The All-New 2018 Ford Mustang GT Destroys Its V6 Engine; Gains A New Powertrain

Mar 28, 2017 11:10 AM EDT | Anthony Hunter

The refreshed 2018 Ford Mustang GT gains a new look, but under that new face is a slew of new updates that greatly improve its performance. In addition, the new Mustang also gets updated tech and more features as part of the available Performance Package.

Ford gave the new Mustang a redesigned headlight cluster that gives the car a more aggressive look on its front fascia. LED lighting is now standard on the entire lineup, and available foglights are LED units. And to complement the new LED headlights, it also receives a revised LED taillights.

The 2018 Ford Mustang GT has a design that's sharper and more aggressive than the 2015 and 2017 models. Similar with the Shelby GT350, the edge of the hood has been lowered by 20mm.

Replacing the old six-speed automatic in the Mustang is a 10-speed unit that the automaker co-developed with its rival General Motors. First appearing in the 2017 F-150 Raptor, the new Mustang is the second performance vehicle to use the 10-speed unit in Ford's lineup. Ford said that the new gearbox shifts faster and has fewer friction losses, multiple drive modes, adaptive shift scheduling, and superior tip-in response at low speeds.

Furthermore, Mustang's Performance Package adds a magnetorheological shock that quickly adjusts damping forces. All refreshed Mustangs get new shock absorbers, a new cross-axis joint in the rear suspension and improved stabilizer bars for a much better ride and handling.

Under the hood, Mustang drops the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6. Instead, it offers two engines choices; a turbocharged 2.3-liter four cylinder and a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter Coyote V8.

The new V8 engine gets both direct and port fuel injection, a higher compression, which makes a 20 hp increase. Ford Performance is offered which is a calibration pack for the current Mustang GT that uses a combination of software tuning and a GT350 hardware to boost the horsepower from 435 hp to 472 hp.

Most significant updates are on the technology side. New features are a 12-inch all digital LCD dashboard screen that can be adjusted for Normal, Track, and Sports modes. The Mustang's Sync 3 Infotainment system now comes with Sync Connect, which allows drivers to unlock, lock, locate and start the Mustang using a smartphone.

Ford also packed the new 2018 Ford Mustang GT with driver-assistance technologies for the first time. New safety features include forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist.

 

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