For model year 2011, Ford has put three new engines into its Mustang that give the pony car both more power and better fuel efficiency than ever before. Nonetheless, even with a V6 that is rated at 31 miles per gallon on the highway along with 305 horsepower, it would still be hard for Ford to sell the Mustang in Europe. While Ford has occasionally offered the Mustang overseas, it has never been a big seller.
Now that the automaker is living by the "One Ford" philosophy where it sells the same cars globally, it apparently wants to have One Mustang as well. During last week's edition of Autoline After Hours, Mustang chief engineer Dave Pericak discussed what it would take to offer the Mustang in Europe where diesel engines are the dominant motivators. Ford builds the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 that goes into European Jaguars like the XF and XJ. In its latest incarnation, the V6 diesel produces 270 horsepower and a massive 443 pound-feet of torque. In the XF, this engine is rated at 34.6 mpg (U.S.) combined on the EU test cycle. Similar results could be expected from the lighter Mustang along with decent performance. If such a model ever happens, it is likely still a couple of years off and it's unlikely that a diesel Mustang would ever come to America. That said, would you ever want to see it sold here?
[autoblog]
