cars news 10: 2018 Ford Mustang GT Drag Strip Mode Promises Sub-4-Second 0-60

It seems like the 2018 Ford Mustang GT wants to raise a little hell on the track. Ford claims the new Mustang GT can hit 60 mph in less than 4 seconds in Drag Strip mode.

Ford claims the revised GT will now beat a Porsche 911 Carrera, which packs a twin-turbocharged boxer six-cylinder that offers 370 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. In our tests, a 2017 Carrera hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. Am all-wheel-drive, 420-hp Carrera 4S will get you there in 3.3 seconds.

The increased acceleration comes as a result of the 2018 Mustang GT’s redesigned 5.0-liter V-8, which Ford has revealed makes 460 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque — an increase of 25 hp and 20 lb-ft over last year’s model. The extra power and torque join the quicker, smoother-shifting 10-speed SelectShift automatic and a set of custom-designed Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires to complete the 911-beating package.

“Typically, when you shift gears, you give up time,” said Carl Widmann, Mustang chief engineer in a release. “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.”

Ford’s upgraded 5.0-liter V-8 features a dual-fuel system composed of high-pressure direct injection and low-pressure port fuel injection schemes for increased power and efficiency. Ford also claims the new GT delivers more low-end torque, high-rpm power, and improved fuel efficiency.

Drag Strip mode has been designed to provide maximum acceleration and performance for straight-line driving and is one of five driver-selectable modes available for 2018. Normal, sport, track, and snow/wet are the other modes on tap.

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

Even the EcoBoost-equipped Mustang gets a bump in torque for 2018. A retuned EcoBoost four-cylinder now offers 310 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, a 30-lb-ft gain over the 2017 model. Ford claims the 2018 version equipped with the Performance Package and the 10-speed automatic can reach 60 mph in less than 5 seconds in Drag Strip mode.

The 2018 Mustang will be available at dealers in the fall and you can build and price one here starting on July 25.

Source: Ford