A new engine is set to join the line-up.
The current-generation Ford Mustang has moved the pony car game on in a number of significant ways. Independent rear suspension, 10-speed auto ’boxes, and an efficient turbocharged four-cylinder engine have all made it a far more capable sports car than ever before.
That 310 horsepower turbo four was so good it ended up ousting the base V6 motor from the line-up in 2018. What was still missing though was a mid-range motor to bridge the gap between it and the 460-hp 5.0-liter V8. That may be about to be filled for the 2020 Mustang as a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration vehicle identification number filing, as identified by Hagerty, shows two variants of the familiar 2.3-liter turbo four in the upcoming engine range.
The document shows the existing 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder listed at 310 horsepower and another listing with a TBD next to the power output figure. It is no secret that the 2.3-liter lump can be tuned for way more power, a number of aftermarket tuners already offer big horsepower upgrades, so it is quite possible that Ford will push the engine to at least 350 hp (the same as the current Focus RS which has basically the same engine).
Any more than that and this mid-ranger could challenge the base 5.0-liter V8 in torque output which would not look good. Even with 350 hp, it should be more than a match for the current 335 hp V6 fitted to the mid-range Camaro.
The existing 5.2-liter flat-plane crank V8 as fitted to the GT350 looks to carry on unaltered in its 526 hp state. The standard variable-valve-timing equipped 5.0-liter V8 may however receive another power bump as the power output column also has a ‘TBD’ next to it.
Curiously, two more V8 engines are also listed on the filing, one offering the pre-2018 435-hp power output while the other, a 5.2-liter unit, has no claimed power figures yet. These could be new additions to the Mustang range or perhaps just placeholders for engines that may never make it to production. Either way, we’re excited to see that Ford is not resting on its laurels for the 2020 Mustang range.
