Official 2018 Mustang Performance Stats Revealed!

It’s the moment Mustang fans have been waiting for. After months of rumors and speculation, Ford officially revealed the performance specs of the 2018 Mustang and they are quite impressive. The new Mustang GT accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds and its dual-fuel Coyote delivers 25 more horsepower and 20 more lb-ft of torque than its port-injection predecessor.

In Drag Strip mode, the engine torque doesn’t drop when you’re shifting. — Carl Widmann, Ford

Helping the forthcoming Mustang deliver that performance to the pavement is the pairing of the new 10-speed automatic trans and the Drag Strip driving mode.

“Typically, when you shift gears, you give up time,” Carl Widmann, Mustang chief engineer, explained. “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.”

More than just a refreshed face, the 2018 Mustang GT packs 460 horsepower under its hood and delivers sub-4-second 0-to-60 times with an automatic transmission and Drag Strip mode engaged.

He attributes the Performance Pack-optioned Mustang GT’s Porsche 911-beating performance to the 460-horsepower/420 lb-ft of torque output of the dual-fuel Coyote, which is put down more efficiently in Drag Strip mode with the 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires.

The Drag Strip mode maximizes the acceleration by hastening then shifts in that new 10-speed auto, which is filled with Ford-patented power-flow and direct-acting hydraulic controls that are said to maximize efficiency and shifting accuracy to deliver quicker shifts and better low-speed response than the outgoing six-speed automatic.

Ford says its new electronic control system offers “real-time adaptive shift-scheduling algorithms,” which are said to precisely deliver the proper gear selection, including skip shifts and direct downshifts.

Gearing matters, and in Drag Strip mode, this car launches better than ever off the line. — Carl Widmann, Ford

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

Of course the other engine option is the EcoBoost 2.3-liter engine, which Ford recalibrated for the 2018 model. It delivers 310 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, which is a 30 lb-ft improvement over the 2017 EcoBoost engine. When paired with the 10-speed automatic it will accelerate from 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds.

Tomorrow you’ll be able to build and price the powerful new Mustang at the online configurator site right here, and the cars will show up on dealer lots this fall.

About the author

Steve Turner

Steve Turner brings decades of passion and knowledge in the world of Ford performance, having covered it for over 20 years. From the swan song of the Fox Mustang to the birth of the Coyote, Steve had a front-row seat.
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