11-30-09: Once and for all Ford owners and enthusiasts can point to even the most basic of Mustangs and tell their peers that it's world class without feeling like they are vulnerable to ridicule. This of course is unless they are talking about independent rear suspensions, but that is another subject.
Ford has finally outfitted the Mustang V6 base model with top of the line engineering and technology for 2011, ditching the decades old rental grade 4.0 liter mill to the trash-heap of history. The new 3.7 liter DOHC V6 that cranks out a healthy 305hp and gets up to 30 mpg will not let you down in the bench races or the on the street.
Advertisement
Like class leading V6 engines from Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Nissan, and Honda the new Ford Mustang’s 3.7 liter V6 features dual variable camshaft timing to adjust valve opening and closing events. This enables the engine to crank out a lot more power per liter while also providing better fuel economy, emissions, and optimized cold-start operation. Customer benefits of Ti-VCT include extremely precise variable control of “valve overlap,” or the window of time in which both the intake and exhaust valves in the engine are open simultaneously.
“This overlap control via Ti-VCT helps us eliminate compromises in the induction and exhaust systems,” said Jim Mazuchowski, Ford manager of V-6 powertrain operations. “Drivers are going to notice improved low-speed torque and increased fuel economy and peak horsepower. Plus, there are benefits they won’t notice, too, such as reduced emissions overall, especially at part-throttle.”
What this means to the driver is a better off-the-line launch feel, with plenty of the low-end “grunt” for which Mustang is famous. Ti-VCT can deliver up to a 5 percent improvement in low-end torque and a 7 percent improvement in peak power versus non-Ti-VCT-equipped engines.
Additionally, owners will see improved fuel economy over the old 4.0 resulting in projected 19 mpg city/30 highway with six-speed automatic transmission; 18 mpg city/29 highway with six-speed manual transmission. And for those that care, the engine has lower emissions, with better control of NOx and HC throughout the range of engine operating speeds, reducing atmospheric pollution. Though we bet most of our readers don’t. It’s all about the power.
As a DOHC design, the 3.7-liter V-6 uses two camshafts per cylinder bank – one to open the intake valves and one to open the exhaust valves. Traditionally, camshafts only have been able to open the valves at a fixed point defined during engine design and manufacturing. But with modern variable cam timing systems, the camshafts can be rotated slightly relative to their initial position, allowing the cam timing to be “advanced” or “retarded.”
Ti-VCT takes this technology and applies it to both the intake and exhaust camshafts of its DOHC design, using electronic solenoid valves to direct high-pressure oil to control vanes in each of the camshaft sprocket housings. These can be seen at the front of each valve cover, and will also be seen in the new 5.0 liter V8. By using one valve per camshaft, controlled by the Electronic Control Module (ECM), each intake and exhaust cam can be advanced or retarded independently of the other as engine operating conditions change, providing an exceptional degree of valve timing control.
The new 3.7-liter engine for the 2011 Mustang V-6 will be built at Ford’s recently retooled Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1. So this new engine might even be called the “Cleveland” V6. Whatever the case, Mustang owners will never need to feel sheepish again when telling people about their car like many V6 owners do today.
