11-01-05: Ford’s upcoming Duratec 3.5 V-6 will be coming to market next year. Making about 245 horsepower in base trim, the all new aluminum DOHC 24 valve engine will fill a sorely needed spot in the Ford engine lineup for the automobile lines. Up until now, the Duratec 3.0 V6 which is a gem of an engine produces 200-230 hp has been the backbone of multiples of cars that Ford builds including Mazda, Jaguar, Lincoln, and Mercury models. When you see the list of cars awaiting the more powerful engine you’ll understand how important this is to Ford: Fusion, Milan, Zephyr, 500, Montego, Freestyle and possibly even the Mustang. The foreign branded models of Mazda and Jaguar are also likely recipients of the new world-class engine.

My vote is that the new engine NEEDS to be introduced to the Mustang. The current 4.0 V-6 engine came from trucks and that is frankly where it belongs. The base power plant in the Mustang is an ancient design. The “Cologne V-6” dates back to the 1970’s, first appearing in the Mercury Capri and Pinto’s. Then it was a 2.6 liter and became the 2.8, 2.9 and then 4.0 V-6's that powered Rangers, Bronco II’s and Explorers throughout the 1980-1990's to present. The longevity shows in it’s rough revs, noisy operation, and low horsepower. They have worked wonders on the latest 4.0 liter versions by adding over head cams to the pushrod designed block, still made in Germany. It is time to replace it with a 21st century engine however. The Mustang deserves it! The new 3.5 24V V-6 would put the Mustang on par with cars like the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Nissan 350Z and other hot imports in the market. With 245 hp it would be a great base model engine to rev up the Mustang’s low-tech image! High revving, refined and more efficient, the power plant as a base engine would be more powerful and the first SVT Cobras in '93 and '94. Imagine that! We can only hope Ford sees the wisdom in this.

To be made in Lima, Ohio the new engine promises to keep the lights on at one of Fords older plants that started building engines for the Edsel in the 1950’s. The 700+ workers in Ohio are plenty happy that their plant will be the new home of Ford’s benchmark passenger car engine. The news is good that Ford intends to build the new power plant in the US, as the trend toward offshore part sourcing from China is becoming more of a movement as each year passes. Talk about this story on our forum now.