto Show Faceoff: 2010 Camaro vs. 2010 Mustang

Two iconic American muscle cars are on hand at the Los Angeles auto show: the long-awaited 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, which can be preordered now and will hit dealerships next spring, and the redesigned 2010 Ford Mustang, which debuted at the show. So how do these two sports cars — both throwbacks to an earlier time in terms of design but possessing modern technology underneath — measure up to each other? Let's run through the requisite categories.

Styling

Chevrolet was wise not to tinker too much with the Camaro’s design, which was a hit when it debuted in concept form at the 2006 Detroit auto show. The production Camaro is low-slung and muscular, like the Mustang, but features sharper angles overall and a gaping black grille that gives the coupe a little more aggressiveness than the Ford. None of these observations matter all that much, however, as muscle car fans will more than likely separate themselves according to brand allegiance.

Winner: Toss up