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LOS ANGELES – The ’11 Ford Mustang is about as subtle as a right hook to the jaw.
From its svelte yet muscular sheetmetal to its deliciously throaty exhaust and breakneck acceleration, the latest version of Ford Motor Co.’s iconic pony car raises the bar in the segment.
And that segment is seeing more action than a Mustang on wet pavement. Sure, the king of the hill is under fire from Chevy’s all-new Camaro, which is outselling the current Mustang 2-to-1.
But expect the pony car that started it all to regain its footing. The new Mustang is good enough to surpass its bow-tie rival, once dealer lots fill up. The current Mustang is no slouch, outselling the much fresher Dodge Challenger by a wide margin.
The Mustang always has been known for power (with the exception of the largely forgettable Mustang II), but this iteration brings it to a whole new level.
Stomp on the accelerator and the ’Stang leaps forward in a convincing display of raw power. And this comes from the base 3.7L 305-hp V-6.
Based on the 3.5L DOHC Duratec, the engine replaces the current-generation Mustang’s woefully outdated 4.0L V-6 and churns out 95 more horses, thanks to some technological updates such as Ford’s Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing, which allows variable control of valve operation across the rpm range.
The 3.7L is the perfect fit for the Mustang. It’s well-balanced, boasts excellent noise, vibration and harshness levels and is exhilaratingly quick off the line.
Despite its power and low-rpm responsiveness, the V-6 is surprisingly docile at highway speeds, making the base Mustang an excellent choice for commuters who like to have some power on hand.
At any speed, the V-6’s sonorous exhaust note, courtesy of some fine tuning and an all-new dual-exhaust system, is music to the ears. This is a welcome change from past V-6 offerings, which delivered little audible feedback.
