Ford is reportedly working on a more powerful
version of the Ecoboost-powered Mustang in order to bridge the gap between the
base four-cylinder models and the V8 GT. Hagerty discovered a recent NHTSA
VIN filing document that shows models for the 2020 model year, that included
not one but two engine codes for the turbocharged 2.3-liter Ecoboost in the
Ford Mustang.
A Ford spokesman didn’t confirm the news -as
expected-, only saying that the company “is always elevating Mustang and will
share more exciting news this spring”. Ford has stopped selling the V6
option from the Mustang range since the 2018 model year, leaving customers to
choose between the four-cylinder and the V8 versions, creating along the way a
very noticeable gap in the Mustang’s range.
The report speculates that the new engine variant is
for a new mid-level Mustang that will compete against the 335 hp V6 version of
the Chevrolet Camaro. Ford has already extracted 350 hp from the 2.3-liter
EcoBoost in the case of the Focus RS, so it won’t be that hard for them to
create a similarly powered Mustang.
The Mustang V8 GT commands a US$ 9,000
premium over the four-pot Mustang, which leaves Ford with plenty of room to
position the new version between the two. Ford’s Mustang plans for the 2020 MY
is just a few months away so stay tuned.
