In case you haven’t heard, Ford’s engineers have gone a bit wild on the 2011 Mustang. The culmination of 3 years of powertrain, chassis, body and suspension development, their most recent modifications have blasted the American best-seller into a whole new world of performance.

The 2011 Mustang hits dealer lots soon, and it’s going to move fast-- figuratively and otherwise. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com)

For the first time ever, that world of performance starts with the V6-powered model. The aging four-litre powerplant has been given the boot in place of a lighter and considerably more powerful 3.7 litre unit. With a four-cam, four-valve architecture and a busload of advanced engineering goodies, the entry-engine generates 305 horsepower of the free-breathing, high-revving variety.

Despite the generous snap, Ford’s engineers gush proudly about it being the first V6 to generate 305 horsepower while turning in 35 MPG. That’s about 6.7L / 100km for us Canadians. Regular fuel, too.

A slick new system called Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT) is responsible for the remarkable combination of thrust and thrift. By continually altering cam timing and engine breathing, power is dosed out on an as-requested basis. The new V6 musters enough sauce to keep pace with the outgoing 4.6-litre V8, though efficiency is maximized when drivers are gentle.

In fact, Ford says their Ti-VCT hardware works so well that they exceeded fuel-economy targets without using the use of more expensive direct-injection technology. This helped Ford keep costs down-- which helped them maintain one of Mustang’s core attributes: value.

There’s more value for the V8-powered Mustang GT too, since the promise of Ti-VCT’s improved power and reduced consumption exists here as well. The 2011 model year marks the return of the famed ‘5.0’ badge to the Mustang’s front fenders-- and the new V8 has been comprehensively engineered to become the segment’s biggest efficient-performance threat.

Super-clean emissions and highway mileage under 8L / 100km are assured. In fact, Ford’s new four-cam five-litre is about as responsible as a rip-snorting 412-horsepower, 7,000 RPM V8 engine gets. And I do mean snorting.

Ford engineers realize that a big part of the Mustang’s driving experience is its sound, and their efforts to make that sound fantastic won’t disappoint. Heck, there’s even a special throttle-activated tube that projects the sound from the intake system into the cabin. Stand on the long skinny pedal and bang off some gearshifts with the now-standard six-speed stick, and Mustang’s new heart floods the cabin with aural testosterone that’s loud and lovely.

The 2011 model year marks the return of the famed ‘5.0’ badge to the Mustang. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com)