New Mustang Hits 60mph In Under 4 Seconds

DEARBORN, MI — Just in time for the Woodward Dream Cruise, Ford Motor Company is rolling out what it thinks will be the new standard for Muscle Cars with its 2018 Mustang. Starting Tuesday, Mustang enthusiasts will be able to order a car that can now reach 60 mph in under four seconds.

Improved horsepower and torque output of the redesigned 5.0-liter V8 engine, maximum acceleration of available Drag Strip mode and quicker, smoother shifting of the available 10-speed transmission are some of the reasons for the increased performance. Carl Widmann, Mustang chief engineer, said the car is now actually faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera.

“Typically, when you shift gears, you give up time,” Widmann said in news release. “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.”

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The Woodward Dream Cruise starts on Aug. 19. Ford became its top sponsor when GM backed out earlier this year. The Dream Cruise is expected to attract more than 1.2 million people and 40,000 cars.

“Dream Cruise is all about the sheer joy and freedom of the automobile, and Ford has always celebrated car culture,” Mark LaNeve, Ford Vice President, U.S. Marketing Sales and Service said when the company announced its sponsorship.

Ford is also bringing back Mustang Alley for its 19th year at the Cruise. This year’s Mustang Alley will be the largest ever, featuring even more examples of the iconic muscle car, including the new 2018 Mustang.

The newest version of the Mustang will not hit showrooms until this fall. Buyers will notice the added power right away. The engine’s 460 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque represent improvements over the current model’s 435 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft, Ford said in the news release.

While that 0 to 60 mph speed is only available on the Mustang’s higher end models, other versions will be pretty darn powerful in their own right. Drivers of the EcoBoost four-cylinder engine models will notice the that it generates 310 horsepower and 350 lb.-ft. of torque – a 30 lb.-ft. gain over the current model.

Compared to the outgoing six-speed, the new 10-speed automatic has quicker shift times and better low-speed tip-in response. It’s uniquely tuned for all five drive modes – normal, sport, track, Drag Strip and snow/wet. Steering wheel-mounted shift paddles allow drivers maximum manual control.

“Gearing matters, and in Drag Strip mode, this car launches better than ever off the line,” said Widmann.

Photo courtesy of the Ford Motor Company