Most V8-powered Ford Mustangs will lose a tiny bit of that power for the 2022 model year. Ford has confirmed that the engines of both the Mustang GT and Mustang Mach 1 will lose 10 horsepower and lb-ft of torque for the new year.
Ford hasn’t explained what changes caused the drop but has said they were made to reduce the 5.0-liter V8 engine’s emissions.
In GT form, the engine now puts out 450 horsepower. On Mach 1, it is good for 470. Torque is now 410 lb-ft for both. These numbers remain quite respectable, and drivers are unlikely to notice much difference. The 2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder found in the EcoBoost edition remains unchanged at 310 horsepower. The 760-horsepower supercharged V8 in the Shelby GT500 keeps its rating as well.
There was a time when a minor change in horsepower would be huge news. But the muscle car war has been a low-intensity conflict in recent years. Rumors that Chevrolet may end production of the Camaro soon continue to circulate (to be clear, Chevy has never said it plans to do that). Dodge, for its part, still claims the horsepower throne with the 6.2-liter V8 available in its Challenger.
But Dodge is working on the first electric muscle car. That may be the shock needed to get the muscle car rivalry back to full strength.
In the meantime, Mustang shoppers shouldn’t be too worried. We haven’t seen performance numbers for the slightly nerfed engine yet, but they’re unlikely to change in a way drivers would notice.
The 2022 Mustang will also be available in several special editions, including an Ice White Edition, a Stealth Edition, and the storied California Special.
Class of 2022: All the New and Redesigned Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
